Thank you, Liz. Yes, knowing you, I feel you live that meaning given to you by your spiritual connections in every small action of your days. It's beautiful and inspiring.
This is such a great contemplation! Thank you Marga!
I'm on an extended road trip right now, and shortly after I began the trip, I realized I needed to find meaning in my travels. I would say that my longtime meditation practice supports my need to create meaning in what I do.
I have a superficial side to myself though. I like to have fun and go on adventures and experience life just for the sake of it. To consume and enjoy the momentary pleasures that come with it. This also has connection to the conveniences of modern life.
I don't think there is any inherent meaning in this life. We create it. And by cultivating connection to Self, we also naturally want to deepen our experiences through meaning.
I loved the contemplation in your last email - what would Gandhi do? That's been on my mind. And now I think, what would Gandhi say about the currency of meaning? I suppose his life became more meaningful through activism, and then through connection to his culture and spiritual practice. I picture him (from the movie 🍿) spinning cloth in his old age. Finding meaning in his incredible activism is not hard to imagine but finding it in the simple act of spinning cloth is much more profound for me. I recently had a shift in perspective on conveniences of modern life, and how they keep us from the simple meaningful pleasures of taking care of ourselves and others.
On this trip, I have found moments of meaning in simple acts, like cooking a nourishing meal outdoors, or emptying my portable toilet. I've found moments of meaning in taking care of myself, as an act of resistance to consumerism and gluttony.
I've found meaning in taking in another culture's music and art and social practices. For example, I took a workshop on playing the spoons. Turns out spoon playing came from people gathering in their kitchens when the catholic church put a curfew on them. I found this extremely meaningful, this act of creative resistance in the face of oppression.
I've found meaning in the lighting of a dragonfly on my hand, of the beauty of the tree tops lined up against the blue sky, in the simple joy of a few warm days, and the tapping of rain at night as I fall asleep, dry and warm.
I've found meaning in bearing witness to oppression and resilience, and connecting to the deep and beautiful art and culture of the indigenous people of this land.
I feel deeply that simplicity and creating mindfully can be profoundly meaningful and are the alternative to empty consumerism. It is such a struggle for me to choose to live simply and create rather than mindlessly consume. And yet I know these practices give meaning to my life.
This trip, for me, is about having the courage to live simply and create, in whatever form that comes. It's been a back and forth process, of falling back and letting go. And it continues...
Thanks for putting these thoughts down, Rosemary. I especially appreciate that they're coming from the expanded perspective that travel often gives us.
To your point about Gandhi spinning cloth in his old age, I just heard Adyashanti quote an old Zen master who said, "Three or four times I've experienced the Great Death, but my life is lived in the million small moments that make one dance." Yes.
Thank you, Marga, I have found that focusing on spiritual connections increases my awareness of meaning and of purpose.
Thank you, Liz. Yes, knowing you, I feel you live that meaning given to you by your spiritual connections in every small action of your days. It's beautiful and inspiring.
This is such a great contemplation! Thank you Marga!
I'm on an extended road trip right now, and shortly after I began the trip, I realized I needed to find meaning in my travels. I would say that my longtime meditation practice supports my need to create meaning in what I do.
I have a superficial side to myself though. I like to have fun and go on adventures and experience life just for the sake of it. To consume and enjoy the momentary pleasures that come with it. This also has connection to the conveniences of modern life.
I don't think there is any inherent meaning in this life. We create it. And by cultivating connection to Self, we also naturally want to deepen our experiences through meaning.
I loved the contemplation in your last email - what would Gandhi do? That's been on my mind. And now I think, what would Gandhi say about the currency of meaning? I suppose his life became more meaningful through activism, and then through connection to his culture and spiritual practice. I picture him (from the movie 🍿) spinning cloth in his old age. Finding meaning in his incredible activism is not hard to imagine but finding it in the simple act of spinning cloth is much more profound for me. I recently had a shift in perspective on conveniences of modern life, and how they keep us from the simple meaningful pleasures of taking care of ourselves and others.
On this trip, I have found moments of meaning in simple acts, like cooking a nourishing meal outdoors, or emptying my portable toilet. I've found moments of meaning in taking care of myself, as an act of resistance to consumerism and gluttony.
I've found meaning in taking in another culture's music and art and social practices. For example, I took a workshop on playing the spoons. Turns out spoon playing came from people gathering in their kitchens when the catholic church put a curfew on them. I found this extremely meaningful, this act of creative resistance in the face of oppression.
I've found meaning in the lighting of a dragonfly on my hand, of the beauty of the tree tops lined up against the blue sky, in the simple joy of a few warm days, and the tapping of rain at night as I fall asleep, dry and warm.
I've found meaning in bearing witness to oppression and resilience, and connecting to the deep and beautiful art and culture of the indigenous people of this land.
I feel deeply that simplicity and creating mindfully can be profoundly meaningful and are the alternative to empty consumerism. It is such a struggle for me to choose to live simply and create rather than mindlessly consume. And yet I know these practices give meaning to my life.
This trip, for me, is about having the courage to live simply and create, in whatever form that comes. It's been a back and forth process, of falling back and letting go. And it continues...
Thanks for putting these thoughts down, Rosemary. I especially appreciate that they're coming from the expanded perspective that travel often gives us.
To your point about Gandhi spinning cloth in his old age, I just heard Adyashanti quote an old Zen master who said, "Three or four times I've experienced the Great Death, but my life is lived in the million small moments that make one dance." Yes.