This Diwali–festival of light.
I have been cleaning out old files. Mostly I keep my drawers and closets relatively free of clutter and the unnecessary, but there are occasional pockets that have lived on because they were not a priority and neat enough. Found among postcards and letters from friends was one I received from a friend of a friend in October 2001. I never got to know her well. My friend has since moved out of the neighborhood and his friend moved back to Germany several years ago to start a family. Here is what she sent:
a picture from India [not shown] and a saying for you —
Live with intention
Walk to the edge
Listen hard
Practice wellness
Play with abandon
Laugh.
Choose with no regret
Continue to learn
Appreciate your friends
Do what you love
Live as if this is all there is.
A super sweet message. Now that I have shared it, I will recycle the original piece of paper. Thank you Uta. I hope all is well.
Secretary Hilda Solis sent workers at the Department of Labor an email invitation yesterday to do some volunteer activity today to honor those who lost their lives in the tragedy of 9-11. She did not remind us of terror or enmity or need for war.
It resonated with what my teacher John Friend, who often discusses the need to serve as part of our practice, counsels in times of distress. He admits that it is not, as the t-shirt would have it, “all good.” We can choose, though, how to respond to violence, to suffering, to meanness, to evil. We can, he urges, seek to respond from “the highest.” We personally have the choice to try to bring light when we encounter darkness.
I do not always succeed, particularly with the small things, but I continue to try, and I deeply appreciate all the teachings and reminders I get.
Would this sign say something different to the teachers and practitioners of the various religions?
To the renunciate and the householder?
Many thanks to all who came out, got deep into their practice, and gave support to the Seva Foundation and the Willow Street kula. Per T’s request, here’s the playlist for the workshop:
Mountain Chalisa, Krishna Das, Pilgrim Heart
Sita Ram, Jai Uttal, Kirtan
Sri Ram, Shantala, Sri
Veerapuram Dham, Hanuman Foundation, Songs in Praise of Hanuman
Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Dave Stringer, Japa
Rock on Hanuman, MC Yogi, Elephant Power
Hanuman Chalisa, Bhagavan Das, Now
Good Ole Chalisa, Krishna Das, Flow of Grace
Anjani Putra, Hanuman Foundation, Songs in Praise of Hanuman
Enjoy!
