“Beyond our ideas of right-doing and wrong-doing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’
doesn’t make sense any more.” ~Jelaluddin Rumi
“True self is non-self, the awareness that the self is made only of non-self elements. There’s no separation between self and other, and everything is interconnected. Once you are aware of that you are no longer caught in the idea that you are a separate entity.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
“Everyone is so afraid of death, but the real sufis just laugh: nothing tyrannizes their hearts. What strikes the oyster shell does not damage the pearl.”
~Jelaluddin Rumi
Dear Friends,
I’ve never experienced a pandemic before, never seen rampant fear and the reality of suffering so prevalent. In these uncertain times, I am very thankful for my practice. Especially for the understanding of the three marks of existence or the three characteristics, anicca [impermanence], anatta [non-self], and dukkha [the understanding that suffering exists in life]. One teacher, whose name sadly, I do not know, summed it up as, “Everything keeps changing. It’ll shake you up, and it’s not personal.” We are seeing the truth of this teaching in the world.
The Buddha taught that all things, including our lives, are compound, conditioned phenomena made possible by supporting causes and conditions. When the surrounding environmental conditions shift, maintaining what was is no longer possible. This can be delightful when we heal from an illness or when that loud neighbor finally moves out. This truth can be sorrowful when someone gets ill or dies. We see that existence is only possible when the proper conditions that support it are in place. This is the teaching of non-self, knowing that we are held on the Earth by an array of support that includes oxygen, water, the sunshine that grows our food, by the nurture of our ancestors who gave birth to us and cared for us as a baby and child. We are constantly being formed.
In the Zen tradition, we say we are not the same or different than we were, we are a continuation. We are a process not a product and we keep changing. This is not a self that needs propping up, but a collection of life energy. When we can see past the rigid partition separating our life and all other beings, we can begin to soften the voice of the self that sees everything in terms of how it affects me. Things happen because of causes and conditions and are the result of actions. We are not victims of the world and life is not doing things to us personally. This pandemic is not personal, even when it causes us pain.
We are a country of doers and the recommendations, handwashing and staying home, essentially not doing, may seem like non-action. We want a vaccine. We want real medicine. We want to know we will be OK. Right now, we are seeing that the solidity of life, is not as solid as we thought. This is impermanence. We are not born with a guaranteed expiration date. We are always at risk, always vulnerable, but right now, we see it clearly. The result of seeing impermanence is that we understand we are not as separate and stable as we wish and that engenders fear, which is dukkha.
Last week, the stock market plunged and the newscaster commented that “fear outstripped greed.” It takes a lot to knock out greed, but fear for our lives is doing the trick. When things are uncertain we have difficulty. Naturally, we want stability and routine. As a species, we crave to know all the risks and how to stay safe. We suffer when we are vulnerable and unsure. One item this pandemic is showing us is that we belong to each other. We are more connected than we imagined.
I’ve seen the beautiful videos of those in isolation singing out the windows in Italy. We know that the air is cleaner over Wuhan than it was two weeks ago and that everywhere folks are reaching out to each other despite the barriers. We are learning what matters to us all and that if one of us suffers, we all suffer. We are collectively learning to stop. We have nowhere to go and nothing to do right now. Let us make good use of our time on this Earth.
I send this simple prayer for all of us.
A Prayer for the Pandemic
Where there are anxiety and fear, may we find our still center even in the midst of this.
Where there are anger and frustration at confinement, may we give ourselves permission to rest.
Where there is loss of income and fear for our family’s wellbeing, may we be willing to trust that there are kindness and support in this world.
Where there is disregard for others, may we remember that simple acts of renunciation—staying home and non-doing, can save lives.
Where there are panic and hoarding, may we open to generosity and recognize that we belong to each other.
Where there are denial and dismissal, may we embrace all people’s feelings with respect and consideration.
Where there are vulnerable lives, may we be a continued presence of compassionate care.
Where there is impatience, may we enjoy slowing down and find ease.
When we feel like victims, may we know this situation is not personal.
Where there is anxiety for our health and those we love, may we understand that these bodies are subject to natural laws.
Where there are despair and hopelessness, may we know that we are life without end.
When we are irritable and grumpy, may we remember that we are here to love each other.
When we are overwhelmed, may we stand in the beauty of the natural world.
When we don’t want to do this anymore, may we look at ourselves with the tenderness of a mother holding a frightened child.
When we fear for our lives, may we remember we exist beyond the beginning and end of this limited body.
When we feel alone, may we remember that each one of us is connected to all the lives, the stars, and planets and that we belong to this Earth.
When we are confused, may we know how to stop and listen to our wisdom.
And when we are scared, may we reach into the world and find our family is here, with us all along.
May we all trust our light,
Celia
