![\"\"](\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/_fyeYpxfdjuI\/Se6Y8BXdsXI\/AAAAAAAAAcE\/hlc7DdKKJ18\/s1600-h\/driving_rainbow.jpg\")
<\/a>Double rainbow from the Easter drive home (to Helena) with Julie. Taken on her Nikon D-90 \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
Yesterday\u2019s meditation began with a taped talk by Joseph Goldstein, actually a reading from one of his books. The thrust of the talk, or at least what I took away from it, was that it is not our dark sides alone that we fear and avoid, but also our light, our nobility and innately awakened nature<\/span>.<\/p>\n Our little meditation group responded with a beautiful discussion, gently enveloped in stillness and silence, akin to a Quaker meeting. We talked about our comfort zone, where we habitually curse others and\/or ourselves, teaching ourselves and future generations that they are innately \u2018bad\u2019 somehow.<\/span> This is a comfort zone because it gives us a ready excuse for our negative feelings and actions. If we\u2019re innately bad, then \u201cno wonder\u2026\u201d right?<\/p>\n Whereas Buddhism teaches that we are innately pure<\/a> \u2013 \u201cperfect pure!\u201d to quote a Tibetan teacher of my friend, Margaret. <\/span>So our negativity and judgmental attitude is not \u201cjust the way it is.\u201d It is not to be accepted \u2013 except in the broad sense that we must accept what is<\/span> as an affirmative grounding for moving forward.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re perfect just the way you are; and you could still use some work,\u201d Goldstein said [loosely], quoting a Zen Roshi. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n This is the paradox of our lives and it is probably at the heart of all sacred systems of thought. <\/span>Total acceptance, forgiveness, openness \u2013 and yet the realization that there is still work to be done, lots of work.<\/p>\n For me I couldn\u2019t help thinking of the wondrous moments of my life, when things felt most on track. It was in those moments, grace-moments if you will, that I also felt most connected with my shadow side<\/span>. I could look upon my own judgmental habits, my own anxieties and mistakes with the most acceptance \u2013 I could see them more as upaya<\/span> \u2013 or skillful means into the lives of others who have struggled, who continue to struggle with such things. My heart has long been in teaching, and I will continue to work my way (back) there, but I can\u2019t help but see Buddhist<\/a> psychology and all that comes with it as part of my path in life.<\/p>\n (text removed)<\/p>\n