I Would Have . . .

My teacher recently said to someone, "You're like the drunk driver who hits a person in the crosswalk, then jumps out of the car and exclaims, 'I was mistreated as a child!'"

Of course, all of us make mistakes, and fall short of commitments and obligations. That's the human way.

But how often do we blame our failures on the past, rather than working with what we're up to in this very moment?

To do this we'd need to perceive how we actually are, in the moment at hand. As we know, if we're lost in a story about the past (or the future), our perception goes astray. As does our responsibility (response + ability).

That's why practice was invented. That's how practice comes alive in everyday activity.

How is it, just now?

How am I, just now?

What am I up to, just now?

Comments

[Genju]

Oh Great Elephants in the Sky! I love it! Thank you for starting the day with a good chuckle....

[BuddhaFrog]

This opens up exciting new vistas in the realm of excuses.

[Barry Briggs]

Hi Genju - Always glad to create a little levity.

Okay, BuddhaFrog - what's your newest excuse?

[Suzanne]

Well, if the past is coming up in vivid post traumatic stress flashbacks or other unhealthy ways...probably best to delve into it, see it very clearly, and finally, move on without it lurking about to bite you on the ass in this present moment.

[Barry Briggs]

Hi Suzanne - I do think that psychotherapy (in some forms) can play an important role in spiritual development. John Welwood has done a lot of interesting work on the complementary connection between Buddhism and psychotherapy, arising from his experience that awakening does not resolve all afflictive behaviors.

[Suzanne]

So true, so true.

[David Clark]

Yesterday, not even a stain on the carpet.

Tomorrow, not even a shadow on the wall.

And only this moment is alive!

David

[Barry Briggs]

Nothing but stains and shadows here, David. Guess I better learn to dance with them.

If only I could hear the music!

[Joseph]

It's been a common theme in my family, all of our problems came from childhood; a long line of parents messing up their children...
It's a big reason when I became actracted to Buddhism, to find a path out of that and take responsibility for my suffering.

My best friend complains, sometimes, that Buddhists he meets, in general, seem like pretty messed up people. I think it's like a doctor noting that his patients generally seem rather sick! haha

[Barry Briggs]

Thanks for your comment, Joseph (and for the great photo of your bright-eyed baby posted today on your blog!).

Well, Buddhists are probably no more messed up than anyone else. But maybe, just maybe, Buddhists have some tiny measure of awareness of how messed up they are.

With that awareness, we can actual do something new and fresh with our lives. For example, we can put down the familial baggage that we've been lugging around for all these years. That would be something!