Trust And Safety

This talk brings attention to the human need for safety. Trust is something that we culitvate in our practice life. Trust is about growing capacity within ourself so we live our lives with with trust, in the face of fear. Sure, fear arises but we don't have to live our life afraid or worried. When we trust, there is a deep sense of safety or an absence of fear. Whatever happens, whatever way it goes, we have some assurance of our inner safety.

Transcript

So today is election day in the United States and there's a lot of energy that has been building and I think it may occur as some kind of relief that this part of the political show is almost over but now we're entering into the next part of who will be the next president of the United States. So as we all know there's been a lot of polarization, Lies and our culture has been fed a lot of fear and doubt and anger and so all this energy is being brought to the polling booths today. In some ways I'm reminded of that saying in Dharma circles about how we attempt to create safety by rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic like this person who gets elected is going to actually stop the ship from sinking. It's interesting huh? So today I want to bring our attention to the human need for safety. Trust is something that I have been cultivating for all of my practice life and trust has been about growing this capacity within myself so I have this ability to live in trust and not live in fear. I mean fear arises but I'm not living my life afraid or worried. I don't have to be afraid of who will win this election. I trust and it's a felt sense, A deep sense of safety in the absence of fear. I know whatever happens, Whatever way it goes, I have some assurance of my inner safety. What a gift this practice is. That's how it occurs to me. Wow. If nothing else, This safety. So one of the things human beings are capable of is developing and growing in this inner capacity to trust, To live without being pulled around by anxiety and fear, To be free in a way that we're not affected by the things of this world. It's like we've become porous you know. There's not that deep contraction of fear when we hear of world events or election results or what's gonna happen. You know we're not impacted as much by those events because in our heart we're steady and we're safe. We're all developing a capacity to trust this safety inside of us. You know this capacity that we're building for wisdom and discernment, Seeing clearly you know what goes on and how it can be developed. And this growth of inner strength, It reinforces our capacity to feel safe. Whatever may be happening out there in the world, We are capable of holding and being with that. We are capable. We have this capacity of our mind and of our heart to be aware of things without contracting, Without reacting and becoming afraid. We are more able to hold things with freedom and equanimity. It doesn't mean we don't experience fear. It means that it's not the only thing. It's not the only thing in the room, In the heart, In the body. Some weeks ago I offered up a question for your consideration and that is what you've been putting your trust in. That's not really working. You know some people put trust in their bank accounts and in their intellect and their thinking mind. Some people put their trust in distraction. You know the media feeds are very distracting. Some people put trust in blaming, You know pointing to someone out there who's to blame for your lack of safety. And certainly there are dangers in the world, But what we're developing is something powerful inside of us so that we're less affected and less fragile with what's going on around us. In a simple example you know it's kind of like when you lose something that's valuable like your glasses you know or your hearing aids, Your wallet, Some form of identification. You know the first thought is to get anxious and afraid like now what? I've lost them. Searching, Searching, You know worry and fear. But with practice when we lose something that's valuable or has some importance to us there's like this inner assurance and trust. You know I can figure out what to do. I can find my way. If I have to I'll get a new one. I mean it's a pretty simple example of developing this capacity to deal with something that is unpleasant, Difficult, That maybe in the past what wouldn't have been so easy. But this is part of the cultivation. Something happens and it's not a problem. One of the most valuable things that I've learned is trusting this practice. Trusting that the practice of awareness, Meditation, Wisdom and compassion are powerful and valuable and necessary. I've gained enough experience of practicing with them to feel confident that they work and how they support my life in so many ways. One of the ways that practice helps me, Helps us, Is that we're confident even if we don't know what's next. Even with uncertainty we have these practices that can keep us safe without fear and at ease. Whatever happens we will find our way forward. So there's an inner wisdom that we're cultivating here. It's a process of unfolding and moving towards freedom. It's what we can have faith in or trust even when things are uncertain. And by the way they're always uncertain. It's the trust that's kind of like a power that we carry with us, You know. The power of not being afraid or maybe having the fear. But that's not the only thing. We carry this abiding, This deep abiding safety that is not threatened by what's happening around us and that allows us to offer the gift of safety and fearlessness to others. That's what we're doing here. They have nothing to fear from us. Perhaps we can be a reassuring presence in the world. So these are my reflections on this practice and meeting this day. And thank you for your kind attention.