09/30/2015
Fear is false experiences appearing real. It is like walking alone in a forest and a deer sees you before you see the deer and it runs off and the sound of the deer running through the branches and leaves scares you to death like someone is after you. But you turn and see the deer running and you suddenly relax. My teacher Chogyam Trungpa taught me to not be afraid to be myself. That if I was on an airplane going down to look at the other passengers with compassion, to make eye contact with them and to breath in an out. I try to remember to be kind but find I am not kind to myself or others when I berate myself, when I am scared, when I am defensive, overwhelmed, frustrated. When I slow down, feel the smell of the shampoo when washing my hair, taste the slice of pizza when I am so hungry I feel great appreciation. Yet sometimes I eat when I am rushed and I don't remember anything about the food just the mind rushing to what I have to do, where I have to be. This is not living the way I want. So I practice slowing down, being silent, breathing in and out, looking into the eyes of the people I am with and enjoy being alive and enjoy others.
Let us all practice showing up and responding to whatever is happening with genuine wakefulness and kindness. I dedicate this merit to all people suffering with false experiences appearing real and wake up to they are fine just who they are right now. Many blessings.
