SUZANNE MCDERMOTT
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Is that so?

9/26/2017

 
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Suzanne McDermott
Tree Glow, Watercolor

You just never know.

It's hard to not judge an experience or situation that, on the surface, in the context of our present culture or personal emotional life may seem like a horrible blow or a tragedy or a major pain in the butt. Something "bad". Or, something "good".

These small and large interruptions in THE WAY THINGS ARE have potential to change us within, and the course of our lives. But only if we let them. Only if we do not try to resist the situation, control the outcome, or cling to any solid thing or certain thought about THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO BE NOW. I mean, really, nobody knows what's going to happen next.
​
My favorite stories illustrating this, the ones that my mind turns to when I find myself reverberating from an unexpected "bad" or "good" situation is as follows:

Is That So?
(Zen Story about Hakuin)

The Zen Master Hakuin lived in a town in Japan. He was held in high regard and many people came to him for spiritual teaching. Then it happened that the teenage daughter of his next-door neighbor became pregnant. When being questioned by her angry and scolding parents as to the identity of the father, she finally told them that he was Hakuin, the Zen master. In great anger the parents rushed over to Hakuin and told him with much shouting and accusing that their daughter had confessed that he was the father. All he replied was, “Is that so?”
​
News of the scandal spread throughout the town and beyond. The Master lost his reputation. This did not trouble him. Nobody came to see him anymore. He remained unmoved. When the child was born, the parents brought the baby to Hakuin, “You are the father, so look after him.” The Master took loving care of the child. A year later, the mother remorsefully confessed to her parents that the real father of the child was the young man who worked at the butcher shop. In great distress they went to see Hakuin to apologize and ask for forgiveness. “We are really sorry. We have come to take the baby back. Our daughter confessed that you are not the father.” “Is that so?” is all he would say as he handed the baby over to them.

The Farmer's Son
(Taoist variation on a theme)​

An old farmer who had worked his crops for many years set his aging horse free to pasture. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors said, "Such bad luck, to lose your only horse." "May be," the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed. "May be," replied the old man.

The following day, the farmer's son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "May be," answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "May be," said the farmer.

And then, of course, the young village men were killed in the war and the farmer's son, limp and all, was the only able bodied man remaining. The farmer and his son prospered. When his neighbors praised his fortune, well, you know how the farmer replied. "May be".

Here's Eckhart Tolle’s commentary on Hakuin’s Zen story and its Taoist variation:
“The story of the Zen Master whose only response was always “Is that so?” shows the good that comes through inner nonresistance to events, that is to say, being at one with what happens. The story of the man whose comment was invariably a laconic “Maybe” illustrates the wisdom of non-judgment, and to the fact of impermanence which, when recognized, leads to non-attachment. Nonresistance, non-judgement, and non-attachment are the three aspects of true freedom and enlightened living.” 
​
― Eckhart Tolle (A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose)

Beauty begets beauty

8/15/2017

 
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"Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love... Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding."
​
—Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Because my mind was going a mile a minute when I sat down to meditate this morning, I plopped a vase of mums directly in the line of my meditative gaze. I'm not sure that this helped me step out of the thought stream but they sure were beautiful to look at. Before I stood up to move along with my day, I gathered them between my hands, buried my face in them and inhaled deeply. I love the smell of mums!

It is too, too easy to be sucked into the virtual world of (often) horror and mayhem. Make it a practice to focus on the beautiful objects in your space. After all, you put them there, didn't you? If you haven't filled your space with objects of beauty that the light can find, please, do yourself a favor and do so now.

The objects that the light finds and illuminates will illuminate your mind, whether you love them or not. Practice seeing what the light illuminates. Practice loving that.

Short post. I'm looking away now. Looking for the beautiful in my immediate vicinity.

"I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains."

—Anne Frank
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To my fellow swimmers

11/29/2016

 
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I love the water. 

Whether I am by the ocean, at a lake or near a pool, I will make every opportunity to swim along the shore, across the pond or lake, or do laps, back and forth, back and forth. I am part fish. 

This morning, a couple of hours into a day surrounded by dozens of leaf blowers and mulching machines, and god know what other noise makers, I fled my property to the local Y and pounded out lap after lap.

I wanted to stay at home and do the work that I’d planned but I had to let go of that idea. While swimming, I was reminded of the statement released by the Hopi Elders in 2001.

Now that I've found and re-read the statement, I am posting this again. Because… with my schedule thrown off, with the heinous, incessant noise (a huge trigger for me), after spending so much time trying to counteract the noise with earplugs, leaving the property, trying to settle elsewhere, I was a miserable human being. I was miserable to myself and to my fellow swimmers and locker roommates this morning. Well, not miserable exactly, but not very friendly. I was not feeling good about anything, the state of the world, anyone else, myself. Furthermore, I was turned around, confused, worried about falling behind.

But in these words, I’ve found solace, wisdom, comfort, course correction. The answers and instruction is all right here. The whole thing is relevant and helpful but, on a personal level, these two lines stand out for me today:

“At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. 
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.”


Here it is in toto--

To My Fellow Swimmers 

You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour. 
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. 
And these are things to be considered…

Where are you living? 
What are you doing? 
What are your relationships? 
Are you in right relation? 
Where is your water? 
Know your garden.

It is time to speak your truth. 
Create your community. 
Be good to each other. 
And do not look outside yourself for your leader.

This could be a good time! 

There is a river flowing now very fast. 
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. 
They will try to hold on to the shore. 
They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. 
Know the river has its destination.

The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, 
keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

See who is in there with you and celebrate. 

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. 
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. 
Gather yourselves!

Banish the word ’struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary. 
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. 

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. 

—Statement of The Elders, Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation, 2001
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