Breaking a bone many weeks ago provided the perfect opportunity to wholehearted practice, saying “yes to what is” so beautifully described in the May Musings. The mantra “Yes, Please, Thank You, I Love You” has been the primary practice tool in this adventure, offering a refuge from the rantings of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. Conditioning constantly claims through body sensations, comments, and stories that this content (physical condition) is a good reason to be miserable. “Yes, Please, Thank You, I Love You.” Certainly something that causes pain, completely changes everyday life, and makes doing many things impossible is not good! “Yes, Please, Thank You, I Love You.” It’s not reasonable to expect anyone to embrace this life circumstance! “Yes, Please, Thank You, I Love You.”
It’s been an eye-opening workshop. Conditioning has used every trick in the book, every bamboozle technique, to make the healing process a misery. While getting caught many times in conditioning’s web of tricks, those experiences have also helped fine-tune the ability to recognize the processes. Seeing when and how I turn to conditioning for information is an example. Awaking one night in discomfort, it dropped in that there was a scanning of the body for “what’s wrong” rather than “what’s needed,” providing a big “ah-ha!” moment. It felt subtle and obvious at the same time, catching conditioning where it had not previously been recognized.
Everything truly is a gift when viewed through the lens of “Yes, Please, Thank You, I Love You.” When conditioning makes a claim of how bad something is, this lens transforms/translates it into a gift, a way of seeing what Life is offering. The fact that my physical circumstance has shaken up a very comfortable life is now seen as a gift that’s revealing new areas for training. When conditioning reminds me of all the things I’m unable to do because of the physical injury, I practice with “Yes, Please, Thank You, I Love You” as the vehicle for turning to Life and all that’s being offered.
It hasn’t been an easy workshop, but the gifts have been many. The relationship with the Mentor continues to grow. New things are noticed and appreciated as the circumstances of life have changed. There is a tender and more caring relationship with the body. Much less is taken for granted. Remembering that we “can’t transcend what we haven’t encountered” has helped in facing each challenge. There is so much to see and so much to be grateful for.
Gassho,
Jan