Awakened Artistry

Yoga + Buddhism + Peace + Intention + Love + Spirit + You

There is a fine tuned ecology between each of us, and each of our actions has a wide effect, just like ripples from dropping pebbles in a pond. Each time we open and help someone, it has a ripple effect. Instead of adding more fear, aggression, and paranoia in the world, we’re adding more nonaggression, openness, and loving-kindness. As individuals are transformed at an inner level, the benefit spreads to their families, to their communities, and to the world.

—Pema Chodron

Surrender

                                           

There are always common themes interrelating themselves and appearing in our lives. Lately the act of surrender has been the re-appearing concecept around me, no matter where I look. I surrendered my previous ideas and notions to move across the country to start a new life. I surrendered my affliction with the pull between wanting a relationship with my family and wanting to stay away from the abuse.  I surrendered to the idea that I could love my family and at the same time choose to not be around them, subject to further pain. Once separation occurred a new outlook was formed. One of unconditional love and kindness towards every living being, including my family, and most importantly, myself.

I surrendered to the notion that maybe I was good enough. That maybe I wasn’t inadequate in any way. That maybe I could find the courage within myself, to love myself. In loving myself, then the confidence to turn towards the world with an open heart. Through suffering I shut down to my experience of pain, only creating more suffering for the future. The tide now turns in the opposite direction.

I want to know your pain. I want to look you in the eyes, and say, I care. I want you to know that you are not alone. I want you to know that not only are you not alone, you are the same as everyone else. I want to give you whatever will ease your suffering. With love the fills this entire earth, I want you to be happy. I want you to heal your wounds and turn toward the sun. I want you to smile.

Can we collectively remain open to others’ pain and their joy? Can we stay open for just 1 more second before shutting down today with those around us? Can we listen?

Look into the eyes of another human being. They want happiness just as bad as you do. Same as you. Help them.

babydoll1976: culturedwind: “As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world” —Buddha 

babydoll1976:

culturedwind:

“As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world” —Buddha 

Intention

For the rest of my life, it is my responsibility to grow in mindfulness and happiness. Each day I will expand the loving kindness I already have, and each morning I will open my wisdom-eye to see more and more deeply into the inner universal reality. I take responsibility for my life and dedicate it to others by growing strong in loving kindness and wisdom. I will serve others as much as possible.

There is no need to struggle to be free; the absence of struggle is in itself freedom. This egoless state is the attainment of buddhahood. The process of transforming the material of mind from expressions of ego’s ambition into expressions of basic sanity and enlightenment through the practice of meditation—this might be said to be the true spiritual path.

—Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism - Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Longing, felt fully, carries us to belonging. The more times we traverse this path—feeling the loneliness or craving, and inhabiting its immensity—the more the longing for love becomes a getaway into love itself. Our longings don’t disappear, nor does the need for others. But by opening into the well of desire—again and again—we come to trust the boundless love that is it’s source.

—Tara Brach in Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha.

The warrior’s decorum is this natural togetherness and calm, which comes from feeling of being in harmony with yourself and with the environment. You don’t have to try to fit yourself into situations, but situations fit naturally. When you achieve this level of decorum, then you can abandon the final vestiges of the giant backpack of habitual patterns that you have been carrying for so long to protect yourself from nature. You can appreciate nature’s own qualities, and you see that you do not need your bag of ego-centered tricks. You realize that you can live with nature, as it is, and as you are. You feel a sense of ease or looseness. You feel at home in your world.

—Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche - Shambhala: The Sacred Path of the Warrior

crazy wisdom

peace2myhead:

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche - @ bad boy@ of buddhism, meditation master. Trungpa Rinpoche was the 11th descendent in the line of Trungpa tulkus, important teachers of the Kagyü lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Except that he was truly a great man and teacher, who “inspired” millions, he was a dandy. I love his style, it is absolutely gorgeous and pure.