There’s by no means a nasty time to open ourselves to the spirit of the vacations! Reflecting on the ‘season of generosity’, Jack shares vacation Dharma tales on quieting the thoughts and opening the center.
On this Dharma speak stemming from Spirit Rock’s Monday Evening Dharma Class on 12/14/2015, Jack Kornfield focuses on the vacation season, relating varied tales and views to how we are able to transfer about human incarnation and our day by day lives in a compassionate and beneficiant approach.
This speak from Jack Kornfield was initially printed on DharmaSeed.org
How the Buddha Stole Christmas
Opening this distinctive session, Jack explores western holidays and their place within the time of the yr when the sunshine recedes. Sharing non secular insights highlighting the spirit of generosity, care, compassion, selflessness, and renewal beholden to holidays; he gives a narrative of Ajahn Chah’s Buddhist forest monastery putting in a Christmas tree, describes the pissed off response of the close by villagers, and shares the loving phrases which helped win them over to create the vacation Christ-Buddha-mas.
“There’s one thing in non secular life that’s not about gaining or altering ourselves—it’s referred to as fruition observe or resultant observe. It’s proudly owning with gratitude the truth that we’re right here and that we’re lovely, and that others are, and that we get to dwell this human incarnation. Your job then is to be totally current in your life.” – Jack Kornfield
In one other holiday-focused episode, Jack explores autumn’s relationship with loss of life, on Ep. 134 of Coronary heart Knowledge
Loving Consciousness & Interior Freedom // Sitting & Sweeping // Quiet Thoughts & Open Coronary heart (18:01)
Viewing spirituality and mindfulness via the metaphor of the turning of the seasons, Jack gives knowledge connecting thoughts, physique, and spirit so we are able to start to maneuver away from viewing our lives from the fears of the small self, and as a substitute from the limitless spaciousness of loving consciousness. From right here, he gives a Zen perspective that sifts life and observe all the way down to their easiest essence; earlier than sharing on how generally the easiest way we are able to serve others is by permitting them to serve us.
“In Zen, they are saying there are solely two issues: you sit and sweep the backyard. And it doesn’t matter how massive the backyard is. So you’re taking the time to quiet the thoughts, open the center, keep in mind your interconnection with life, keep in mind what actually issues to you. You then stand up out of your sitting, and also you choose up the broom and sweep. As MLK Jr stated, ‘If one sweeps streets for a residing, they need to sweep as Michelangelo painted, as Beethoven composed music, as Shakespeare wrote his performs—with that sort of care and dignity.” – Jack Kornfield
Omid Safi explores the spirituality of the turning of the seasons, on Ep. 25 of Sufi Coronary heart
‘Simply Like Me’ Guided Meditation // Setting Intentions // Blessing Chord Ceremony (42:00)
Jack leads a guided meditation observe primarily based round two people eye-gazing with one another within the recognition that although the opposite individual might seemingly seem separate and completely different, they’re really “similar to me.” Subsequent, he invitations us to set intentions going ahead into this life via the lenses of a quiet thoughts and an open coronary heart, in addition to sitting and sweeping the backyard. Then, he leads a blessing chord ceremony for remembering our refuge within the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha; earlier than closing with a “Namoh” chant.
“Could your holidays and the turnings of the seasons carry new gentle, carry nice love, knowledge, and understanding into your life to all you contact and throughout this lovely blue-green globe.” – Jack Kornfield