Relax and Release
One of my primary teachers recently said that 80% of our spiritual journey is Letting Go…he didn’t say what the other 20% was but I imagined it to be acquiring…acquiring knowledge or practice -whether of meditation or yoga or chi gong. That hit me right between the eyes ..because of course I thought it was the other way around…80-% learning or perfecting – and oh yes letting go now and then.
So what is it we are letting go of..? Anything that keeps us from seeing and experiencing our true selves and the true selves of others. Who are we beyond all our opinions, and view points and endless perceptions of life. These last many months we have seen perceptions abound- of everything from politics to weather. This week in the State I live in …it was about who is to be Governor ? And for all of that, what do we have…are we more peaceful…more compassionate…more wise? AS best I can tell we are just more separate – more divided – angrier and more left out.
When we relax and serve the moment…we may notice that there are some obstructions to that …and that is our call to relax and let go. It isn’t hard…you can just lean back a little (literally) and allow the thoughts, perceptions, opinions and views to just pass through…to release them into the space from whence they came. I notice almost instant peace when that happens…deeper breath and sometimes an insight. But definitely ease and grace.
Then we can see what does this moment ask of me…is it to listen more and judge less…or to share more and withhold less – is it just to know that everyone is doing the very best they can with whatever level of understanding they currently possess. We don’t need to really “do” anything about the conflict or the controversy …when we let go …our heart guides us to a place of inner peace and that alone gives the situation we are in a fresh start.
Pema Chodron and other wise teachers say that “ Suffering is wanting things to be different than they are” and I join her in experiencing that over and over again. When I relax, breathe and let go…something comes into the space and it is always good.
Gratitude to my releasing partner of the last two years, Laura ….many thanks for helping me to let it all go.
