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Dear SileLondon,

Thanks very much for your comment. How can we live peacefully in our own bodies, minds, hearts?

This is probably one of the main reasons why I've chosen this path because it does give a way out. Not that I am a guru, teacher or ancient practioner. On the contrary, I am young to the practice and still experiencing the Dharma (teachings). At the moment I am reading Shantideva "The Way of the Bodhisattva", a guide to cultivating the mind of enlightenment, and to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and practice".

In it he advises us to treat our minds like "wounds". He must know what it feels like to let our minds go anywhere it wants, to stir up old hurtful conversations, memories, habitual tendencies to repeat patterns of thought that make us feel bad, etc. His words are so heartfelt, so real, that I believe he suffered with the uncomfortable warfare that lead us to hellish places. So he says to treat our minds like they are wounds.

"When in wild, unruly crowds, I'm careful and attentive of my wounds; Likewise, when in "evil" company, This wound, my mind. I'll constantly protect.

If we can catch the first, second or third thought that sends us off into the usual spiral downward and decide not to go with it, not to embroider it, make a story about it, just acknowledge it and see it as a thought, like a cloud in the sky, or rain that just comes and then goes, we don't have to continue with the old patterns. Its the habitual energy that is so strong. So we have to be patient with ourselves. For all these years this is the way we've been thinking now have to learn a new way of dealing with the same old stuff. It does work. But it takes practice and commitment, neither of which sound really appealing to our "fix me now" attitude.

But give it a go. Just one time and see if it makes a difference. If we can tap into a moment of peace, it will be well worth it.

Smiles to you my friend,

M.