Just before he attained enlightenment under the Bo Tree, triumphing over Mara's final questions and temptations, the Buddha touched the ground with his right fingertip, and the Earth spoke, "I bear you witness!" He was seated on the ground, and his final triumphant strength came from the ground.
Learning more about the Earth based spiritual traditions in my interfaith seminary program is reaffirming my own practice of connecting to nature for spiritual renewal, and strengthening my respect for the Earth's inherent power and wisdom. In one of our meditations, we were instructed to wait in silence in the midst of a visualization, until we were given a word. The word I heard in my mind was, "Humble." We were instructed to meditate on the word we received over the course of a month. Three weeks later, I read this very fitting revelation: "The root of the word *humble* means earth, or ground. To be humble, then, is to be *grounded*." (Scott Noelle, www.enjoyparenting.com)
I have been reading about Buddhism this weekend. I have taken some courses in Buddhist meditation and Eastern philosophy, and I have used a lot of Buddhist teaching in my own healing process, so I am already coming into the Buddhism reading convinced of the truth and efficacy of Buddhist thought. Buddha's way is certainly grounded. There is nothing supernatural, ethereal, magical, metaphysical or otherworldly in original Buddhism. Buddha's teachings offer concrete solutions to eternal human problems. And sitting under that bodhi tree as he did, the Buddha started out *grounded*.
In addition to reading about Buddhism this weekend, I am house-training a puppy. That means spending a great deal of time outside, walking around, running around and waiting with my animal. It also means getting tuned in to the things that drive a puppy's behavior, like instinct, scent, routine, cycles, body language, sounds and eye contact. I am also closely watching the way my puppy interacts with grass, dirt, sticks, ice and whatever else she finds outside. Training a puppy is grounding (and humbling). In connecting with her, I am connecting with the Earth and its rules. I am being pulled back down to the practical, natural ways of being. It makes me think of what I am learning about the Earth based traditions and Buddhism. It is life in the now, and it is a reduction of distractions. It is closer to pure being than the way many of us expend our thought energy.
On that thought, I am headed back outside with my puppy. Maybe we'll look at the night sky until she relieves herself. Grounding. Humbling. Peaceful.
Learning more about the Earth based spiritual traditions in my interfaith seminary program is reaffirming my own practice of connecting to nature for spiritual renewal, and strengthening my respect for the Earth's inherent power and wisdom. In one of our meditations, we were instructed to wait in silence in the midst of a visualization, until we were given a word. The word I heard in my mind was, "Humble." We were instructed to meditate on the word we received over the course of a month. Three weeks later, I read this very fitting revelation: "The root of the word *humble* means earth, or ground. To be humble, then, is to be *grounded*." (Scott Noelle, www.enjoyparenting.com)
I have been reading about Buddhism this weekend. I have taken some courses in Buddhist meditation and Eastern philosophy, and I have used a lot of Buddhist teaching in my own healing process, so I am already coming into the Buddhism reading convinced of the truth and efficacy of Buddhist thought. Buddha's way is certainly grounded. There is nothing supernatural, ethereal, magical, metaphysical or otherworldly in original Buddhism. Buddha's teachings offer concrete solutions to eternal human problems. And sitting under that bodhi tree as he did, the Buddha started out *grounded*.
In addition to reading about Buddhism this weekend, I am house-training a puppy. That means spending a great deal of time outside, walking around, running around and waiting with my animal. It also means getting tuned in to the things that drive a puppy's behavior, like instinct, scent, routine, cycles, body language, sounds and eye contact. I am also closely watching the way my puppy interacts with grass, dirt, sticks, ice and whatever else she finds outside. Training a puppy is grounding (and humbling). In connecting with her, I am connecting with the Earth and its rules. I am being pulled back down to the practical, natural ways of being. It makes me think of what I am learning about the Earth based traditions and Buddhism. It is life in the now, and it is a reduction of distractions. It is closer to pure being than the way many of us expend our thought energy.
On that thought, I am headed back outside with my puppy. Maybe we'll look at the night sky until she relieves herself. Grounding. Humbling. Peaceful.
0 comments:
Post a Comment