External Considering

I receive weekly quotes from Pema Chodrun. This morning's quote was a good reminder to me about what Gurdjieff called internal and external considering.

"August 29, 2012

THINK OF OTHERS

Sharing the heart is a simple practice that can be used at any time and in every situation. It enlarges our view and helps us remember our interconnection.

The essence of this practice is that when we encounter pain in our life we breathe into our heart with the recognition that others also feel this. It’s a way of acknowledging when we are closing down and of training to open up. When we encounter any pleasure or tenderness in our life, we cherish that and rejoice. Then we make the wish that others could also experience this delight or this relief.

In a nutshell, when life is pleasant, think of others. When life is a burden, think of others. If this is the only training we ever remember to do, it will benefit us tremendously and everyone else as well. It’s a way of bringing whatever we encounter onto the path of awakening bodhichitta."

~~~~~~~

...again for those who tend to romanticize everything they hear or read,*"remember yourself" while practicing this. The saying "Fake it til you make it." is only helpful while you are learning to walk. By now most of you have been walking on your own for long enough to no longer 'fake it'. I had to remember this myself this week while in the company off a difficult person who commented and criticized everything at every turn.

 At one point I noticed I was feeling quite irritated by the incessant stream of criticism and negative commentary and became very quiet inside. I "remembered" myself and listened from a more centered space. I let go of the life conundrums I was wrestling with, stopped and "shared" my heart. The irritation vanished and just by making this little adjustment my friend was able to relax for a bit as well.  What held me in it's grip no longer held me and, for a time my friend became less embroiled in his life dramas as well. 

*Self Remembering: In Search of the Miraculous, Chapters: VII, IX, 

OPEN to the moment
BE Peace

 

Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth

“There will be weeping and gnashing teeth when you will behold Abraham and Isaaq and Jaqob and all The Prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you shall be cast out.”

~ Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

on Luke13:23-30

"Our Saviour came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But, Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such? But, What shall I do, and what will become of me? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed to each of us; it is, Strive ye. All that will be saved, must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man. Those that would enter in, must strive to enter. Here are awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. Oh that we may be all awakened by them! They answer the question, Are there few that shall be saved? But let none despond either as to themselves or others, for there are last who shall be first, and first who shall be last. If we reach heaven, we shall meet many there whom we little thought to meet, and miss many whom we expected to find."

The problem so many people have with the bible and anything that seems 'religious' is that they look at it from the stories in the head in sleep not from a state of real presence and awakened Being. They are blind and deaf  behind veils of illusion and imagination. 

 I have to remember that when I speak with you, which means that before I speak with you, I must prepare for our meeting  - as you must. 

To begin to understand this post you must get a bible and look up the quote, maybe read what was said before and after the actual words... begin to work in a profitable way instead of taking a speck as the universe. Work for yourself if nothing else.