Here in the UK we are about to enter a second round of lockdown.
And so it seems an appropriate time to speak once again about isolation,
Solitude,
Aloneness.
The latter being different to loneliness.
Aloneness being where we can point out that there's no one else around or perhaps there are fewer people around,
Perhaps we're just with our nuclear family missing our extended family and friends' acquaintances.
Aloneness though,
That's a feeling.
And as any of you who have an established practice will know,
Feelings are optional.
Or another way to think about it,
Our relationship to our feelings is flexible.
In some practices we work directly with altering what's going on in the mindstream,
What's going on in the emotions,
Gently and over time.
In other practices we learn simply to accept whatever arises as empty phenomena included and contained within awareness.
So that loneliness arises and we greet it like the rain.
Whichever practice you're involved with now is such an appropriate time to go deeper.
Perhaps that looks like practicing for longer,
Perhaps it looks like practicing more frequently.
Perhaps it looks like spending more time with your teacher or some writings that you love.
Perhaps it looks like connecting with Sangha online.
The internet is such a valuable resource for so many reasons in times like these.
Or least of all,
The opportunity to connect with Dharma friends,
Others who are practicing.
It's such tremendous support to connect with others who are on the path.
Doing their best to see all of this exactly as it is and not resist,
Not wish things were different.
Because there lies dissatisfaction,
Suffering,
Stress.
Many different translations of this word Dukkha coming out of the Pali,
The original Buddhist teachings.
Pretty much every spiritual practice is concerned with what the Buddha called his only declaration,
Dukkha Dukkha Nirodha.
Dissatisfaction and the cessation of dissatisfaction.
We often hear the word suffering.
I tend to avoid using the word suffering because of its closeness to the word pain.
And there's a trap here that we can assume that spiritual practice is about avoiding pain.
This is not the case.
Pain is unavoidable.
You are going to stub your toe.
You are going to lose loved ones.
That may very well hurt.
But you don't have to be dissatisfied with that hurting.
You can accept and in that accepting,
In the absence of resistance,
We find that whatever pain is around tends to pass sooner and more easily.
If you are experiencing any pain as a result of your circumstances right now,
Unusual as they are for most of us around the world.
See if you can bring a little more acceptance.
See if you can be okay with what's going on.
In that okayness,
Silver linings are much,
Much easier to see.
And of course it's how we see things that makes up our reality.
Our reality is interpreted.
And so by using our practice to support ourselves and others through these strange,
Unpredictable times,
We may actually be able to change the times themselves,
Given that the times are subject to interpretation,
The circumstances are subject to interpretation.
And all of this passing show is only clear awareness.
The capacity to know,
The capacity to perceive.
When it is untouched by any of the phenomena that arise,
Abide in this place.
Watch the grand unfolding pattern,
And maybe smile.
