Sanctuary From The Storm and The Golden Key To Happiness
Enjoying peaceful contentment in our sanctuary; How meditation is the essential tool for attaining inner peace an d freedom from suffering.
SPIRITUAL SOUP KITCHEN # 1 Friday March 10, 2023
Photo Credit: Chinmayan
SANCTUARY FROM THE STORM
Rain is beating against the roof of our tiny house this morning in an ever increasing tempo as this new storm sweeps over our high mountain valley.
Through the tiny window next to me I can see raindrops exploding in the puddles in the yard which are steadily growing into little ponds.
After all of our hard work of harvesting and making firewood for families in need yesterday, it is pleasant to be sitting here, safe and warm at my tiny desk as Ani cooks us a special breakfast that smells so delicious.
The wind is coming up now, cold and fierce, howling as it passes and rocks this little house on its wheels.
I have worked through many storms in the past, in full rain gear doing what needed to be done.
I know that If it were necessary, I would be suiting up and headed out to work in the wind and wet.
I am very grateful we do not have to today…because we did push through yesterday while the sky was blue and sunny.
I can be really relaxed and enjoy even these howling winds this morning, because I am more and more in sync with divine timing, which to me means doing things at the right time, in the right way as I am shown to do through my own inner guidance.
Celebration
Instead of complaining about how wet, cold and scary it is outside,
I chose to celebrate the raging storm.
When it gets a little too warm inside, it is a joy to slide the tiny window open just a little and feel the cold wind and raindrops kissing my face.
Photo Credit: Chinmayn
I AM IN A STATE OF DEEP CONTENTMENT THIS MORNING
One of the principles Kalu Rinpoche taught us is to understand all the ways our own minds create unnecessary suffering, and that the purpose and intention of practicing the dharma is to free us from suffering, through gaining control of our minds.
The spiritual dharma path begins with learning, studying, then reflecting on its foundational principles… so that your practice has a structure to it and a kind of roadmap showing you where you need to go, why dharma practice is necessary, and how to get there.
The older I get and the more I have practiced, the more I appreciate these foundational principles which have been the guideposts for my life and spiritual evolution.
The ability to feel contentment is one of them, to have learned how to be in a state of peaceful well being that is free from complaining about the way things are, or wanting something different than what you have in the moment.
The foundational principles are profound, revealing layer after layer of meaning as they are studied and applied to daily life over time. That’s why they are called the foundations…because all of the vast, beautiful and “higher teachings” are possible with these bedrock truths in place first.
I am in a state of deep contentment this morning.
There are, of course, several situations and looming issues that I could be focused on that would be churning my mind and emotions, but, I know that we will deal with them effectively in due course.
I am in contentment now because I have learned how to let go of things and trust in the flow of life.
I know thoroughly how poisonous and acidic worry and fear is, so I no longer indulge in allowing worried or fearful thinking.
Being content is not accidental or dependent upon circumstances.
I have learned to cultivate it consciously, and on purpose with the goal of achieving the state of contentment.
Photo Credit: Chinmayan
WE ARE AT THE EFFECT OF OUR MINDS ALL OF THE TIME…
Most of us are at the effect of our own minds all of the time, so we are happy for a while, then unhappy…feel peaceful, then upset…relaxed one minute then totally stressed out the next, as our mind does its thing beyond our awareness or control.
When you take up traveling the spiritual path, it is with the absolute intention to gain control over your mind so that you, not your mind consciously determines your mental, emotional and spiritual state.
MEDITATION AND MANTRA PRACTICE ARE ESSENTIAL TOOLS
In the dharma, meditation is called the essential tool for “mind training.” One of the five meditations that I have used all of my life is singing or chanting mantras that I received from teachers in direct transmission.
“The word “mantra” is derived from two Sanskrit words..manas (mind) and tra (tool). Mantra literally means “a tool for the mind”, and was designed to help practitioners access a higher power and their true natures.” —from Yoga Journal March, 2018
Meditation and mantras are “tools” for tapping and directing the awesome powers of your mind to raise your own consciousness…using the powers of the mind to become free from being at the effect of an uncontrolled mind.
Until we become aware of how our minds work, and take control, life is like being on a never ending roller coaster ride of up and down and sideways.
Most of us regard this as the way life just is and ever will be, and may not think it can ever be otherwise.
Fortunately, life can be so much better in every way, once we gain even a small amount of awareness and ability to control and direct our mind.
Then, we consciously choose to stop the roller coaster and we get off it.
As we keep “working the process”, we are more and more able to tap into our amazing inner resources and consciously create a life lived at higher and higher levels of awareness and love.
Photo Credit: Chinmayan
BECOMING THE OWNER OF A WELL CONTROLLED MIND IS THE GOLDEN KEY TO LASTING HAPPINESS
I know this ground very well because I suffered from depression, anger, and other dark unhappy states that I could not control or get out of before I met Rinpoche, received the training and launched my own path and practice.
And that has made and continues to make a major difference ever since.
TAMING OUR WILD HORSE MINDS
We all have minds that are like beautiful, powerful wild horses that need to be trained if we are ever to ride them them anywhere.
As Rinpoche often said, ‘Your own mind can be either a wonderful servant or a terrible master. You must train yourself through meditation to control and direct it or it will continue to be the cause of your suffering.”
Being the owner of a well controlled mind focused on evolving spiritually, becoming more loving and compassionate, engaged in serving others and the world is key to healing and becoming free from all suffering and then being able to help others achieve it too.
Image Credit: Still Mountain Meditation Center
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