Gently, as the weekend unfolds, let us remind ourselves that we cannot rely upon our perceptions, because they are almost always clouded by our emotions and opinions. This simply means that a reliance on our perceptions will always give rise to misapprehensions.
In our study of the Dharma, we teach that there are three stages in the development of real wisdom (called Sherab in Tibetan, literally "ultimate wisdom"). The first stage is the stage of hearing (or learning). The second stage comes when you contemplate, familiarise and "dig deeper", after reading, hearing or learning something. It is a stage in which your "learning" becomes "clearer understanding", and layers of misconception begin to peel away, like the layers of an onion. This level of wisdom also causes our emotions, feelings and opinions to come to the surface, so that we can turn our awareness to how they cloud our understanding.
The third stage is one in which we move past the academic understanding of something, and through meditation, understand it so deeply that we actually "experience" or feel it.
This process is rooted in the spiritual path, but impacts every aspect of our lives, because the deeper we delve into the nature and understanding of something, the more clearly we see that all phenomena are impermanent and interconnected.
In my consulting practice (http://prosperityreinvented.com), often an executive or top-level marketing professional will contact me for assistance in finding a new career path. And we work with those persons on an individual basis to help them achieve their goals. Part of our work involves networking with an alliance of executive recruiters, and strategic partnerships with corporate coaches in our organisation. But there is another part of the process, which involves really getting to know the person, and helping them to clear out all of the obstacles that stand in the way of their success. In other words, we take them from the first level of wisdom to the second.
Our monastic formation program is really no different. In the end, the person who becomes a monk or a contemplative is no different than anyone else. What is different is our approach to the spiritual journey, and in time, our ability to see with a clearer vision, so that we can better serve others, and alleviate suffering.
Earlier this weekend, I participated in a lively and thought provoking discussion about the perceived benefits or harm of the group ACT-UP -- a militant protest organisation, started by the hostile activist, Larry Kramer. Some would say that Larry Kramer's anger was justified and that he was right to express it. Others think such disruptive, destructive and often violent actions were unhealthy.
Larry Kramer is a good example of someone who never seems to have learned to express those things which cause him pain in a mature, clear and productive way. Instead, he has always seemed to be temperamental and reactionary. And he rallied a whole community of hurting individuals to join him in creating a path of disruption, damage and bad-press for people with AIDS throughout the country.
True, his actions and those of his confreres "got attention", and that attention did result in more mature, responsible and less reactionary folks getting things done.
Many, who like myself, lost literally hundreds of friends during the "Kramer generation", feel compelled to raise Larry Kramer to hero status, because they do not see his actions as being harmful. Most of them interestingly do not live with the disease that I lived with through those years... so they only know tangentially the kind of backlash that Larry Kramer and ACT-UP caused for many of us. Their understanding is clouded by their emotions, their opinions and their attachments.
And so are mine.
I witnessed the divisiveness and disruption Kramer caused in the first and largest AIDS service organisation in the United States. I was a pastoral counselor at Mother Cabrini Hospital, and saw nurses and medical staff, who had previously been compassionate and fearless in their care of the sick and dying -- many of them nuns -- suddenly turn equally hostile, after such absurd events as ACT-UP's disruption of a Roman Catholic Mass, or their throwing of pig's blood on the steps of the New York City Health Department. So my opinion and emotions definitely affect my perception of ACT UP and Larry Kramer.
But I was reminded of the importance of letting go of those perceptions this weekend. I don't, for example, have any idea what Larry Kramer thinks today. I don't know where his journey has taken him in the past eight years.
And I know that my opinion of him is meritless. It is nothing more than an opinion... my perception. The fundamental truth is that he is a human being, who has suffered a great deal. How he chose to deal with that pain is about him. How I choose to respond to that suffering is about me.
This weekend was one of those introspective times, when I realised that there was so much sitting there, in front of me, ready for me to let go of... and that's what I intend to do. Right now. Right here.
I invite you to consider doing the same.
Much love!
Namasté!
Internationally respected, life coach and teacher, Lama Gurudas Sunyatananda (Dr. F. Gianmichael Salvato, O.C., M.Sc.) is a Buddhist and Franciscan contemplative, and author of the popular book, "The Dharma of Compassion - One Monk's Reflections on the Teachings of the Enlightened and Anointed Ones". He is best known for his on-going contributions to helping people unlock the power of their own minds -- teaching them how to apply that power to create strong, loving relationships, make more money, and live more meaningful, prosperous, health and satisfying lives.
You can join his primary social network and interact with him directly by visiting:
http://www.betternetworker.com/referral/7777cb42
Copyright ©2008, Dr. F. Gianmichael Salvato/Lama Gurudas Sunyatananda, O.C., All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire blog, including by-lines, contact information and this copyright remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.
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