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Tending to Change Blog
Triggers as Teachers: Getting Free Instead of High
In Ram Dass' teachings, he shares a pivotal moment in his spiritual journey when he realized he wanted to be free more than he wanted to get high. It's a common experience among us all on the spiritual path - we enjoy a moment or period of bliss, joy, or love - getting "high" - which is then followed by an inevitable low. We begin using our methods as a way to stay high and push away the lows. This creates a kind of yo-yo effect on our lives. Once we really understand that, we begin to shift toward wanting to be free instead of high.
Meeting the Moment with Courage
The poly-crisis that we’re collectively living through is reaching a fever pitch right now. It can seem absurd or even irresponsible to allow space for joy, dreaming, and creative expression while so many of our worldwide relatives are suffering at the hands of runaway capitalism, militarism, and religious & political fundamentalism. Rage is a rational response to the current state of things. But what are you going to do with it?
Embracing the Paradox
When we’re viewing life from the eagle’s perch, we begin to notice a theme – that all of life is paradoxical and constantly changing. This human existence is one of duality - birth/death, hot/cold, light/dark... and more than one thing can be true at the same time.
According to a foundational Buddhist teaching, we are doomed to be blown about by the Eight Worldly Winds unless we engage in spiritual practice. These Eight Worldly Winds are: pleasure/pain, gain/loss, praise/blame, fame/disrepute. They are constantly arising and passing away, beyond our control.
Nothing lasts forever. When we open to this truth, we discover that there’s no need to cling to or resist anything…