Lists

I like lists.

They are useful for keeping things easy.

Here’s one, listing the things I am working with these days:

Anitya’s list of importantness:

1. Be honest with yourself.

Not from some vague sort of moral code, but one of convenience. Denying what is will get you in to trouble in the long run. Being honest doesn’t mean not getting things wrong. You can honestly be wrong about stuff. Being honest saves you the trouble of having to spend energy fighting against what is.

2. Acknowledge your feelings and thoughts and then let them go.

Basically this follows from being honest, but with a slight twist. Acknowledging that things are as they are highlights them for yourself. Letting them go is my way of saying to just let them be. That doesn’t mean being lazy, but not fretting about things that are as they are. I may feel jealous of someone. I may think the someone is doing things stupidly. Both won’t go away by tormenting myself about them. I can decide to act on the feelings or thoughts, but that is a different thing altogether.

3. Be effortlessly aware.

Be aware of what is, but don’t put too much force into it. Do what you can, it’s enough. Just like learning to play the piano or working out in the gym, being aware is something that you have to work at. Don’t worry if you aren’t perfect from the get-go. Don’t be hard on yourself, but just give it your best shot. You’ll improve. Enjoy what you already have.

4. Don’t cling.

Be openminded and don’t expect anything. Results in the past are no garantuee for results in the future. Allow things to be as they are. Breathe out and relax. Set your own pace. There is no one that knows you like you know yourself.

That’s it. I’m putting these down mainly because I will probably will have to be reminded of them again, and it’s good to store them somewhere, but maybe they are interesting for someone out there, too. In that case, you’re welcome.

I’ve had a good week. Things have quieted down at the Nyingma Center a bit, and we are having an information day today. I’ll be filling cushions, but mainly to demonstrate how they are made, so it promises to be a relaxed day in which we can enjoy having finished major work for now.

There have also been good developments on the job front, but I can’t go into them right now as everything needs to be finalised first. Suffice to say they have me energised and happy.

Well, that’s basically it for now. I wish you all a very good day.

Related posts

• Karma in Buddhism (0)
• A month in the Center (1)
• The Importance of Practice (0)
• Patterns (2)
• Spring is in the Air (1)

Tags: Bas Wisselink, Breathe, Buddhism, food for thought, joy, judgement, meditation, meditation cushions, meditation practice, mental tools, mind, Musings, Nyingma, Past/Present/Future, progress, refreshing insights, self acceptance, Striving, Tibetan Buddhism, work

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...