Thanks to Paul for leading DPX at our first Covid outdoor meet-up location. We did a silent meditation, followed by a reading that Paul presented by Jon Kabat-Zinn from “Wherever You Go There You Are.” It was an excerpt explaining meditation being a path, a way of living in harmony with not knowing where you are going. Kabat-Zinn talks about learning to see clearly where you are on the path right now and not believing to strongly that you know where you are going, because that is grasping which causes suffering. We need to admit that we don’t know they way and be open to help along our path.
For discussion Paul asked us to consider, “If your life were a book, what chapter would you be on and what would the title of the book be?" He stated that he is working on not being driven by narrow visions of personal growth and instead learning to be fully open to all the energies at his disposal. He is trying to step up as skillfully and mindfully as he can, approaching an unknown path.
One member of our group commented that his book title would be “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, because of the conflict between what he presents externally verses the reality of what he is feeling inside. Or “Don Quixote”, referring to the illusion he lives with.
Another member said her book title would be “Learning to Let Go.” Because she is trying to not force an outcome, being open to possibilities, accepting being in a space where something might come to fruition…. and it may not be what she had planned.
Another member talked about “A Random Walk Through Life” learning to take things as they come. Or “Death in the Afternoon” because of all the high-risk activities he used to engage in, but not doesn’t feel the need to do anymore.
Another member said her book would be called “It doesn’t Get Better That This”, referring to her personal challenge not to grasp or aspire at all, but to completely accept.
Still another member said her book would be called “Healed !?” Stating that years of hard work, is beginning to pay off. Developing a daily meditation practice, meeting with regular Buddhist meditation groups, stopping drinking, attending recovery meetings, building communities, finally having full access to appropriate mental health care services, with her struggles to get adequate insurance, years of physical therapy finally healing chronic pain, and amazingly having some financial security due to pandemic unemployment insurance, as well as finding meaning through a new career path. Everything is coming together to create a state of mind free from C-PSTD symptoms and unresolved grief that has been a black cloud over her for 18 years.
Another member titled his book “If It’s Not One Thing…..It’s Another….It’s Always Something. Don’t Wait For It To Be Right.”
What would your book title be? What chapter are you on currently?
That about did it for our meeting. We so enjoyed having Paul visit us again in Boston after his move to Texas. He will always be in our hearts even if he lives in Texas now!