Our friends in Kantolomba are on a parallel track with us in the learning to love learning process, in that they are eager for the adult English classes we will be offering. It amazes me that anyone at all would step forward. Nearly all adults in Kantolomba have had no formal schooling. Most do not read or write their own native language, which could be any of the 72 main languages in Zambia. I am inspired by the courage of these folks to take on what I project could seem like a monumental task.
And yet, Theresa tells me there is great enthusiasm. English is a tool for economic advancement, and it is primarily women who signed on, wanting to learn in order to provide a future for their children. We will do for the love of others…
I suspect this same motivation, on an internal level, is why learning to direct attention has taken a prominent place in our learning to love learning journey. Coming off the Year of Deepening Practice, where the net result seems to have been recognizing the inherent goodness and lovability of the authentic being, there is great motivation to learn the skill that will free a person from suffering: mastery of attention.
Perhaps when it feels difficult, when conditioning is throwing its worst and focusing attention feels “too hard,” we can remember our sisters in Kantolomba. If they can do it…!!
Gasshō,
Jen