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 This reminds me of commitment to life and living.  It's easy to slip and doubt the miracle of being alive - of living - of having the opportunity to keep living.  Having commitment, having practice, dedication to truth - so that the other side of doubt is see-able, and the return to a place of recommitting is possible....this is the stuff.  :)  I think friendships do this, truth does this, meditation does this, family can do this, and fortunately sometimes even life does it when we're fighting against or running away from it.

Thank you, Somik, I just asked myself the question about Death as ally, and it made me (surprised me!) realize that it already is, has always been, my ally and that that is what has helped me *to* live. Death has already been, always will be, on my side, on my team. I just realized how awesome my team is. :)

Thank you Viral!

I have had a quote from this passage on the fridge for years - familiar as it may be, when I read it, it doesn't fail to hit me like a jokester/fool/coyote!  :)  Reminding me of something my head does not want to believe or go along with.  Even so, some thread of truth seems to make it into my system and resonate - even if it's just an "I know, I know!" - and I often feel my shoulders drop and a big or faint amount of relief.  

I was excited to read it today - because I was wondering over the weekend, can curiosity be a substitute for intention?  

I was reading a passage in "Callings" by G. Levoy (p. 150 on "The Burning Questions") about curiosity and Big Questions - and realized that sometimes it is easier for me to be curious about something, than it is to set a clear (and committed!) intention.  Asking if I can be curious about something, somehow feels different.  Can I be curious about the unknown (and, about the uncomfortable known)?  Is that enough?  I am more in a habit of asking if I can set an intention to get through something, to be open, compassionate.  Is that too controlling, or does that get me engaged, not avoiding things, if I bring intention/commitment into the picture?  Curiosity feels like a sister of intention...lighter, though.

I wonder where the line can be drawn, between the two - intention and curiosity?  I see the merits of both.  Maybe they're not too far distant, relatives??  Sister skills?

I am curious (no pun intended!) what others would think about this?

Love and thanks, Kate

 

Ouu, this is such a rich story!  There is a piece to "turn the other cheek" that I wish I could remember better, something about that act that forces the person hitting to treat the person being hit as an equal.  The left hand wouldn't have been used at the time, so the open right hand would have had to be used, if Jesus turned his cheek.  Something in this speaks to the importance of intentional non-violent resistance, and not allowing/accommodating injustice (as possible in one's personal power) - PRIOR to the act of forgiveness.  I'm still sorting the pieces of this version out, in my own life...I think it's important to think about what happens before we forgive, how we sort out what is right and wrong (according to our own truths) first, before we can start the path to giving for giveness, otherwise we miss a crucial step of learning.  Loving-kindness I think one can give 100% of the time, no problem.  Forgiveness, though, I can't put my finger on exactly what it is... I think merits additional consideration.  Good stuff!  Thank you for passing along!

What a passage - thank you for posting.  This story reminded me of a piece of being-human that I forget - of how we give attention to each other when we don't have answers.  That quality of attention, of holding each other and the things we are scared or unsure of, is an amazing gift.  This story reminded me of times and people in my life who have shared that gift - and held me in their attention, when the unknown was overwhelming.  How fabulous it is, that as humans we have that ability to support each other and ourselves, in this way.  A good thing, too, given how much is still unknown!  :)  And, how exciting and human it makes us - to be able meet that together.

 This is awesome - what a beautiful writing and reminder - thank you, for sharing!