Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Suzi Q, 3 gates and the perfect moment

Oh my goodness, I love being this happy. I was driving to work this morning listening to Suzi Quattro, I mean not really the kind of artist that you would associate with being the catalyst for blinding realisations, but as I parked my car and prepared myself for getting out into the sauna, I felt as if something just came together, slipped into place. I stood in front of the sea and felt as though I was living the past, present and future in one. There was no sense of time; I felt huge and tiny simultaneously. Is this what it is to be truly present in the moment?

Haha, I know there are several of you out there right now who are taking the mickey out of me! What mind-altering substances has the girl been enjoying? Mmmm, for me to know of course, but it could have something to do with several glasses of my favourite bubbly beverage last night... either way, it was a perfect moment, the second this week. The universe is spoiling me! The first was listening to Leonard Cohen sing "Halleluja" at the winding down of a beautiful evening.

So, Matthew has arrived safely in town and I am looking forward to the weekend very much. We are both making breakthroughs at the moment, and it is good to be able to share it with each other in person.

Talking of sharing, I am always honoured to have the students share with me, and this week I have felt particularly close to them. I have been thinking of how we should watch our words and treat our fellow humans with reverance.

I remembered this lovely piece of advice from the Sufis.

They say we should speak only once our words have managed to pass through 3 gates.
At the first gate we ask, "Are these words true?" If so, they pass on.
At the second gate we ask, " Are they necessary?" and if they make it through that, they are ready for the final gate,

"Are they kind?"

My sincere wish and prayer: May our words and thoughts bring kindness to the world.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

What a wonderful word- Quench

THE MYSTERY OF YOUR THIRST

Imagine this scene. You're really thirsty -- so dehydrated that you're
feeling faint. Yet here's the weird thing: You're walking along the bank of
a wide river that's so clear you could see the bottom if you looked.

But you're not looking. In fact, you seem oblivious to the surging force of
nature just a few yards away.

Is it invisible to you? Are you so preoccupied with your suffering that
you're blind to the very source that would end your suffering?

Up ahead you see a man. As you approach, you realize he's holding a
bottle of water. You run to him and beg him to let you drink. He readily
agrees. Gratefully, you guzzle the precious liquid, then thank him
profusely.

As you walk away, he calls after you, "By the way, there's a lot more
water over there," and he points to the river.

Do you hear him? If you hear him, do you believe him? Or do you keep
walking, hoping to find another person with another bottle somewhere up
ahead?
Rob Brezsny