Keep Your Balance

I took this photo of Karen 10 days ago while hiking the Seven Sisters. The foliage was just slightly past-peak, but still so beautiful.

I went to meditation class last night. One of the students who is a friend I've known for many years asked a question and Narayan gave a very interesting answer. Basically the student was saying that she sometimes uses her meditation and yoga practice as an escape from difficult feelings. That she practices when she is upset and it relieves her suffering. Narayan said that of course seeking relief is not a bad thing, but that we tend use our practices as an escape. Practice is not meant to be an escape, but to give us more skillful means to deal with our daily lives. She suggested that the student was developing a strong "samadhi" [in this context she means concentration] but less wisdom. Narayan suggested that the student not seek bliss through her practices, but that she learn to tolerate her feelings. I found that very interesting. Sometimes that is referred to as "spiritual bypassing" which many spiritual seekers use as a way to avoid painful thoughts and feelings. I was happy that Narayan was straight-ahead in her answer. She does not coddle us but gives a strong teaching when warranted.

This teaching was in today's tricycle.com email:

Just as a person mired in quicksand cannot help another until he has himself reached firm ground (to cite another analogy from the Pali texts), our ability to help others depends chiefly on keeping our own balance. As the flight attendants tell us each time we board a plane, one must don one’s own oxygen mask before helping others
do so.

Looking after oneself, one looks after others.
Looking after others, one looks after oneself.
How does one look after others by looking after oneself?
By practicing mindfulness, developing it, and making it grow.
How does one look after oneself by looking after others?
By patience, non-harming, lovingkindness, and caring.

-The Buddha (Samyutta Nikaya 47.19)

Andrew Olendzki, "Keep Your Balance"