Many years ago, before I retired, I used to teach an out-patient course on Mindfulness, the actual practice and real life utilization of being present to our inner and outer worlds.
That's a wonderful way to define the Full Catastrophe, "the poignant enormity of our life experience." All of what you say here is true to my experience, especially "we need more than a dollop of grace to keep our hearts open."
Lovely! I worked for three years to Pema Chodron, at the headquarters for the Tibetan Buddhist community of Chogyam Trungpa in Boulder Colorado in the early 80s , and now at 86, me at 74 , she live up the mountain street from me in Crestone, Colorado, a spiritually oriented small mountain community ! I live Zorba and Kabat-Zinn and quite your quotes often♥️♥️lovely you shared this, I feel the sister kinship, fellow traveller🙏🏼
Another great connection with have, Judith. I practiced at Karme Choling in Barnet, Vermont and arrived just after Trungpa had died. I'm glad I began at that time because I know first hand about male Tibetan Buddhist leaders and their lack of adherence to vows...some but not all certainly but far too many.
I had to read this twice to process the full meaning of catastrophe. Much to think about but what comes to mind is that every thing has a shadow and Jung's "holding the tension of the opposites."
Yes, Linda, "holding the tensions of the opposite" is it exactly. I would further add that Shadow is an archetype in the unconscious which we never 'get rid of' but rears it head in our behavior if not integrated. I think of the sexual acting out in religious leaders who are doing all of the forbidden actions they are supposed to refrain from as an example of a non-integrated Shadow. We should only live so long to get all of our inner and outer lives order.
Wise words to hold near when our expectations are disappointed with what is.
I'm sorry for the loss of your Sister Friend, Frances. Her memory is a blessing.
Thank you for your kind words, Elizabeth.
That's a wonderful way to define the Full Catastrophe, "the poignant enormity of our life experience." All of what you say here is true to my experience, especially "we need more than a dollop of grace to keep our hearts open."
Thank you for saying this, Elizabeth. It's an ongoing piece of work not to shut down. I know that well.
Lovely! I worked for three years to Pema Chodron, at the headquarters for the Tibetan Buddhist community of Chogyam Trungpa in Boulder Colorado in the early 80s , and now at 86, me at 74 , she live up the mountain street from me in Crestone, Colorado, a spiritually oriented small mountain community ! I live Zorba and Kabat-Zinn and quite your quotes often♥️♥️lovely you shared this, I feel the sister kinship, fellow traveller🙏🏼
Another great connection with have, Judith. I practiced at Karme Choling in Barnet, Vermont and arrived just after Trungpa had died. I'm glad I began at that time because I know first hand about male Tibetan Buddhist leaders and their lack of adherence to vows...some but not all certainly but far too many.
I'm so appreciative that we have connected.
xx
I had to read this twice to process the full meaning of catastrophe. Much to think about but what comes to mind is that every thing has a shadow and Jung's "holding the tension of the opposites."
Yes, Linda, "holding the tensions of the opposite" is it exactly. I would further add that Shadow is an archetype in the unconscious which we never 'get rid of' but rears it head in our behavior if not integrated. I think of the sexual acting out in religious leaders who are doing all of the forbidden actions they are supposed to refrain from as an example of a non-integrated Shadow. We should only live so long to get all of our inner and outer lives order.