I Can Not Meditate - A Buddhist Teaching

This is a story that we had to read about the common problems that come up for people new to meditation, and sometimes for those who have had to break their meditation practice for some reason.  

Perhaps you will find some wisdom that you, too, will be able to use.

  Picture of Elbow Falls in the Elbow Recreation Area - by J Hirst June 2024

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Beginners with meditation often get the feeling that they can't meditate; "I meditate for a week now, and still see no change", "I can't control my mind", "My mind is only getting crazier, I cannot get rid of my problems and thoughts". 
To briefly comment on these in order: 

Meditation requires patience - a few sessions will not undo a lifetime of opposite habits of excitement and confusion. 

None of us can control our mind unless we train ourselves to do it - have you ever seen anyone playing the violin nicely without practice? 

If it seems that our mind is getting worse, it usually means we just see our 'madness' better than before - the first step towards success! 

 

A story by Master Shen-Yen (from Ch'an Newsletter July 1982):

"The purpose of cultivation is not to seek anything, but to discover the faults in our character and behavior. By opening ourselves to self-investigation, we hope to find out where our problems lie, and if, after searching within ourselves, we can see these faults and problems, this in itself is the fruit of the practice. 

A woman on the last retreat said that the more she tries to get away from her faults, the stronger they seem to become. And the more she thinks about it, and wonders why she can't get rid of them, the more she gets disgusted with herself. She said, "Probably I just don't have the ability to practice meditation. A good practitioner is able to throw out their problems while practicing, and I'm not." At that time, I was standing up, and the light above cast a shadow of my body on the wall. I asked: "When I am standing still, is the shadow moving?" She said, "No." Then I walked slowly away, and the shadow followed me along. I walked quickly and the shadow kept pace with me. No matter how I tried, I could not get rid of it. Only if you turn the light out, or make your body disappear, will your shadow go away. 

Just like the shadow, our problems stick to our "self." Wherever there is a self, there must also be problems. But if you were to say, then, "I want to throw away my 'self'," that "I" who wants to get rid of the self indicates that the self is still there. This would amount to the self trying to throw away the self, which is impossible to accomplish. It would be just like trying to get rid of the shadow if your body is still there. If there is a subject, there is definitely an object. This being the case, is cultivation of any use? Of course it is, since we cultivate to discover our problems. Recognizing your problems shows you have made progress. Desiring to rid yourself of these problems may he a good sign, but actually that is not how we should approach it. The method of practice does not consist in throwing them out, but rather in decreasing the sense of self until it becomes so light that the problems will naturally disappear."

Many blessings,

Judy 

Yes, I Disappeared For A Bit

 

Picture from December 25 in Fish Creek Park, while the hoar frost was shining in the sun.

I have not been posting blogs because I had a medical emergency so have been out of circulation for about ten days.

I am still in the recovery stage so I will be posting every other day.  

Thanks for your patience and for sticking with me.

Many blessings,

Judy

White Owl’s Thoughts - Spirit Animal

This picture is from a series of wild life pictures someone sent me in an email.  Origin not known.

A while ago, one of my clients phoned me because they had an unusual experience driving into work in the morning, down Memorial Drive.  He said that a big white owl flew across his windshield twice.  He was awestruck.  However, when he excitedly looked around at other drivers, no one else appeared to see it.  He wanted to know what the message was.  The following message came to me in a meditation.  I shared it with him, and with his permission, with you.

White Owl’s Message

“This is the time to practice wisdom.  One of the greatest gifts of wisdom is patience.  The large Earth changes are upon us, and, because they happen slowly, humans do not see the degree of change that is happening.  We animals notice that the Sun and the Moon do not seem to always be in the place that it has been in seasons gone by.  We notice that there is more water in some places and much dryness in others.  It changes our food supply and we too must change – move to new hunting grounds and find new prey.  We notice that some of our kind do not seem to be as plentiful.  We that survive will need to continue the species.  We see changes in our abilities with each new change.  We are not ones to die off; we are survivors.  

We find it easy to move.  We have no home or possessions to carry with us.  We simply set our destination, and fly to that place.  We do have favourite places that we like to be, although it does not matter much to us where we sleep.  Humans are weighted down by so many things.  Perhaps that is why humans cannot fly.  Even your clothes seem heavy.  

I, Owl, say to you that now is a good time to look at lightening your load and finding ways to make your journey easier. “

Many blessings,

Judy

Let’s Talk About Compassion

Have you noticed that compassion seems to be lacking in the world today?  Yes, certain people have compassion.  In a wide sweep of the population on Earth, however, there seems to be little compassion for fellow humans.  We have more compassion and more energy for saving/rescuing/feeding animals.

This picture – compassion and caring – comes from www.proteuscoven.org

  

 

 

 

Lisa Beachy (www.lisabeachy.com) sent out her weekly angel message quite a while ago.  It was:

"Dearest friend, Living in compassion with those that you share this physical experience with is so key to your spiritual growth.  Compassion for their fear, compassion for the way they view certain issues and compassion for how they formed their beliefs in the first place. Compassion is needed from you for their decisions and the ability to give that compassion without judgement. Compassion for others, as well as YOURSELF will walk you further down your spiritual path quicker than any book or class.  - With Love, The Angels "

It was Lisa’s message that set me thinking about this issue of compassion and whether we feel it or not. At www.thefreedictionary.com, compassion is defined as “Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.”  Often, with people close to us, we do not see their suffering as truly suffering because we compare it to other things like a starving child in Africa, or being a street person at –30 C, or living in the slums of India.  What we are doing then, is making a judgement about the degree of suffering that the other person is doing.  If we do not think that they are really suffering, we have little compassion for them.  Sometimes we simply see them in the role of “victim”, and sometimes we have little patience for that. 

The Angels’ message is quite timely for me.  I have been wrestling with how to work with a friend who keeps expressing how much they are suffering, and yet I do not see it. I realise from Lisa’s message that I simply have to hold space for that person, and let them have their experience, whether it seems significant to me, or not.  And, in my compassion, I need to hold a space for my self, to let me work out my judgements around what I observe in others.

I am grateful for Lisa’s message.  I had an “aha” moment.  May you feel the truth of this message as well.

Blessings,

Judy

Understanding Patience

 

When you plant seeds in the garden, you don’t dig them up every day to see if they have sprouted yet. You simply water them and clear away the weeds; you know that the seeds will grow in time. Similarly, just do your daily practice and cultivate a kind heart. Abandon impatience and instead be content creating the causes for goodness; the results will come when they’re ready.  Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron, “Meditator’s Toolbox”

I watch people and I see their impatience.  I understand it because I was quite impatient in many things for a very long time.  I have come to understand that when I have no expectations of others, then, I have no impatience.

Many blessings,

Judy

The Patience of Water

Picture of Fish Creek flowing through the area known as Votier Flats in Fish Creek Park

Two weeks ago, I went walking with my friend in Votier Flats.  Even though it was quite warm out at 10 in the morning, the park was full of walkers, hikers, bikers, and large groups.  We spent most of our time walking along Fish Creek and when we could, going right down to the edge of the creek.  

As I watched the creek, I noticed how the water hurried along in some places and in other places, seemed to stand still.  I could see where the water worked away against a large rock, batting away at the rock as it tried to wear it down.  

I marvelled at the patience of the water, how it seemed to be happy to bat at the rock, and swirl in an eddy at a large bank, and yet be gentle along a sandy strip of beach.  People are not nearly so patient or so adaptable.  It seems that most people strike out rather than patiently finding a way to get what they need.  When we are demanding, we are out of balance with everything and we end up getting in our own way.

Many blessings,

Judy

 

I Have Been Busy!

 

I have had a very busy week, and I really have not had time to blog.  I am sorry about that because I enjoy my blogging sessions, and I love getting the emails and comments from everyone.

Thank you to all of you that shared stories with me this past week.  By the way, if you are okay with me sharing your story, please let me know in the email.  Some of you have very special stories that should be told.

So what have I been doing?  Most days, I am doing tasks to make my life easier.  We are selling or giving away things that we no longer need and getting ready to do some painting.  I have packed up four bags for Canadian Diabetes,  We are cleaning out nooks and crannies. As we clean and sort and pare, we feel the energy in the house shift. Subtle changes in balance happen from room to room.  Closets feel lighter.  Everything seems more airy. 

I think I am back on schedule!  Thanks for your patience.

Blessings.

Judy  

Email me at lightstationwisdom@gmail.com

Patience Solves Problems

 

The Ancestors tell us that to accomplish what they have accomplished takes great patience.  Simple tools and difficult environments meant that to build a house or a barn or a fence took a great deal of time.  

Our Ancestors laugh at us because they see that we want everything instantly.  We, the descendants, do not know patience.  Patience brings positivity.  Patience brings change slowly.  Patience gives us the courage to say hard things.

Today, lack of patience causes road rage, crimes against people and businesses, and huge misinterpretations and misunderstandings.

Today, slow down.  Practice patience.

Many blessings,

Judy

A Story About Patience

I have infinite patience for some things and some people and absolutely no patience for other things and other people.  It is something that I work on constantly.  I was telling a friend about my lack of patience that kicks in from time to time.  She shared this story with me.  In turn, I share it with you.

The Power of Patience

A Long time ago, there was a son who was extraordinarily respectful to his father. On his deathbed the father said: “My son, you honored me in my life time and now you must honor me after my death. I command you, if you should ever be overcome by anger you should hold back your angry until the next morning. 

After his father’s death, the son was forced to embark on a prolonged journey, which took him to distant lands for tens of years. Unbeknownst to him, the wife he left behind was expecting his child. 

After his years of absence, the husband returned home unannounced, hoping to joyously surprise his wife. But as he approached his bedchamber he saw his wife embracing a handsome young man, a stranger. The husband became fiercely jealous and reached for his dagger - when he suddenly remembered the pledge he made to his father: He must hold back his rage overnight. 

The next day he was shocked to discover that the young man in his wife’s embrace was none other than his own son, the child that his wife had borne during his long absence. The man was thus saved from tragically slaughtering his own family. 

Source: “A Letter for the Ages” Mesorah Publications 1989 

The greatest remedy for anger is delay. –Seneca

Many Blessings,

Judy