Introduction
Many people feel a longing to be more present, more “here” in each moment, a longing to feel more alive. There can be a sameness, a numbness, a tension, a feeling of “is this all there is?” to daily life. We may be struggling with thoughts and feelings that we should be different, that our lives should be different. We often feel a general uneasiness, dissatisfaction or anxiety that takes away from the enjoyment we believe is possible.
We might also sense that it’s possible to connect with others more deeply, to show more compassion and receive it from others, to feel more love and warmth, if only we could see beyond our caught-up minds and busy lives.
**It's been a while since I've added new pages to the site, but have recently started to do that. See Frameworks and Patterns (Brick by Brick) for most recent additions.**
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Some people have asked about practical exercises related to the writings. These are sprinkled throughout and start with the title "Exploration". Many of them are found in the section Observation Points or you can look in the Site Map to find all of them. The material directly beforehand usually gives some context for the exercise.
There are many different spiritual paths, and for good reason – people are touched and opened in different ways. What I’m writing about here is one kind of journey. On one hand, the layers of learning and seeing are endless and always continue. On the other hand, it feels quite tangible that my mind has changed noticeably over the past ten years. It’s more present, less reactive, less prone to getting caught up in neurotic thoughts, less speedy, and much more comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity. It’s a mind that’s less in search of defense and perfection, and more comfortable with the full range of the brilliance and the pain of the human condition. Though I still have lots of foibles and flaws, I can feel the difference in my mind and in the quality of my life. I feel alive, not like I’m living a tentative and anxious life in my head.
As I contemplate how those changes have happened over time, and share about it in groups and with friends, the major “shifts in seeing” become more clear. For me, it started with seeing the ways we interpret what happens – what I call ‘storylines’. These stories collect into patterns and frameworks that, without our knowledge and despite our wishes, shape our lives. When we can see these stories, patterns and frameworks more clearly, we are able to act from a larger and more grounded sense of awareness that is separate from our stories. Our compassion is also unleashed and enhanced, almost as an automatic side effect.
Some would say it’s not a journey, that there are no stages – that one can move into complete clarity in a single moment, without any prior path or practice necessary. I believe that’s true and possible. Yet, for most people, it appears to be helpful and even necessary to first perceive the mind’s speed and confusion more clearly, to know our ‘stories’ more accurately. By some serendipitous grace, that journey of being with the confusion more intimately can, surprisingly, also lead us to clarity.
Very little of what’s here comes originally from me -- my words are permeated by and reflective of all the teachers and friends who’ve shared their wisdom, confusion, thoughts and feelings with me, and my thanks go out to all of them.
Next: Storylines
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