Receiving the invitation to write an entry for the Practice Corner, I was aware of the body filling with sensations and the thoughts that followed, ranging from resistance to excitement, attention scattered in all directions. Conditioned mind at its best.
Reminding myself, not what but how, I committed to checking in with the mentor each morning for guidance, insight and anything that would assist in this entry. A few mornings came and went and nothing occurred. Then, early one morning, sitting still in the first light of day, the word Elegance dropped in. Elegance? I watched the temptation of the mind to noodle that one: what does that mean? Letting go of the pursuit of meaning, allowing an opening to experience… The next morning, I watched attention move to the intricate complexity of the cobwebs on my beams and ceiling. The way the light shone on the delicate intricacy, the word sticky came to mind. So, now I had Elegance, Complex and Sticky.
Twenty days ago, in my morning check in with the mentor, the directive I received was “No gum for 30 days.” Clear, Kind, Complete information, time to cast light on this sticky relationship (figuratively and literally.) Many times “I” have thought about “giving up” gum for 30 days, combatted by ego’s justification and defenses. The clarity and simplicity of this message left no room for egocentricity to spin off a web that has traditionally kept me stuck in this habit.
Yesterday, Life talked to me through a podcast I was listening to. In response to the request, “Talk to me about the place of Elegance in life’s pilgrimage” came “Elegance is simplicity, getting rid of all the superfluous things to focus on the most beautiful one."
This use of the word Elegance resonated for me as my experience of practice. Getting rid of all the superfluous things to focus on the most beautiful one, turning attention away from the complex weavings of egocentrickarmicconditioning and turning to the clear, kind, simple information from Life. Ever expanding faith, so simple and yet not easy. Some days the clarity in which information drops in is a gift that puts a light step in my walk, other days this innocent human is stuck in the web. And the really fun thing is the “get out of the web” card is communicating the process, a weekly call with my Awareness Coach and calls to the Guide on Open Air. Contrary to egocentrickarmicconditioning’s story on how I “should” be able to figure this out on my own, that by communicating these sticky places, I receive the missing ingredient, the compassion and acceptance that frees the attention from superfluous to the most beautiful one, the simple gift of being present in Life.
Gassho,
Tracey