My family calls me Pancho and I'd like you to know that I love you all.
It is not news to be deeply touched by the love and generosity offered at the Kindness Temple. This time Mamá Harshida embodied what it means to be a selfless servant leader. All week I have been sending her concentrated loving-kindness so that she gets well. She had fever and yet she cooked for us and heat the delicious meal. When I shared the details of the story with my biological parents -- who live in the part of the Planet we call Mexico-- they were equally touched and asked me to send her all our blessings. I hope they have reached her in different ways. When I hugged Mamá Harshida before leaving, I felt her high fever but she was only concerned about feeding me physically and spiritually. She inspired me beyond comprehension and my son's heart, in deep gratitude, only hopes to become a more fervent disciple of hers. These were the 3 points I shared last week:
1. Balance
2. (r)Evolution of Living
3. Recognizing and Celebrating the Art of Living
1. Balance
When science and art are in balance the beauty of life blossoms at its best.
Balance between chaos and structure, between mind and heart, between theory and practice, between equanimity and awareness... Indeed, it is an art to find balance in life.
2. (r)Evolution of Living
First we understand intellectually the principles of life. Once we comprehend them, we practice the art of applying them in life. And finally, the most challenging stage, we embody those principles and master that art. This is the Total (R)evolution of the Human Spirit.
3. Recognizing and Celebrating the Art of Living
A tragedy occurred in Tucson last weekend. But in the midst of all the violence, in the midst of all the hate, if we pay close attention, love, compassion and courage always find their way to shape our souls. We only need to recognize it and celebrate it. While a 22 year old killed 6 people, Daniel Hernández --a 20 year old-- saved the life of Gabrielle Giffords. And when he was called a "hero" he rejected the term --ala CF-- and said:
"Any one in my position would have done the same thing... the real heroes are people like Congresswoman Giffords, who have dedicated their lives to public service and helping others."
Later, brother Barack gave a great speech recognizing all this beauty by celebrating the art of life --perhaps he should finished up his next speech with "Why only America? God bless the whole World!"
If we look carefully the Wednesdays passage in the mirror, if we savor the subtle details of life, we will recognize us and the author, who is our beloved hermano Viral Mehta. To come up with these kind of insights, it requires a lot of hours to still the mind. Actually, right now he is in the 37th day out of 45 of a meditation retreat, so we are sending him all our love and strength.
And if we pay more attention, we will see the mastery of the art to serve and love others that exudes from this home. For more than 13 years these selfless servers have shaped our souls to be more generous, more kind, more humble. When we come to Wednesdays, we are practicing the best of crafts: the art of living.
May all become compassionate, courageous and wise.
Pancho
On Jan 17, 2011 Pancho wrote :
My family calls me Pancho and I'd like you to know that I love you all.
First we understand intellectually the principles of life. Once we comprehend them, we practice the art of applying them in life. And finally, the most challenging stage, we embody those principles and master that art. This is the Total (R)evolution of the Human Spirit.
Pancho