Take Time to Love

How to take time to love? There is so very much going on in the world to destroy peace, and peace of mind. Yet also so many reasons to love!

“Solving human problems thru transforming human attitudes”

The Dalai Lama has repeatedly said that no special religion is needed to create peace. At various moments, his words have been, Lots of people show me closeness of feeling…(because) everywhere I go, I’m warm-hearted and smile. The way to change other’s minds is with affection, and not anger.

Tomorrow May 1^st is May Day Strong

Historically May Day has been a day of collective action across the world, in support of workers’ rights and human rights. The call is for “no work, no school, no shopping” this year from a wide array of respected groups, including multiple unions, Black Voters Matter, Democratic Socialists, pro-democracy groups like Womens March, Indivisible, 1000 Grandmother’s for Future Generations coalition, Face the Music collective, and dozens more.

The purpose is to stand up for fair and equal roles for every person, in the face of the rapid erosion of democracy and the imbalance of power here in the US.

Love is Slow

Love is Slow read the bumper sticker on the wall downtown yesterday, as I drove around trying to get in our county tax form before the end of the month. This feels so true. Destruction can take place so quickly. Take time to love, the results may take years to be seen. Yet it feels so much better, to rest in loving kindness and compassion, rather than anger. It’s not easy, yet as the Dalai Lama wrote Anger plays no small role in current conflicts…

Our monkey minds

This gigantic Buddha image comes from Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka from my good friend Shanna Marsh. (Happy New Year Shanna!! All blessings to you in this next dance around the sun!) She told me this week a fragment of the remarkable life story of revered Christian contemplative and Trappist monk Thomas Merton, who had a profound epiphany with these buddhas in 1968, just four days before he suddenly died. Merton was a staunch advocate for peace and social activism throughout his life.

The phrase Our monkey minds refers to the everyday distracted tumultuous all over the map quality of our thoughts. (To attribute these qualities to monkeys might not be fair. There’s probably many monkeys out there with more focused minds than mine.)

So when Shanna texted this photo, with the addition, Complete with monkey mind, I was like Whoaa! Look at this huge peace of mind, this Buddha, and the tiny monkey on its head! What would that feel like, to have this much equanimity relative to a tiny monkey mind? FYI, if one were to represent my average state of mind as a sculpture, the monkey would be the giant one, casually holding a tiny Buddha in one hand, perhaps ready to drop it on the ground.

I offer this image, with Shanna’s kind permission, as inspiration that this May Day our loving kindness, compassion, equanimity, and empathetic joy be vast, in relation to our tiny monkey minds. That whatever we do this Friday, may we take time to love.

If we’re in the streets, the example of the people of the Twin Cities of Minnesota is a high bar. They recently received a John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award LINK for peacefully defending the human rights and values that serve as the foundation of our Constitutional democracy.

It’s no small feat to keep one’s temper. Yet as the Dalai Lama has said, Without anger you can take action more effectively.

The remarkable Peace Pilgrim was asked, How can I begin to really live life? She replied, I began to really live life when I began to look at every situation and think about how I could be of service in that situation. I learned that I should not be pushy about helping, but just willing. (from Steps Toward Inner Peace)

The pleasures of attachment

There’s reasons we’re attached to the contents of our monkey minds. Just look at yours, or mine. I run through the good things that happen endlessly; it’s fun. I addictively dwell on my errors and shortcomings – this isn’t so pleasurable, yet somehow it is alluring. To loosen the grip of the monkey mind for the space of a day, even for a few minutes, how remarkable.

Peace begins with a smile

Again, this quote comes from the Dalai Lama. The invitation for one of the local events I plan to participate in tomorrow starts with: Everyone can choose what way they want to express their frustration and anger toward the Trump administration and the billionaires that run it.

That’s not why I’m going. There’s strength in numbers; it’s important to turn out. As a populace, we and our rights deserve to be treated with honesty, fairness, and respect. This is my story.

I’m there to take time to love, to advocate for this. Can I do it without being stinky? This remains to be seen. There’s smiles.

Lots of ways to love

The Carter Center just sent out their annual report to donors: Waging Peace - Fighting Disease - Building Hope

Founded by President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter in 1982, their focus has been fair elections worldwide and the global eradication of guinea worm disease, among others. There’s thousands of noble non-profits out there. Could be the moment to take the time to love them up.

Sunrise Movement is youth working for a Green New Deal in schools and communities.

I’ve appreciated Common Dreams, a progressive news service that keeps me abreast of what’s not covered in much of the mainstream media. They’re in a funding crunch as I write this.

Lots of things happen in a life. Many in this very moment. Are you willing to take time to love now?

With hugs, Amadea

Image Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka with much thanks to Polarity sister Shanna Marsh

Bio: I’m a Polarity Therapist and Ayurveda health educator practicing in Santa Fe, NM. My most recent seasonal cookbook Easy Healing Drinks from the Wisdom of Ayurveda is on special here.