Hey Joan - some lovely nuggets there...cutting precisely, as though you were using a scalpel...
Much of what you write resonates with my own experiences, although joy in adverse circumstances has to date eluded me - increased contentment, sure, but not what I recognise as joy.
Yes, definitely. I think we're just using different words. That's really what I'm talking about. Contentment. The peace that is at peace even with not feeling peaceful. There are highes and lows, but an underlying sense of okay-ness.
I so resonated with this piece Joan. I do find it a challenge to stay centred in the stormy weather as my mind pulls me one way or another - aversion, attraction.... but i know the place of stillness is ultimately where i need to be.
Gracias querida amiga aparentemente desconocida, este supuesto otro, también desconocido, se reconoce en tus palabras, que ya no son tuyas, y se desliza una intuición, nunca nos hemos separado de la Vida, aunque el sueño de la grieta continúe, algo susurra en lo profundo: nunca has dejado tú Hogar. Gracias. Gracias. Gracias. 🙏🏼
Joan, your words resonate deeply. Thanks for sharing your powerful perspective. I gather with a multitude that commonly stands in the idea “we know only a little!” And as each day passes in this journey as Stephanie, how incredibly clear it becomes. 💜
There’s something very true there – that the utter uniqueness of our dreams is not disputed, but the utter uniqueness of our waking impressions is the source of dispute since it 'seems' that we are seeing the same table, how, when and what we eat upon it becomes the basis for war.
I read your previous offering Walking On Water and this most recent one back-to-back. The separate stories of Jesus walking on water and his stilling of the storm have clear overlaps, and both have even deeper meaning for me after contemplating your words. As the story goes, before Jesus calmed the storm he was asleep. He was resting… a different state of consciousness, if you will. As you say, it is possible to rest in the midst of the storm. And it is possible to walk on water, playfully engaging with the world of form. And when others see someone resting and playing while they are freaking out and drowning (or appearing to be freaking out and drowning… fearing death)… WHAT an invitation that is. On the other hand, in both stories, Jesus calmed both storms. The balance between resting and acting. In my experience, Life has a way of letting me know when it’s time for resting or acting, and usually, for me, action that comes from a place of rest, is the most useful. But sometimes my action comes from a place of fear. And as you also say, it’s all included. We can’t get it wrong. And eventually the stormy weather just passes… as does the calm. Thank you for all of these reminders and perspectives, Joan!
Lovely as always ! I resonate with and as most of what you say including the freedom and identification, the struggle with being attached to outcomes and freefall.....
I also was raised left and now am open to the wide spectrum.
RE the world today, this comment really says it all: But I’m convinced that one of the greatest threats to genuine democracy and our ability to co-exist and cooperate as human beings is the now hyper-polarized way we all tend to be in opposing tribal groups and separate media silos that cater to, confirm and never challenge what we already believe.
Joan, it is like you are looking over my shoulder. (-:) The urge to do something. The utter conviction. The descent into rage and fear. Finding fault "on both sides." The apalling shortcomings in my own being after (only) 74 years. The faltering attempts; the flickering belief that "peace" is available only in this moment. I know I "do it" for me - noone else can. And it is such a joy and comfort to know that I am not alone. I'll go to the march this afternoon. I will re-read your piece and meditate beforehand. I will do my best to radiate "The Four Limitless Ones" to my fellow marchers and to all. Thank you Joan. More support forthcoming. Love, Tom
Your evolution is admirable, Joan: seeing how you strip yourself bare and evolve, seeing how you go to the root of things.
I am particularly struck by your proposal to listen openly to the position of those who seem to be at our antipodes. This capacity demands great empathy, and with it the mercy the "Bishop" spoke of in relation to the expelled emigrants. Her speech is entirely applicable to hundreds of millions of people around the world who struggle to survive because a few, a very few, monopolize everything.
Let us learn from Nature, which is essentially, in contrast to the capitalist system in which we live, which is totally selfish and lacking in empathy.
I'm glad the article resonated. To some extent, this is the kind of comment I had hoped not to get (politically partisan and specific), but yes, open listening does require a capacity for empathy and a willingness to question our own ideas and attachment to them. 🙏
In contrast to the cooperation that is perceived in Nature, we, humans, are moved by selfishness, not depending on any particular system. That is a fact.
Nature can be quite violent, and other animals can be very selfish and territorial. And then, sometimes they cooperate, as do trees apparently. But either way, there is an ecological interdependence and balance in nature in which predator and prey exist in a larger harmony. It seems that humanity often destroys this balance, which in a limited way we certainly do, and yet, from a larger more cosmic perspective, I sense that it is all in perfect harmony.
I wouldn't say humans are moved only by selfishness, and certainly not more so than other animals. Humans can also be incredibly generous, no? And our ability to cooperate in large ways is probably one of the reasons we're at the top of the food chain. But certainly, there is selfish behavior, and greed, and lack of empathy, and all sorts of terrible forms of cruelty. I don't know if there is any perfect political system. And issues such as immigration have turned out to be far more complex than I once imagined, back when I just thought all borders should be abolished. It seems sometimes in many areas of life that we err in one direction and then in the opposite direction.
Anyway, I appreciate your being here, and thank you for all your kind words. 🙏
A lot to take in here. Though I resonnate with all you have said, Joan, I find it very challenging to practice, so I appreciate your acknowledgement that this doesn't always come easy for you. Thanks for explaining things in a way that really makes sense to me.
Your writing is inspiring. You have lived the kind of life I would like to emulate.
Hey Joan - some lovely nuggets there...cutting precisely, as though you were using a scalpel...
Much of what you write resonates with my own experiences, although joy in adverse circumstances has to date eluded me - increased contentment, sure, but not what I recognise as joy.
Hope your day pans out okay mate...
Contentment is good.
Absolutely…actually, I find myself valuing an underlying sense of contentment much more than “happiness” nowadays.
It somehow feels more of a reliable base than any peak emotional reaction…
Dunno - just my take on it, obviously…
Yes, definitely. I think we're just using different words. That's really what I'm talking about. Contentment. The peace that is at peace even with not feeling peaceful. There are highes and lows, but an underlying sense of okay-ness.
Spot on mate. Thank you.
I so resonated with this piece Joan. I do find it a challenge to stay centred in the stormy weather as my mind pulls me one way or another - aversion, attraction.... but i know the place of stillness is ultimately where i need to be.
Gracias querida amiga aparentemente desconocida, este supuesto otro, también desconocido, se reconoce en tus palabras, que ya no son tuyas, y se desliza una intuición, nunca nos hemos separado de la Vida, aunque el sueño de la grieta continúe, algo susurra en lo profundo: nunca has dejado tú Hogar. Gracias. Gracias. Gracias. 🙏🏼
Joan, your words resonate deeply. Thanks for sharing your powerful perspective. I gather with a multitude that commonly stands in the idea “we know only a little!” And as each day passes in this journey as Stephanie, how incredibly clear it becomes. 💜
There’s something very true there – that the utter uniqueness of our dreams is not disputed, but the utter uniqueness of our waking impressions is the source of dispute since it 'seems' that we are seeing the same table, how, when and what we eat upon it becomes the basis for war.
I read your previous offering Walking On Water and this most recent one back-to-back. The separate stories of Jesus walking on water and his stilling of the storm have clear overlaps, and both have even deeper meaning for me after contemplating your words. As the story goes, before Jesus calmed the storm he was asleep. He was resting… a different state of consciousness, if you will. As you say, it is possible to rest in the midst of the storm. And it is possible to walk on water, playfully engaging with the world of form. And when others see someone resting and playing while they are freaking out and drowning (or appearing to be freaking out and drowning… fearing death)… WHAT an invitation that is. On the other hand, in both stories, Jesus calmed both storms. The balance between resting and acting. In my experience, Life has a way of letting me know when it’s time for resting or acting, and usually, for me, action that comes from a place of rest, is the most useful. But sometimes my action comes from a place of fear. And as you also say, it’s all included. We can’t get it wrong. And eventually the stormy weather just passes… as does the calm. Thank you for all of these reminders and perspectives, Joan!
Lovely as always ! I resonate with and as most of what you say including the freedom and identification, the struggle with being attached to outcomes and freefall.....
I also was raised left and now am open to the wide spectrum.
RE the world today, this comment really says it all: But I’m convinced that one of the greatest threats to genuine democracy and our ability to co-exist and cooperate as human beings is the now hyper-polarized way we all tend to be in opposing tribal groups and separate media silos that cater to, confirm and never challenge what we already believe.
Beautiful. Wise. Helpful. Deeply Grateful- Thank You.
Joan, it is like you are looking over my shoulder. (-:) The urge to do something. The utter conviction. The descent into rage and fear. Finding fault "on both sides." The apalling shortcomings in my own being after (only) 74 years. The faltering attempts; the flickering belief that "peace" is available only in this moment. I know I "do it" for me - noone else can. And it is such a joy and comfort to know that I am not alone. I'll go to the march this afternoon. I will re-read your piece and meditate beforehand. I will do my best to radiate "The Four Limitless Ones" to my fellow marchers and to all. Thank you Joan. More support forthcoming. Love, Tom
What a gift to wake up to. Thank you Joan. 🌻
Just this....
"So perhaps giving attention to wholeness rather than division might actually be the greatest gift we can offer the world."
Thank you Joan.
Your evolution is admirable, Joan: seeing how you strip yourself bare and evolve, seeing how you go to the root of things.
I am particularly struck by your proposal to listen openly to the position of those who seem to be at our antipodes. This capacity demands great empathy, and with it the mercy the "Bishop" spoke of in relation to the expelled emigrants. Her speech is entirely applicable to hundreds of millions of people around the world who struggle to survive because a few, a very few, monopolize everything.
Let us learn from Nature, which is essentially, in contrast to the capitalist system in which we live, which is totally selfish and lacking in empathy.
Thank you very much
I'm glad the article resonated. To some extent, this is the kind of comment I had hoped not to get (politically partisan and specific), but yes, open listening does require a capacity for empathy and a willingness to question our own ideas and attachment to them. 🙏
In contrast to the cooperation that is perceived in Nature, we, humans, are moved by selfishness, not depending on any particular system. That is a fact.
Nature can be quite violent, and other animals can be very selfish and territorial. And then, sometimes they cooperate, as do trees apparently. But either way, there is an ecological interdependence and balance in nature in which predator and prey exist in a larger harmony. It seems that humanity often destroys this balance, which in a limited way we certainly do, and yet, from a larger more cosmic perspective, I sense that it is all in perfect harmony.
I wouldn't say humans are moved only by selfishness, and certainly not more so than other animals. Humans can also be incredibly generous, no? And our ability to cooperate in large ways is probably one of the reasons we're at the top of the food chain. But certainly, there is selfish behavior, and greed, and lack of empathy, and all sorts of terrible forms of cruelty. I don't know if there is any perfect political system. And issues such as immigration have turned out to be far more complex than I once imagined, back when I just thought all borders should be abolished. It seems sometimes in many areas of life that we err in one direction and then in the opposite direction.
Anyway, I appreciate your being here, and thank you for all your kind words. 🙏
Have you heard the song "Stormy Weather" by Echo & the Bunnymen? It's one of my favorites.
I think I remember it.
A lot to take in here. Though I resonnate with all you have said, Joan, I find it very challenging to practice, so I appreciate your acknowledgement that this doesn't always come easy for you. Thanks for explaining things in a way that really makes sense to me.
Hola ¡ t'has passat l'article és massa llarg .
Sí es el que feria un esperit sensible ,, donar cops a la paret fins que es posa a lloc.
Ara sabem podem saber que cada cosa persona és en el seu fons i está ple d'amor