Recently, while digging through a drawer, I found a letter I had written to myself a few years ago. There were so many beautiful and loving thoughts on the page, but it was the opening line that got my attention:
“Remember—recording and listening really does work!”
This reminder was written by someone who really loves me. Someone who cares about me. Someone who wants the best for me. I would go so far as to say that this letter was written by an amazing, wise, skillful, compassionate mentor.
Honestly, I had not been recording and listening for a couple of months when I found this letter. This can happen for me from time to time. Just as I can wander away from the breath during meditation, so I can also wander off with egocentric karmic conditioning and ignore the practice tools that I know will nurture and sustain my heart.
When I found this letter with its sweet reminder, I instantly knew what I had to do. I grabbed my recorder as quickly as I could and I made a recording of the letter. Then I listened to it right away. Then I made a quick response recording. Then I listened to that. This kept going for a little while until I had made a number of recordings and listened to them all. Just like that—I was back to recording and listening.
I decided that moving forward, whenever it dropped in for me that recording might be a good idea, I would then just do it no matter what. I give myself full permission to make recordings that even might be me saying “I have nothing I can think of to say—just wanted to check in!” and then, after listening to it, the next recording is “I love you and I love that you are checking in!”
It has occurred to me that I should hide some post-it notes and letters throughout my house and at work that remind me that “recording and listening really does work.” Just in case egocentric karmic conditioning tries to get me alone with it again, there will be those little reminders around to get me right back to my heart.
I also signed up for the Recording and Listening training session. I figure that practicing with Sangha is one of the best reminders around!
Gasshō,
Lisa R