During one of my recent morning contemplation, my thoughts turned to how consumed I am with the morning, afternoon, and evening news. A first for me, the non-stop divisiveness, turmoil, stress, and anger that permeates today’s climate has seeped through my pores and entered my psyche. I realized for my sense of well-being, I had to find a way to untangle from the onslaught of political rhetoric. I could try to ignore it by tuning out, but it’s not that easy to do. It lingers in the air like a darkened sky ready to burst wide open, if it hasn’t already. With a deep sigh, I turned to the page of the day in my Science of Mind magazine and read the following:
“I am thankful for all the miracles, seen and unseen that bring me back into alignment with my true nature. I am thankful for so many opportunities to learn to love myself so I could learn to love others.
I am thankful for the outstanding beauty of nature that makes me appreciate life. I am thankful for the wisdom to make right choices for my good. I am thankful for the vigor and health of my body that allows me to experience such a joyful, active life. I am thankful for the sunrises and sunsets, for the vastness of the ocean and the beauty of its many moods and colors. I am thankful for the clothes on my back, food on the table, and the roof over my head.
I am thankful for the quiet moments of self-reflection, for the peace in my heart when I realize how much I am loved. I am thankful for the people and books that inspire me, for the roses that smell heavenly, for the kindred spirits that understand me and support me on my life’s journey.
I am thankful for the way my vibration is lifted when I speak or think of my blessings, and mostly, I am thankful for the fact that more blessings come to me when I appreciate the ones I have.”
But besides being thankful, I can not bypass the unmeasurable pain and suffering happening in our homes, our hearts and around the globe. So I engage in a morning Tibetan Buddhist practice called Tonglen. It’s known as “taking and sending and reverses our logic of suffering and seeking.” I visualize taking in the pain and suffering of all sentient beings known and unknown, and inhale the words, worry, fear, and doubt and exhale hope, calm, and faith. The benefit for me is an awakened heart and another way to continue to cultivate loving-kindness.
Blessings and Namaste