In this talk, Michael addresses the paradox of spiritual fire being fueled and focused by surrender. Taking the inward step allows us to see that we can’t keep anything and yet we learn to accept and, indeed, celebrate this reality as we meet the world. We do this by recognizing, accepting, integrating and not attaching to whatever we face. In this way, the way out is marked by our journey within.
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Wish we would teach this in school: how to cope, deal, accept life; get emotional & spiritual training along with academic subjects (I bet it would make kids feel closer to one another as well). I really enjoyed listening to you.
Hi Michael–
I really enjoyed your talk this morning while tackling the morning dishes. As I poured my first cup of coffee (as if in sync), you were asking, ‘ is your coffee fair trade’…as the french press tipped. How’s that for dependent co-arising. I was having a conversation with a co-worker yesterday who is very attached to ‘her Christianity’, and was asking about Zen. I too reduced the four noble truths into three (although I called them four)…but really introduced them as three…said I’m not attached even to any practice (truly)…and we should always have faith that allows great doubt! I too have been thinking a-lot about the middle space in between the two extremes of a ‘viewpoint’ and find that it is here (as you said) that things are completely respected in their ‘true and actual nature’. Things AS IT IS…they say. If it wasn’t for that twitter device, and the fact I was trying to ‘win’ some tickets (so I signed up), and my old high-school friend Rachel Maddow was the only person I was following other than the ticket people (seemed to have called out my endeavors by re-posting it on the web–(my flip comments that is…I may be wrong it may be random) and then for redemptive, and commitment purposes I decided it was time I let this twitter thing happen. So if I tweet or not–whatever…but I have enjoyed several aspects of ‘sharing’ I have found through the web just spun…and just wanted to let you know a bit more than a tweet line how i have enjoyed your talks from time to time….because you never know and I like games!
In the world–feeling grateful….enjoy those Buddhas in your house. Not mine is 16 now, and a total tweenasattva-loka.
It really is wonderful isn’t it? Lets never forget!!!
D. Flower,
aka Tenka Koan