Wonder and Presence
Sept 26th, 2020
Wonder..........Here in Vermont, colors are exploding like fireworks caught in time's vortex. I look out and see such wonder. I see animals, many playing and enjoying themselves. I see flowers beyond understanding - their beauty and complexity beyond knowledge. I take a breath - and though I can't see oxygen, it sustains me. I don't know how the oxygen floods into my blood, energizing my body - but it does without me knowing.
Just a glass of water,
trillions and trillions of H2O molecules
flowing together to give life.
The sun
radiating down
giving life.
All of life
here
all evolved
all here just as us
no less
no greater -
just here evolving
an infinite Indra web
of life.
I see wonder
in my senses
and I see
wonder in all I come across.
I want nothing really
for I live in love.
The ground beneath my feet
my carpet
the sky
my roof.
What more do I need.
The ampleness of life
the whole of life,
I fly
free
and within / without
a kaleidoscopic living mandala of unimaginable scope.
April and I were at Boulder, Colorado this past week. As the rising mountains stood calm and resolute behind us, after a nice hike, we drove back to our small little hotel. Entering Boulder, we flowed past dizzying streets aflame with light. April happened upon something that made us stop in our tracks. While I drove, April had been researching a psychotherapist spiritual seeker recommended by one of our dialogue members. She shared, "Don’t seek the truth; drop your opinions.” - Anthony de Mello.
This made so much sense to us. If one is searching for truth, one will never get there for who is doing the searching? Yet, if one is able to remove one’s opinions or attachments to things, then by that very removal, truth will be uncovered. Which also points at the question - is truth somewhere outside of us or within?
The Beauty of Dialogue: After Monday’s dialogue, April and I went for a walk. Darkness like a slow silent wave began to creep and crash down upon Boulder. Lights began to percolate like fireflies creating an electric diffused sense of light.
As we strolled, we wondered about what makes a dialogue so special. While the night began to transform the city, our conversation flowed. We talked about how what is discussed in a dialogue is not the most important thing. What seems to be the most critical piece is how the dialogue mirrors back to us what in actuality is taking place within.
Can one relinquish control? Can one listen without judgement? Can what let go to where the dialogue is going on its own accord? Can one understand another and where they are coming from? What happens when another member seems stuck on an idea, do we need to fix it? What responsibility does one have in bringing up one’s own thoughts and ideas? How does one bring up unique perspective without putting down another idea? How does one let go of power? These are just a few of the elements in a dialogue that one is learning about as the discussion flows forth. If one is aware and can really tune in to this, the learning that arises is infinite in its potentiality.
Monday’s dialogue began with thinking about Daniel Quinn and David Bohm and how they saw the impact of our thinking on the world. From there we dove into a dialogue about thought and presence. Some of the questions that arose out of the dialogue were….
Can I handle more life?
What does it mean to be abundantly alive?
Can we dance with the known and unknown?
Is it possible to not think?
Is it possible to suspend the need to be right to just listen?
Is the question more important then the answer, the journey more important then the destination?
What do you think?
with Love, Garin
