Buddhism: Slowing down and Opening up

The word ‘busy-ness’ has cropped up in my life in several ways recently. First, in my decision on whether or not to go see the Dalai Lama Sept 18-19 in Tucson AZ, I had to confront my own entrapment in activities. Then, in a Diamond Cutter study group in Bristol, England that I still participate in via the web, there has been worry that the group might collapse due to member inactivity. And most recently in the weekly meditation and Buddhism course that I am taking at the local FWBO center.

So, with a little luck lately, I am trying to sloooooow things down. Of course that has been thwarted by last weekend’s fascinating blog talk at the MT Festival of the Book, and all of my subsequent blog-surfing. For those interested, here is what each of the panelists had to say about the blog discussion: Ed Kemmick, Courtney Lowery (who is very beautiful), Patia Stevens, and John Clayton. I also volunteered myself to lead a discussion for the UM Philosophy Society on ‘why philosophy‘, a topic which is always very close to my heart. I was also just given honorary membership to a Buddhist group in Bristol from my good friend Achintya back in England. What else…? Well, with any luck not much… I reeeeeaaaaaaallllyyyy need to return full-force to my dissertation…

Yet despite all of the activity, I have slowed down a lot: I dropped eleven credits at the U, down to just four now, and the meditation class I’m in now is forcing me to bring meditation and reflection back into my life in a structured way which has been very, very lovely. I did also check out the Peace Corps, and will apply there in a month or two, thinking that if I only receive a lukewarm response from Ph.D. programs, then I would be very happy to spend a couple years volunteering in Asia (perhaps Tibet, Mongolia, or Kalmikia (?), all very traditional Buddhist areas).

The slowing down has in fact opened me up to many wonderful things. I think that is an essential part of life, slowing down and sometimes leaving everyday life for a while to get perspective on things. I had buried myself so quickly and deeply into my MA studies here that I could barely keep up and would have skipped the trip to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama if it hadn’t have been for the perspective given to me by my sister. Luckily I listened. And now, free from that weight, I am seeing many more opportunities in life. And I’m also seeing other people around me have similar realizations: too buried in busy-ness to enjoy life, to do what really matters in life, to make the human connections that make life so beautiful.

So… The point of all my rambling is that we all need to step out of our busy lives from time to time to ask the very important questions that can never really come up when we are so caught up in life: Am I on the right track? Am I fully engaged in work and in my relationships? Is my work contributing to the world, is there something better I can do? The answers might astonish you.