What makes training in awareness so compelling, what makes me love it? That’s the question I’ve been exploring. It’s brought to the forefront that training in awareness is never boring, offers freedom from suffering, and is an adventurous way to live full-heartedly.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. As in any training, there are really difficult times. In my experience, it is in facing those challenges that strength, endurance and faith grows. Not giving up, continuing to show up over and over again, and having the support of Sangha allow for breakthroughs that widen the portals to what’s true. Otherwise I’m faced with living in the limited, robotic processes of egocentric karmic conditioning. So when the voices tell me to stop that’s the green light to continue full-steam ahead.
Trust in the process grows each time I come out the other side of a challenging time. If I’ve been paying attention I’m provided a growing clarity of what is NOT me, such as the opinions, judgments and stories that roll around in conditioned mind. Training with the tools of Practice offers me openings to the limitless vastness beyond conditioned thinking. Now there’s something to love!
Interviewing an object or creature is one favorite training tool. Beyond being fun, it provides me the direct experience of acceptance, love and limitless possibilities. There are often surprises which now seem a natural part of the awakening process.
Recording, especially the two-handed recording, is a staple of training that provides me the assurance there is always a welcoming ear for whatever is going on. It offers the acknowledgement of being heard and the presence of caring and kindness that is always available beyond the yammering of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. Perseverance in training makes this accessible.
The generous guidance offered through so many avenues in our Practice provides pointers of how to train and where to look. Following the guidance seems essential to not being derailed by conditioning. Guidance serves as the tiller, helping to keep the training on track. And there is abundant gratitude for this gift.
So I continue to train in awareness, knowing this is a lifelong adventure with limitless possibilities. It seems the most loving response to Life’s invitation to live full-heartedly.
Gassho,
Jan