Acceptance and letting go

I had the immense pleasure of studying Tibetan Medicine at the Men-Tsee-Khang Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute in Dharamsala India in 2012 and it was a catalyst for change for me. It was the first time I recall actually letting go & accepting what is. I circumambulated around the Dalai Lama's residence in the mornings along with monkeys, dogs, bulls, and cows knowing that one swoop of a bull's horns and down the mountain I would go. I saw death and famine and pollution along the way. I also saw the most beautiful views you can imagine and the most caring hearts you could wish for. I witnessed an acceptance of all that there is. When asking a local about fear and death, I was met with a shrug: “that's just life.” There is danger, death, hunger—but there is also compassion, courage, kindness. As the Dalai Lama said, "Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” We all face challenges—how can we pursue serenity with our responses?

A situation provoked anxiety for me on the trip and I told my classmates I needed space, laid on the bed, looked at the ceiling, and thought of a Dalai Lama quote I had heard earlier, "If you can do something about a situation, why worry? And if you can't do something about a situation, why worry?” I had heard several similar sentiments before, but there was something in that moment that clicked. I couldn’t do anything about the things I was worried about, and I had a long way to go to get home. Worry was not an option, and my anxiety had no host on which to feed. It was one of the most pivotal moments in my life. When I find myself feeling anxious, I often pause to visualize that that ceiling, validate my emotions (worrying is normal), pause to consider my possible actions (can I do anything about this?), and accept the answer (either do something about it, or let it go).

I believe that moment clicked for me because I was in a space where my daily purpose was exploring Tibetan medicine, yoga, and meditation, and was surrounded by people doing the same. I didn’t have to think about meditation, it was scheduled into my day. I was in a place where I was able to process the message of letting go. While I might not be able to physically transport myself back to my community in Dharamsala, I can work on creating a space where meditation is part of my life and find communities—like Insight Timer—where I can be surrounded by people that seek to do the same. I am welcoming you to share this space with me in celebration of the Dalai Lama’s birthday for this week's classes. How can we incorporate his words of wisdom into our daily lives to accept our circumstances with compassion?

Want to find ways to build meditation into your life? Contact me or schedule your free consultation today.

I look forward to practicing with you,

Amandalee