Thanks, too, for your kind wishes.

I am sorry for your hardship and hope that things get better for you.

Namaste
Amanda´s last blog ..I Think I’ll Dance

Mona ~ You are such an inspiration on the subject of taking good and kind care of oneself. I’m happy to see your vibrant healthy face and hope all your health challenges are behind you now.

Bess ~ When I share my experiences here, I’m not really looking for advice. But I appreciate your thoughts just the same. You mentioned “What would Buddhas or Bodhisattvas do?” That question is always paramount in my mind. Unfortunately in this case it was the principle reason for my complicated thought process as the proposed trip was to receive teachings from my heart’s Lama. (Had this been just a vacation, I simply would have cancelled and rescheduled.) A Buddha or Bodhisattva would make effort for the sake of Dharma without a moments thought to the needs of their body. So, do I emulate them or focus on the physical needs of my body and the repercussions if I travel?

I’m not asking you to answer that question for me. I’m simply pointing out that insights do not always lead to clear cut answers.

Hazel As always, your words warm my heart. Your compassion flows so effortlessly. With palms together _(|)_ I rejoice in your practices and their fruition. May all beings benefit.

I enjoyed your post very much. You’ve illustrated the sufferings many people place on themselves, intentionally or unintentionally. To this specific situation, it sounds like a struggle of interests and it seems you weren’t ecstatic with the outcome either.

To my understanding, the worries that trouble you may have to do with your attachment to conditions of the present and possible changes of the future, things that may or may not happen but haven’t yet. There are way too many ‘what ifs’ in life. How many can you possibly ponder and worry over? One can only be as well-prepared for the future as possible, but one must live in the present, and presently, one should be happy and limit suffering. The endless troubling thoughts that bother you creates stress and physical repercussions.

I don’t think it’s a matter of leaping into the unknown, but rather how prepared you are in dealing with situations and still be at peace with what comes your way. And in terms of releasing the attachments, I would suggest you see yourself in a second or even third person’s perspective. What would be the greatest compassionate action you would advise? What is truly a greater good and more beneficial? Or even ask, what would Buddhas and Boddhisattvas do? Maybe with this practice or ‘imitation’ of Buddhas and Boddhisattvas that we will soon be one and making decisions would be a breeze and worry-free.

I agree with you – there’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting things to be different. That’s how growth happens. We don’t have tomatoes and we want there to be something different in our kitchen (presence of tomatoes) so we go buy some. Nothing stressful about that.

So sometimes we can want something to be different and it can be empowering because we realize there are things we can do. Actions we can take that will get us closer toward what we want.

But when we don’t feel like there’s anything we can do, and we don’t see actions we can take, or there isn’t a way that we can affect things, that can be such a huge bummer.

Like wanting new tomatoes but then telling ourselves we don’t have enough money for them, or they’re not tasty, or in season, or it’s too far, or I’d have to get gas first, and I don’t have enough time, etc. That’s a recipe for disappointment related to wanting things to be different because we’re not seeing possibilities for how it could actually happen.

Love that you’re paying attention to yourself as you go through disappointment and desiring and all this stuff. I’ve been through many health challenges that have debilitated me in the past so I’m relating to your situation through my own story – really all that’s possible, eh? xoxox

Mona Grayson’s last blog post..2 Weeks On Raw Food Diet Without Eating Nuts

At issue is the clinging to desires, which ultimately create suffering for us. Given you wrote “there are a zillion ways you can [be vibrantly alive and soak up love] … Only one of which is to go to Boston” Clearly you understand what I’m saying.

Michelle ~ Thank you for your words. I’m sorry to hear that you, too, struggle. I hope this post has helped in some small way. There are many things we have no power over. How we choose to respond is the one thing we have great power over.

ChristiaanH ~ “once those conditions [of getting what we want] are met the rules change and we want something else.” Brilliant and sadly true.

You may be right this will never become mainstream awareness. Our consumer economy certainly does not support the concept of contentment or “enough.” In the meantime, we have the individual freedom to recognize this self-perpetuating cycle of unhappiness and to act with awareness as best we can.

Becky ~ “How can I do anything but except reality?” It takes a kind of willingness to even do that, doesn’t it? Mindfulness and meditation practice are great supports for admitting the challenge head. Easy to say, harder to do. That’s why it’s called practice.

Wanting, needing, craving… it stands in the way of experiencing joy in our every day life. Sometime it’s called Hedonic adaptation, no longer being content with what you have. (Even if it is everything you dreamed of a few months ago)

I doubt this thought will become mainstream though. As soon as we’re content with what we have the economy will crash because as consumers we’re defective.

Thank you for this post.

CHristiaanh’s last blog post..Stoic psychological tactics part four: Self-Denial