Ok, Ok, Ok

olmate · August 30th, 2011, 03:01

What does it mean to FULLY PARTICIPATE in life?

Do you see "edges or fringes" where the first response might be to have a blind spot?

I was listening to a CD in the car this morning stuck in traffic, gloomy faces all around and then the comment comes blasting out of the car speakers that "life is a mirror for Divine potentiality for Love".

What is that?

I drove into the car park and saw someone get out of their car - stop momentarily and then start singing and dancing.

Go figure...

Olmate

GilesC · August 30th, 2011, 23:11

Originally Posted by olmate

What does it mean to FULLY PARTICIPATE in life?

To be in the present moment, free of attachment to the past or future. To act in the moment, rather than RE-act based on ideas of the past.

Do you see "edges or fringes" where the first response might be to have a blind spot?

The present moment... the Now... is all encompassing, and infinite... it has no edges. However, our mind plays tricks with us and we create concepts of edges or boundaries where we can believe the Now is limited between past and future and to live in the Now excludes the past and future rather than brings the past and future into the Now.

I was listening to a CD in the car this morning stuck in traffic, gloomy faces all around and then the comment comes blasting out of the car speakers that "life is a mirror for Divine potentiality for Love".

What is that?

There is love (truth) in every single thing, but our mind covers things with dust and prevents us from seeing the love. If we look truthfully, we will be able to see that love... thus the love is potentially there for us to see, if we can learn to let the dust blow away and see it.

I drove into the car park and saw someone get out of their car - stop momentarily and then start singing and dancing.

At least they managed to let go of the past and BE present. The potential is in all of us.

Hugs

Giles

olmate · August 31st, 2011, 12:57

As always, thanks Giles.

I get your points. Further reflecting on these issues, "fully participating" seems to have many facets which for me has added additional texture to being present. For example, suspending judgement, having a heightened awareness of my bodily reaction to what I see and hear and touch and smell, etc. and having a much greater sense of listening before responding.

There seems to be a precision about this that requires attention but at the same time "hanging on loose".

The idea of the "fringes" in life practice in a practical sense was like today as I stood beside a guy that many describe as a street person or homeless person. I am ashamed to say that not very long ago I would just look away. Recent practice includes being as present as possible not only to the person but my felt reactions - conscious and unconscious.

On the topic of the car park dancer I tried it in the office this morning. It turns out that the team would be a fantastic "flash" crowd. I just walked in, cranked up House of Pain's Jump Around to wall vibrating levels and cut loose. And they thought they had me all worked out....

Olmate

pollyanna · August 31st, 2011, 14:32

Hi Olmate, hope these recent experiences fit into this thread. One of the great things about my recent trip to the U.K. is that I can understand and be clearly understood when speaking and listening (still working on my french) My nephew took us to a pub/restaurant for dinner and I was amazed at the price of £3.69. There was obviously a big cue and as one man was rolling his eyes constantly and a few looking glum, the young man who was carving the meat and serving was so cheerful and nice to everyone. When my turn came to be served I made my choices and told him how much I appreciated his cheerful and kind service and his face lit up.

After our meal we went outside and my nephew told me we were in the exact place where I used to live with my two oldest children over 3 decades ago. This eating house was built on the land where the notorious flats used to be. When I lived there I really struggled financially and had come to terms with a very painful divorce. Wow, I just said, "I've just been served a lovely roast dinner in the same spot where I used to struggle to make ends meet." Raising my arms in the car park I jumped in the air and shouted "Dreams do come true - this is amazing" and I've no idea what others thought but my family were all laughing and understood.

A couple of days later, my neice offered to have my new dog overnight for me and we went to spend the afternoon with her. She lives in the same area which I moved to when I "escaped" finally from the flats so another trip down memory lane and a "5 star hotel" for my dog for the last night before travelling home on the ferry. I remember well how happy I was walking my two young children to school along tree lined drives and because it was an affluent area, I had three cleaning jobs which made life easier but eating out was never something I could afford at that time as I was on a very tight budget. My sisters, niece, myself and my dog all sat outside a cafe across from the pub I used to work in on Friday nights and I could buy us all lunch served again by a lovely lady who I once again gave my appreciation too.

In total, I think if we can accept and feel for people who appear glum or impatient, have the confidence to make a point of telling the people who bring joy to our lives and just enjoy every moment, then this is fully participating in life. I wish you much peace and joy

P.S. Yesterday morning, one by one, 13 housemartins came sitting on the telephone wire after swooping in and out of the pool house where they have built a nest and produced two lots of chicks this year - life is wonderful

Bryan555 · August 31st, 2011, 15:27

Hi Polly...

A lovely story. Can I ask one question? You said you were "amazed at the price of £3.69". Were you amazed that the price was so high, or so low?

As someone who lives in the "Third World", I have kind of lost touch with the day-to-day experience in Western countries. My first reaction was that you were shocked at the high price in the U.K. (It would be quite expensive here.) But, upon reflection, I'm starting to think you meant the opposite.

GilesC · August 31st, 2011, 22:15

Well, you'd be lucky to get a meal for any lower than that in a British pub. There's a lot of them been closing down in the past couple of years, so there's a lot of competition to get the crowds back in. Cheap but effective meals is one of those things.

Mr Monkey · August 31st, 2011, 22:31

Originally Posted by GilesC

Well, you'd be lucky to get a meal for any lower than that in a British pub.

Absolutely, in London thats about the price of a pint

, and thats not at a particularly decent pub either

On the flip side, the expense could be taken as an incentive to reduce that alcohol intake (or maybe to brew up some moonshine

)

pollyanna · August 31st, 2011, 23:13

Originally Posted by Bryan555

Hi Polly...

A lovely story. Can I ask one question? You said you were "amazed at the price of £3.69". Were you amazed that the price was so high, or so low?

As someone who lives in the "Third World", I have kind of lost touch with the day-to-day experience in Western countries. My first reaction was that you were shocked at the high price in the U.K. (It would be quite expensive here.) But, upon reflection, I'm starting to think you meant the opposite.

Hi Bryan, I was amazed at how low the price was even though I am aware that the cost of many things is so much more expensive in France - it was a nice surprise