Follow this link to see the Priory Newsletter where this was originally published.
Most of the time, my compassionate impulse is to see a problem, analyze it, see what can be done to address the problem, and then implement the steps to fix it. But, every now and then, I come across a situation where nothing can be done (or at least I can’t see anything that could wisely be done). In the face of this “nothing can be done” situation my compassion seems to take on a burdensome quality: it is sort of frustrating.
Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett wrote: “All acceptance is the key to the gateless gate.” While this can seem a little exotic and out of reach, and it may have dimensions that I do not yet see (probably does), it turns out to be pretty down to earth and practical. Like, when I encounter that “nothing can be done” sort of situation, I can work on acceptance, I can Continue reading →
Where I’m from in South Carolina, churches often have billboards out by the road. Many of the billboards have quotes on them that are often funny or witty and they almost always point to some religious teaching that takes place within the church or within their church’s tradition. Until recently, one of my favorites was “Sign broken, message inside”. On the way to work the other day, I saw a message on the billboard of a Baptist church that really resonated with me. It said, in big, black, plastic letters, “Practice makes perfect. Be careful what you practice”. I have thought about that quote almost every day since I saw it and it has really inspired my Buddhist practice.