On Being Spacious

by Elihu Genmyo Smith

When we think that our life is limited or small, then all sorts of events and circumstances can disturb us and result in dissatisfaction, stress and suffering. We only have limited space, and can become disturbed (or worse) over what fits or not, what we like or dislike. When we know that our life is broad and vast and includes the many beings and circumstances that we encounter, then we can be at ease despite having to act and work with all sorts of situations – some quite difficult, painful, and initially seemingly unresolvable for us – because we know that our efforts are manifesting and revealing the life that we are. We are spacious and can act spaciously, making the efforts to be spaciously skillful and appropriate.   Unfortunately, we often do not recognize our life for what it is. When we do not see our life as it is, our actions may lead to further entanglement. If our actions are skillful and appropriate, grappling with conditions and circumstances can be an opportunity to encounter our life, expanding our vision and capacity, nurturing this moment’s encounter, this moment’s intimacy.  We are able to see and be reminded of who we are; our grappling and practicing in the midst of conditions allows the spaciousness of our life to be evident and manifest.....   The rest of this article is at : http://www.watkinsbooks.com/review/on-being-spacious-by-elihu-genmyo-smith (c) 2013 Elihu Genmyo Smith

"If the circumstances are such that a female Dalai Lama is more useful, then automatically a female Dalai Lama will come." His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso

 

In what circumstances is a male Dalai Lama more useful?

In what circumstances is a female Dalai Lama more useful?

What changes would a female Dalai Lama make in Tibetan Buddhism and culture today? What other consequences might we imagine today if there is a female Dalai Lama?

For the rest of this interesting article and comments by readers, see:

The Dalai Lama Says Female Leaders Are More Compassionate ... Hmm

http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/06/the-dalai-lama-says-female-leaders-are-more-compassionate-hmm/276843/

What makes for compassion?

What nurtures and supports compassion in our life practice?

What makes compassion "difficult" for us?

And, most important for our ongoing life practice, what are our skillful and appropriate actions when these "difficult" circumstances arise?

(c) 2013 Elihu Genmyo Smith

Meditation, yoga and Christian fundamentalism

An interesting article that highlights issues Christian fundamentalists (and other theistic traditions ?) have with meditation, yoga and non-theistic practice.

Though the presentation of yoga and meditation are skewed and distorted, there are valuable points in the article.

"Yoga begins and ends with an understanding of the body that is, to say the very least, at odds with the Christian understanding. Christians are not called to empty the mind or to see the human body as a means of connecting to and coming to know the divine."

"The purpose of such meditation is to empty oneself. . . . [Satan] is happy to invade the empty vacuum of your soul and possess it. That is why people serve Satan without ever knowing it or deciding to, but no one can be a child of God without making a decision to surrender to him. Beware of systems of spirituality which tell you to empty yourself. You will end up filled with something you probably do not want."

http://www.theatlantic.com/garance-franke-ruta/


Some valuable questions to ask are:

What is "meditation"?

What is "surrender" and to what does one surrender?

How do we understand "empty oneself"?

What practice efforts would support and enable "emptying oneself"?

And what is discovered when self is "empty"?



(c) 2013 Elihu Genmyo Smith