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Teacher: Rodney Smith
Date: 2003-11-17
Venue: Seattle Insight Meditation Center
Series
- The Four Brahma Viharas 2003-10-06
Homework
“All beings are the owners of their own karma. Their happiness or unhappiness depends on their actions, not my wishes for them, ‘Let it be, I care about you but cannot keep you from suffering, I wish you happiness but cannot make your choices.'” To see life without reactivity is the purpose of these phrases. How much do you lose yourself in pity or judgement of yourself and others? Is there a purpose to suffering or is it whimsical and meaningless? Does your interference in people’s problems often create more problems? Could it ever be more compassionate to allow others to be in pain rather than to interfere or distract them away from it? How will you know when to leave someone alone or come to his/her aid?
Exercise: “Let it be” is your mantra while practicing Upekkha. Watch our tendency to try and control the outcome. Fall back into “Let it be.” What does it mean to “let it be?” Does it mean never interfering? Does it mean you do not stop a child from wandering into the street? Come to terms with what “let it be” means, when it is appropriate and when it is not.
Continue practicing your phrases for Upekkha while you move through the day.
TalkID=716 SeriesID=33
