It began with 30 minutes of silence punctuated by a sparse playing of a giant gong. Many of us closed our eyes and all of us sank deep within. I sat with my mantra and warmth flooded my body even in the freezing weather. Thich then began to speak. He gave a teaching on relationships which sums up into four main points. We say these to ourselves, to our lovers, and peace then flows.
1. I am here with you, like a beautiful flower opening.
2. You are here with me, and I am so happy.
3. You are suffering, and I am here with you.
4. I am suffering, please be here with me.
He explained how we are often able to state one or two of these and this is a good thing. When we are not able to state all four of them however a relationship disintegrates, looses its depth, wanders away from itself.
When I contemplate these four mantras I realise that the teachings enfold within them a profound commitment to honesty, vulnerability, and sharing. As new love emerges within new earth we must necessarily learn to navigate fantastic intimacies. These dances between our dense selves, the lives and bodies we inhabit in this momentary form, are ever so delicate and intricate. As we fill out our evolutionary make up we dance also with more subtle energies, connecting to our lovers across dimensions. Without a grounding in simple communications which reflect the fragility of the human heart how can we possibly go to these spaces in total harmony?
In the Mevlevi tradition lovers are all beings who appreciate the practice. The semazens themselves whirl for peace, for illumination and a massive cracking open. Those who come to feel the love and power, who witness and share, give energy, are the lovers. We say that the hearts of lovers are never truly separated. Time space distance death, none of this can act upon the united hearts of lovers.
The bible states that love is not jealous, not covetous, unbound...love is gentle, love is kind...love never dies. Universal love, the breath of life from source creation, is possible inside our intimacies. Indeed, the movement of universal love inside of our lives is what we all desire, even if we are too small to go ahead and admit it, the goodies and the baddies alike.
Love is our human birthright...and as Thich Nhat Hanh so eloquently stated, our responsibility. This all leads me to conclude that Love is not something one possesses....we can only open to it, like a beautiful flower, and be present to it, in all of its filth and glory. Immense gratitude and thanksgiving to all of you who love and share intimacy with me in so many joyous ways! Bouncing it right back to you in a fluid wave of grace :)
And in a final thought, this was indeed a pro-test. An action against the hostile way consumerism has taught us to "love" and a proposal for new love which can flourish within the systems we now seek to create. Peace is possible.....
And yet another beautiful teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh: ~Walking Meditation~
ReplyDeleteTake my hand.
We will walk.
We will only walk.
We will enjoy our walk
without thinking of arriving anywhere.
Walk peacefully.
Walk happily.
Our walk is a peace walk.
Our walk is a happiness walk.
Then we learn
that there is no peace walk;
that peace is the walk;
that there is no happiness walk;
that happiness is the walk.
We walk for ourselves.
We walk for everyone
always hand in hand.
Walk and touch peace every moment.
Walk and touch happiness every moment.
Each step brings a fresh breeze.
Each step makes a flower bloom under our feet.
Kiss the Earth with your feet.
Print on Earth your love and happiness.
Earth will be safe
when we feel in us enough safety.
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Blessings!