|
by Brenda Frechette A dharma talk given February 18, 2025 (As you may know, I don’t usually write out my talks, but I did get some requests for info on what I discussed on Feb 18, so I recreated it in writing. A bit more pedantic than when I talk, but hopefully helpful!) I’ve been in Nepal and India for the last month and just got back a week ago. I’ll talk about that some in this talk, but I first want to acknowledge that I’ve been feeling that the world is chaotic and uncertain right now. I stayed in touch with what was happening in the news by reading the New York Times but last night I watched the news on tv! Perhaps seeing and hearing it through another’s tone and reaction resulted in me feeling even more anxious…so I wanted to own that and talk about how my meditation practice helps me to manage anxiety around things I don’t feel comfortable with and am unable to control. I also want to note that we make an effort in this sangha to welcome all opinions and views—but I think we do find common ground in wanting to react to distress with compassion and kindness. Acknowledging helpfulness of Centering and prayer—and action: Following is a Thich Naht Hahn story about the Vietnamese boat people fleeing Vietnam by sea after the Vietnam War ended in 1975: "When the crowded Vietnamese refugee boats met with storms or pirates, if everyone panicked, all would be lost. But if even one person remained centered and calm on the boat, they showed the way for everyone else to survive.” I came across this lovely Jewish prayer recently that I found supports me in keeping grounded and not falling into crippling despair when I view the chaos in the world. I like how it emphasizes staying centered in the storm so one has both the capacity to not turn away from difficulty and choose right action when appropriate. It follows: 
1 Comment
|