Polish the Mirror—Keep
connected with YOUR practice.
We meet an illustrious
teacher. We go to a workshop, a teacher training, a retreat, a trip to India or
Japan and we come back AGLOW and inspired. With time the glow dims
down. Old thinking patterns emerge. The 8th Enemy, Doubt,
comes to snuff out our faith on the spiritual path and our personal ability to
see/be the light. We start feeling down, weak, and somewhat depressed.
What do we do? Hasten to
re-ignite the fire. In three ways:
1--Deepen your practice. Every day. Make it
regular. Keep moving (as in Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, Dance,) meditating,
reading, finding what inspires you. Trust it. Go against your resistance.
You will see, feel it. Keep polishing the mirror.
2—Connect with a sangha. Come out and meet others
in a positive group or spiritual environment. You will feel that you are not
alone. Give to others what you want to receive. Support, encouragement.
See the light of others and your own light will shine back at you.
3—Become a student again.
Sit in class. Find teachers you trust. It does not have to be one teacher. Connect
with teachers who truly inspire you, and also please: stay grounded. Do not
project too much stuff on your poor teachers. They are human. They are
not perfect. If they do their job of holding the mirror for you, so you can
see/feel your light even for a brief moment, then they are serving their
purpose. (Surely, you need to choose well. Choose teachers who are real and
ethical. Who practice what they teach.) If you allow the light of the
teacher to reach you, you will feel uplifted. That energy will help you to work
off the karma of doubt, resistance, and negativity. They will help you to
see that you are playing out the same karma over and over again in your
relationship with your teacher, your lover, your employer, and co-workers. Thus
teachers need to help students, and students need to help teachers, so we can
wake up together. In Zen our teachers often remind us: “Stay diligent.”
Please do. All the warmth and glow you are looking for is there! Where?
In you, right now. Namaste!
