My friend Brian, who is a Buddhist teacher, ran a day-long retreat Sunday. We spent the day, as he said, doing nothing--except, of course, that we observed everything.
Another nothing that was really something was decorating birdhouses any way we felt like it. I tore up a few meditations and pasted the paper on anyway it felt like going. The strips of paper made me think of bandages, which in a way made perfect sense. Letting the paper take its own course, I saw the words interact with each other differently and tell me something new.
Brian had begun the day by inviting us to consider that there is nothing to fix--in ourselves, in our world--because everything is perfect as it is. Thinking about this later--as I sat in front of my computer to prepare this post before bedtime--it seems to me we have to get our arms around this idea before we can open them to the rest of the world. It seems to me to focus on what is flawed can blind me to what is beautiful. That's no way to live.
20 Comments
great ideas, we can get blinded by the ugly in the world and miss the beautiful...
ReplyDeleteuplifting post!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful objects in your photos: that shell is perfection itself, because it is beautiful and flawed! (Like most people...)
ReplyDeleteI so much appreciate what you've said. Too often I wish I could change unchangeable things in my life and I forget, it's perfect already. It sounds like this was a great retreat.
ReplyDeleteI love those bird houses. The shot of the beach is very interesting and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. What got me was looking at familiar things in new ways.
ReplyDeleteI stared at the second photo for a few seconds before reading on. It appeared to be a rose on the beach. Beautiful. Your session with the Buddhist sounds interesting. A lesson we could all learn. Of course words and birds are some of my favorite things.
ReplyDeleteThese are profound thoughts and delightful pictures. Reality is a matter of perspective as your floral shell shows so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding, much needed entry of yours. Thank you.
ReplyDeletedaily athens
The last shot captured so well, indeed magical!
ReplyDeleteLovely post. So peaceful and tranquil!
ReplyDeleteYour retreat sounds fascinating. Then the picture of the shell on the beach is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThat's just amazing how the shadow completed/repaired/healed that shell. How apropos for what you had just learned. All are beautiful images but that one, particularly because of how you saw it, was magical.
ReplyDeleteVery nice the decorated bird houses. I like the image of the shell on the beach too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful sentiments. The last picture has an aura of endless happiness and optimism about it. I do not know why, but it is beuatiful in a subtle way and yet it is so right *in your face* as well.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of the sea, my favorite element...
xoxo
..." consider that there is nothing to fix--in ourselves, in our world--because everything is perfect as it is."
ReplyDeleteI wish I could feel that, Sandy! I feel unhappy this very moment. And the problem is I cannot do anything about it. Still I can see the beauty around me and in many people.
Everything is perfect. Just as it is, just as we are. I think it is arrogant to think otherwise. Who are and what do we know after all?
ReplyDeleteWhat is real in our lives is what we believe...what we perceive is true!! I will remember to consider there is nothing to fix. I love that!
ReplyDeleteHugs
SueAnn
It must have been an uplifting day, we should all believe everything is perfect but few do.
ReplyDeleteI want to live that . Know that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here.