THE BUDDHIST WAY - Tilakkhana and the impermanence of summer

A farmer's perspective on the Equinox.

The stars were OUT last night – wow.

Made me realize how little I know about the constellations. The milky way was even showing! Such a treat.

It’s interesting how humans feel the need to create, when natural wonders, such as the milky way, already exist. Furthermore, we try to paint, draw, photograph, and write about these wonders, as if our expression of them could emulate their essence.

But our need to create is innate. It’s built into us, in many forms.

So perhaps it’s not about trying to recreate the essence of the cosmos, but rather, a way of expressing our joy and connection to them.

Do you believe we are all one?

Do you believe you are the cosmos and the cosmos are you?

When we slow down and sit with that feeling – that we are all one – it bridges the gap between “this” and “that” … “me” and “this”.

The Buddhists call it Anatta, ‘nonself’.

Without tight boundaries, we soften. The connection to all that is around us takes on a different frequency. You can sense an aliveness or presence in all things. This presence is peaceful and unconditional, and, just for a moment, we suffer no more.

Annica, ‘impermanence’, is that everything is in a constant state of change. All formations are temporary.

The other mark of the Buddha's Tilakkhana is Dukkha, 'suffering'.

Suffering is a natural part of life. Failure to see this creates suffering. ie. believing that life should be exact & perfect, creates suffering.

But suffering hurts so bad…

Intense grief. Savagery and violence. Shame, mockery, bullying. Why must humans suffer? Why do these acts exist? If there is a higher power of unconditional love…

I don’t know why we have to suffer.

Even in a seemingly “perfect” scenario, there will always be some sort of contrast. Contrast is what gives depth, meaning, vision. Like a painting.

Can we reconcile something that happened centuries ago? Will they ever heal?

Some scars stay forever.

Sometimes I connect through time with my past self, reconcile something that happened, or a feeling that stuck in that moment. It’s a way of showing compassion for your previous self, and it’s a powerful way to transmute suffering. Something that perhaps stung when you were a teen, doesn’t have to replay or cause suffering again now.

I’m curious, can we transmute horrific human acts that happened in the past? Is it possible for people to do this now, when the acts were committed by those in another time? It’s one thing to transmute something from a decade or two ago, from your own life. But to go back further in time, to a space where…

…just having compassion for those people of that time, makes me feel emotional.

Because we are all connected.

The suffering people endured still lives on, in ways. The same way a scar remains long after the healing.  The planet – air, water & soil - all carry these scars.

And sadly, there are many places today where intense human suffering is still alive. To believe we are in a state of bliss, is almost as neurotic as those committing the acts of violence against other humans today.

Stark, indeed.

To bring in the Buddhist teachings... nothing in the conditioned world can provide lasting satisfaction, and there is no ‘self’. So why do we feel a need to reconcile? If reconciliation... well let’s get even more specific... what even is reconciliation? What does that look like? Because it can be seen differently from different viewpoints.

To reconcile the past, for me, feels like closing out a karmic cycle, infusing a memory with compassion & honesty, which is then felt in the present moment as peace.

So, to reconcile acts of war and violence that occurred centuries ago… what does that look like?

For me, it feels like having compassion for those who lived those experiences. Asking the angels to join me as I send healing to that moment in time. When things looked most dark, like they truly would not get any better, and death would be a welcomed relief… just an ounce of light, the tiniest percent increase in hope, the slightest shift in consciousness, awareness that perhaps a force greater than evil exists. If those people could feel even just a hundredth of a percentage better in that moment – that is my wish.

Amen.

There are accounts of Buddhists sending healing outward during their early morning meditations. Perhaps I will begin this ritual. It is deeply healing for me too, as I feel it in my body.

Ugh, feeling emotional about all of this.

There is no way to change the past, and holding onto time only creates suffering. But my wish is to be able to lighten the memory, lift the heaviness that may have lingered for centuries. Why? Because we can, and we just did.

As artists of the new earth, we choose.

So as Autumn pulls us inward, let us remember how blessed we are. Even in seasons of darkness, we have so much to be thankful for. The smallest percentage can make a difference.

Sending love to you right now.

:::

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