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| Photo by Braxton Stuntz on Unsplash |
"Try to be mindful. And let things take their natural course. Then your mind will become still in any surroundings -- Like a clear forest pool." ~ Ajahn Chah
Life Is Good.
I feel very calm and contented this morning. Like a still forest pool, as the man said.
The mind is such a funny thing. I noticed my mind casting about today, looking for something to be agitated by. The mind is sometimes like a canoe, on a lake, that wants to be a waverunner. After several weeks of crazy busy schedule, things are finally settling back down to normal. At least for a week or two.
I have a full time "day job" that is wonderful. A great company, and a great wise livelihood career, which keeps me busy all day. But of course I also teach the dharma and lead meditations in many different communities, plus pursue my own dharma education, study, and practice in the evenings and on weekends. These feed me in all the moments I'm not spending with family or work, so that I can show up and do my best for both of those. The last few weeks has been busy in all of these areas.
I had a ton of wonderful opportunities the last several weeks to lead other Sangha's, lead mediations for other groups and projects, do guest blogs, and even a fun interview with an author/photographer for a book. These things were all exciting and fun, and created big waves in my calm lake, so to speak.
My canoe-mind could be forgiven, then, for getting accustomed to them and thinking that it's normal. It happens so fast, that change. The mind gets a taste of new and exciting things and next thing you know it's trying to live its best life as a waverunner.
But now that things have settled down, I was relaxing with a cup of coffee, just enjoying the morning weather on my front porch, when I noticed a different tone or flavor of my mind than I would have expected. Or, I guess I should say, I noticed that my lake was calm but my canoe-mind was looking for the next big wave, and the tiny ripples of it's disappointment in finding only calm pleasant waters was the subtle tone I picked up on.
I've been offering the "Right Now, It's Like This" phrase a lot with some meditations lately and perhaps with it so fresh on my mind I noticed this Canoe/Waverunner thing a little easier today, and let it settle on its own. I found myself smiling at the mind with the same smile I had for the mischeivous squirrels eating the birds seed from our feeder, and being equally contented with the internal mischief as I was with the yard shenanigans. Feeling very grateful for both wild waves and calm waters this morning.
