Ordinary Mind Zendo Facing Life Practice isn't a way to change ourselves into who we want to be - it is about paying attention to who we actually are. This is not to say that change does not occur, but rather that we mustn't pick out some aspect of that change and try to hold onto it. After we sit for a while, perhaps we find ourselves to be calmer, or maybe even blissful, or seemingly imperturbable. Instead of being open to the ever changing flux of our experience, we try to hold onto one particular feeling, and then subtly, we're on our guard, lest something perturb our inner peace. Then life, instead of being our teacher, becomes our enemy, always intruding, always threatening our peace of mind.
True practice is always a willingness to face life as it is.
Yesterday, a friend called saying that her 8 month old son had suddenly died from meningitis.