We are all reckoning with heat waves, inner weather and outer weather, fighting and strife in this country and abroad. People are feeling depleted, fatigued, and soul-weary. Yet in the midst of this, I am shaken awake by the giggles and delight of different types of bodies splashing in our local, neighborhood pool. I am cheered by the resilience and beauty of orange day lilies going about their colorful, swaying business. I am buoyed by a generous and kind mentor, who, despite her own challenges, finds the time to ask about my well-being. And I create space in my day to sit in silence in the cool, beautiful Dharma hall of CIMC.
These moments shine light on a contemplation or koan that has been alive in my life and in my practice lately:
We cannot give what we don’t have
We cannot keep what we don’t give away
What do we wish to have and give? What enduring seeds are worthwhile to plant, to tend, to nourish, to share? I recently spent time with meditation teacher and author Dr. Larry Ward. He cautioned us not to mindlessly, habitually fertilize the weeds of despair; when we do, we keep the garden of suffering growing. Instead we are invited to consider, with agency and choice, (the gifts of consistent mindfulness practice), what we want to grow. And then to set about actively cultivating and developing these. In a recent dharma talk, Dr. Ward further urged practitioners to reflect that, “we cannot give peace that we don’t have, we cannot give wellness that we don’t have, we cannot give justice that we don’t have: within us.” First and foremost, we need to look at our own suffering, heal our wounds, and develop our own inner peace, wellness and justice. Coming from love, we each can take action to whatever degree is appropriate or approachable in our everyday lives.
With dedication and faith, as our new garden begins to blossom, we realize that the only way to sustain it, is to give it away. What good are our riches if we don’t share them with others? When we do, our own capacity for these gifts of presence deepens and grows. What are we giving away? We’re offering the healing and transformation that we experience to others.
For example, in 12-step recovery work when someone in need makes fellowship calls, the person whom they call shares their recovery, thus ensuring that their own recovery strengthens and develops.
During the Little Buddhas Sangha gatherings at CIMC, we often sing the Magic Penny song that teaches about the virtue of generosity, a cornerstone of this path of awakening.
“Love is something if you give it away,
Give it away, give it away.
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.”
The joy of the folks cooling off in the pool, the beauty of the day lilies, the love of a mentor freely giving care and attention…these gifts multiply and grow. Never underestimate the rippling effect of any wholesome seeds that you plant in your own life. Garden away unabashedly because our beleaguered world needs you.
Here are my cooling summer wishes for all of us who are in this aforementioned hot soup together.
May you water the soil of pause
Sow seeds of safety, peacefulness and joy
And tend your garden of love
In all directions.
May it be so!