...after all these years, sing it with me...still feral...etc. eh. I just picked up Pema Chodron's book, When Things Fall Apart, Heart Advice for Difficult Times. It's a slim volume with quiet, rock-your-world epiphanies contained within. One of the concepts is maitri, meaning roughly, loving-kindness or unconditional friendliness. As in developing maitri towards yourself. Now there's a concept, yes? Pema is a Buddhist monk (whoops, they call them nuns but monk conveys the concept better) and head teacher of the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in North America, Gampo Abbey up in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
It's not that my times are so difficult. Just that I'm allowing my world to be cracked open, hopefully to get at the meat of it and also to invite possibilities in, invite dreams in. The day is empty and the day is full, you get my drift? And this makes me hyperalert to all small signs, portents, chance meetings, new people and ideas. Not a bad state of heart-mind to be in.
And O, the guideposts that are showing up every day. I was attending an author's event featuring John Perkins, the author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.
The title is NOT an exaggeration. It is a shocking story and I don't shock easily. Most shocking of all because he has been allowed to live after writing it, speaking out. And he is an object lesson in life change. I didn't know this when I walked into the event. Hadn't even really clued in to the subject matter of his book. If you haven't yet come across the book, it's worth your time. So far as I know, he doesn't knit. But dude, is is SO tribe in every way that deeply matters. If you have the chance to hear him speak, go for it. (go to his website: www.JohnPerkins.org or that of a foundation he has established: www.dreamchange.org for more)
I did stand in line for his autograph in the book. It reads: "Caroline Keep opening your heart"
Hmmmm. Do you think I can take a hint when it smacks me right between the eyes?
Well if you don't it'll keep smacking you between the eyes till you do....best listen, will be a huge headache you get otherwise:0)
Keep those fingertips strong so you can hold on to the dream no matter what, opening up and seeing anew can be rather scary but exillerating all at the same time.
Empty and fill, empty and fill the cycle continues and in the continuation may dreams become reality and reality a gift you are ready to embrace and become.
Safe journeying.
Posted by: Daisy-Winifred | February 10, 2006 at 02:18 AM
I needa do that, crack my world open. Return to the wild a la feral. I love that word.
Posted by: Edge | February 10, 2006 at 06:06 AM
Is it our stage of life, or the world, that's making us all hit the same place at the same time? I love Pema Chodron. I need to look for that book.
Posted by: Catherine | February 10, 2006 at 05:23 PM
Tag. It's not too annoying or I wouldn't pass it on....
Posted by: Catherine | February 10, 2006 at 06:45 PM
I love your sentiments here, they resonate with what I'm going through right now . . . and more intriguing books to check out! Funny how when we invite answers into our lives, they come flooding in!
Posted by: Jayne | February 12, 2006 at 07:35 PM