slogan 11

Slogan 11: "When the world is filled with evil, transform all mishaps into the path of the bodhi"

Awww, sweet Family day! Not really a holiday, and yet the school and clinic are closed. Its pretty awesome to wake up whenever and be lazy about the whole day. In my lazy bliss, I decided to get back onto the cushion and meditate. It's been weeks since the last time I "officially" meditated. I try to meditate while I ride the subway everyday and practice my Tonglen. I imagine the ennui on my fellow passengers faces melting off, like ice cream dripping down a cone on a hot summer day, as I breath out delightful openness and breath in their/my suffering. Tonglen meditative practice is unique in that: its harder to do it for yourself than it is to do for others. How screwed up is it!? I can sit there and picture breathing in a complete stranger's suffering and breathing out unconditional love for them, but I cannot seem to do that for myself. Giving myself unconditional love is a epic obstacle. One I have yet to wrap my heart and mind around. I suppose the more you know something, the harder it can be to have compassion for it. Or, I'm just one odd-kitten.

This card means that everything that happens is merely an opportunity to awaken and move out of our habitual practices. Every interaction, every exchange, every minute is a chance for us to breath and open just a little more. Even hard or uncomfortable scenarios can be breathed into with the wish that all those who are in the situation are no longer suffering. Just like all those people on the 6:52am subway heading south on the Yonge line are not suffering and are happily where they want to be . . . which for me would be back in bed. But that's tomorrows reality, not today's! Today it's family day and thank my lucky stars there was only ZZZ out of my mouth at 6:52am. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a Scrabble game to win!