For the last few days, I have been reflecting on the thin line between the outer and inner worlds. Where exactly does one end and the other begin? Is there really a distinction or is it like a mobius strip - what seems to be the outer surface turns out to be the inner and vice versa.
On a more tangible field I was thinking of personal relationships and the community at large. Where does one relationship end and the other begin? Or is it a series of relationships weaving seamlessly, one into the other.
The 3 day retreats somehow don't seem to be 3 days anymore. They are a daily part of living existence where everyday, there is a relevant interaction which is 'Moved By Love'. My grandparents 60th anniversary is a retreat :) My 2 year old niece's birthday is a retreat :) My best friends upcoming wedding is a retreat :) Shared moments of togetherness with the known or the unknown somehow manage to merge together as the lens shifts like a kaleidoscope...and then shifts again.
How does my daily interaction with my husband affect another person a thousand miles away? In the field of interconnections, it apparently does. How does my smiling at the neighborhood veggie vendor create social change? apparently it does :) How does the way I speak to the woman who cleans my house affect my relationship with my mom? How does my treating a guest in my house any differently from treating a guest at a retreat make a difference? apparently it does. In the world of ripple effects, every action ripples into everything else, is what I am noticing through my limited lens everyday in my surroundings and within.
There were two guests in our home this week and I was highly amused at the difference in behavior, options, idea's and conversations emerging through both of them coming from such diverse backgrounds! The mind was rapidly creating an impression and categorizing both into 'boxes' - good, bad, loud, calm, demanding, fluid so on and so forth. The heart was calmly saying,'This too is just another facet of love - listen and learn.'
As 'guests' ( people at home and thoughts in the head ) come and go on a daily basis at home, I am sensing a heightened awareness of all that this playground brings to the fore like a mirror. A daily school to learn from and each individual becomes a teacher. "What's coming up for you today? Is it judgement, anger, joy, laziness, love, compassion,jealousy, equanimity or greed?" Whats coming up? lets choose the subject we want to work on today and work on it wholeheartedly :)
So grateful to life and all beings around who are such splendid teachers everyday and every moment.
On a more tangible field I was thinking of personal relationships and the community at large. Where does one relationship end and the other begin? Or is it a series of relationships weaving seamlessly, one into the other.
The 3 day retreats somehow don't seem to be 3 days anymore. They are a daily part of living existence where everyday, there is a relevant interaction which is 'Moved By Love'. My grandparents 60th anniversary is a retreat :) My 2 year old niece's birthday is a retreat :) My best friends upcoming wedding is a retreat :) Shared moments of togetherness with the known or the unknown somehow manage to merge together as the lens shifts like a kaleidoscope...and then shifts again.
How does my daily interaction with my husband affect another person a thousand miles away? In the field of interconnections, it apparently does. How does my smiling at the neighborhood veggie vendor create social change? apparently it does :) How does the way I speak to the woman who cleans my house affect my relationship with my mom? How does my treating a guest in my house any differently from treating a guest at a retreat make a difference? apparently it does. In the world of ripple effects, every action ripples into everything else, is what I am noticing through my limited lens everyday in my surroundings and within.
There were two guests in our home this week and I was highly amused at the difference in behavior, options, idea's and conversations emerging through both of them coming from such diverse backgrounds! The mind was rapidly creating an impression and categorizing both into 'boxes' - good, bad, loud, calm, demanding, fluid so on and so forth. The heart was calmly saying,'This too is just another facet of love - listen and learn.'
As 'guests' ( people at home and thoughts in the head ) come and go on a daily basis at home, I am sensing a heightened awareness of all that this playground brings to the fore like a mirror. A daily school to learn from and each individual becomes a teacher. "What's coming up for you today? Is it judgement, anger, joy, laziness, love, compassion,jealousy, equanimity or greed?" Whats coming up? lets choose the subject we want to work on today and work on it wholeheartedly :)
So grateful to life and all beings around who are such splendid teachers everyday and every moment.
Reflections
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