Pausing... by kelly klein
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| A moment of light, the sound of waves.. |
Anytime, anywhere, I can simply pause.
For a moment or a few seconds, I can stop what I am doing and thinking, and imagine
different people around the world and what they might be experiencing in this
same present moment.
A father is looking at his
sleeping child. A traveler in India is sitting
on a train reading a book. Young children
are walking down a dirt road kicking a stone.
An African woman is
walking up a steep hill with a baby on her hip and a basin of water balanced on her head. A blind child has become separated from her parents. An old man is alone in a hospital bed, in pain. A young girl is cowering in fear. Someone is extending a hand of peace to another. A young soldier lies on his belly in the dark, armed, tense, and frightened. A young monk is ringing the morning bells in the silence of predawn. A businessman is stuck in traffic. A Mexican immigrant is alone and lost in the desert. Someone is laughing. Someone is being beaten or raped. Someone is watching a sunset. Someone is hungry. Someone is cold. Someone is touching another with compassion. Someone is mourning a loss. All things are happening in this same moment, around the world, to all of us.
walking up a steep hill with a baby on her hip and a basin of water balanced on her head. A blind child has become separated from her parents. An old man is alone in a hospital bed, in pain. A young girl is cowering in fear. Someone is extending a hand of peace to another. A young soldier lies on his belly in the dark, armed, tense, and frightened. A young monk is ringing the morning bells in the silence of predawn. A businessman is stuck in traffic. A Mexican immigrant is alone and lost in the desert. Someone is laughing. Someone is being beaten or raped. Someone is watching a sunset. Someone is hungry. Someone is cold. Someone is touching another with compassion. Someone is mourning a loss. All things are happening in this same moment, around the world, to all of us.
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| Welcoming gate, my home in Ladakh, (kelly klein) |
For this moment, this pause, I am
connected to them all. I am a witness to their suffering and joy. I am connected to our human family. I know we are all one. I can let go of this
inflated notion of Self and know we are all the same. We all suffer. We all feel physical pain. We all lose those
who are dear to us. We all seek happiness.
Even the murderer and pedophile seek freedom from their suffering,
trapped in their very dark worlds, and they, too, deserve my compassion.
As always, a pillar of wisdom! ♥️
ReplyDeleteAs always, a pillar of wisdom! ♥️
ReplyDeleteand so much more to learn, and practice. Thanks for sharing this journey..
DeleteInfinite wisdom
ReplyDeleteif i could only remember to practice this more often..
DeleteI appreciate that you included the dark side of the present moment along with the light. Many people who are into mindfulness seem to ignore this.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stuart. I agree, each moment is filled with beauty and horror, somewhere. If I can acknowledge that, I can offer more compassion, more understanding of another's pain, holding my own and knowing the impermanent nature of it all, light and dark.
DeleteMy dear sister, it is a blessing to receive such wonderful reflections, to read them and to feel so completely connected with all and everything... It is so wonderful to have met you recently and to have shared with each other, in spite of the brevity of our time spent together. I feel deeply inspired by what you've written, and I know this will inspire and awaken so many other ones...! Thank you �� Thank you �� Thank you �� �� �� Your sister in the Dharma, Marisela (Dharmasela)
ReplyDeleteOh Kelly, thank you for this gentle reminder. I've found that when I feel anger, frustration or fear, If I take a moment and try to feel individuals around our world in this way that I am humbled and calmed.
ReplyDelete