Dance
One of the existential questions for all or certainly most of us humans is: “How do we balance the imperative to do our part to daily contribute to the functioning of this universe(s) with the obvious truth that this life journey is very brief and, in the long run, all our attempts to create rule books which please or displease the god or gods of our understanding do not seem to help very much.
Many teachers, including Jesus, have suggested that “Unless you change and become as little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Whatever might this mean? Obviously, most of us have responsibilities which little children do not have. We have jobs, home responsibilities, community responsibilities and responsibilities to friends and extended family. We have bills to pay, laundry to do and a host of other chores which little children do not have. Little children, unless they are immobilized by constant fear, not getting their basic needs met, or have physical or neurological issues, are free to explore their abilities; to touch, smell, taste and physically interact with all they encounter in their world. They get delighted , frightened, easily hurt, reach for support, cry, and quickly recover most of the time. They are both very dependent and independent which is just fine with them. They are vulnerable and amazingly resilient. As far as we can determined they do not have the capacity to endlessly analyze their feelings or thoughts.
Children grow and age in a culture in which comparison is the norm and where there are many tests to determine if one is worthy; whether one has crossed all the ‘Ts” and dotted all the ‘Is”; or have seriously pondered if one has pleased or displeased the gods. As adults we often learn to avoid exposing our human vulnerability and to label events or experiences as good or bad, desirable or undesirable. We construct copious books of ethical rules and moral imperatives while, often simultaneously, hiring teachers to practice meditation, yoga and other exercises to relearn how to just be present.
In short we become very serious creatures. We may then attempt to find activities such as sex, professional advancement, collection of things/stuff, alcohol and other so called street or recreational drugs, or prescription drugs to temporarily avoid the discomfort of our seriousness.
Then along comes the Buddha Jesus and other teachers who says drops the dualities, just show up and notice.
As adults we have the capacity to understand and respect the space of others, to procure our own food, even to have some measure of independence while appreciating our interdependence. We can do all these and related activities without over analyzing. We can eat, dispose of waste products, make love while also being responsible regarding diseases and pregnancy. We can refuse to accept the social constructs of race, many aspects of gender, age and so called sexual orientation. We can play with abandon and still perform adult tasks, all without seriously thinking about them or checking page 93 of the rule book. We can seek and give comfort when needed.
We do not need an enormous books of rules. We do need to know our behavior either enhances the functioning of the whole or detracts from it. It behoves us to know that our vehicles can quickly become killing machines or some substances such as lead are not beneficial if mixed with our drinking water. It is helpful to appreciates how oxygen feeds fires or that fire can bring needed warmth and danger. We are born. We live a short while. We return to Mother Earth.
We can read books such as Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, the Critique of Reason or Critique of the Power of Pure Reason and experience them having fun in exploring some life questions and issues or we can drag ourselves through each serious book.
Showing up with love is, I believe, very important. Analyzing whether to show up with love for hours on end does not seem very helpful or fun.
Sharing our grief and mourning is very necessary for good health. Wearing our grief and mourning as a required school uniform is depressing and boring.
We can dance with abandon; dance with honesty; dance with the pain; and dance with the laughter.
We can dance.
Written April 6, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
One of the existential questions for all or certainly most of us humans is: “How do we balance the imperative to do our part to daily contribute to the functioning of this universe(s) with the obvious truth that this life journey is very brief and, in the long run, all our attempts to create rule books which please or displease the god or gods of our understanding do not seem to help very much.
Many teachers, including Jesus, have suggested that “Unless you change and become as little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) Whatever might this mean? Obviously, most of us have responsibilities which little children do not have. We have jobs, home responsibilities, community responsibilities and responsibilities to friends and extended family. We have bills to pay, laundry to do and a host of other chores which little children do not have. Little children, unless they are immobilized by constant fear, not getting their basic needs met, or have physical or neurological issues, are free to explore their abilities; to touch, smell, taste and physically interact with all they encounter in their world. They get delighted , frightened, easily hurt, reach for support, cry, and quickly recover most of the time. They are both very dependent and independent which is just fine with them. They are vulnerable and amazingly resilient. As far as we can determined they do not have the capacity to endlessly analyze their feelings or thoughts.
Children grow and age in a culture in which comparison is the norm and where there are many tests to determine if one is worthy; whether one has crossed all the ‘Ts” and dotted all the ‘Is”; or have seriously pondered if one has pleased or displeased the gods. As adults we often learn to avoid exposing our human vulnerability and to label events or experiences as good or bad, desirable or undesirable. We construct copious books of ethical rules and moral imperatives while, often simultaneously, hiring teachers to practice meditation, yoga and other exercises to relearn how to just be present.
In short we become very serious creatures. We may then attempt to find activities such as sex, professional advancement, collection of things/stuff, alcohol and other so called street or recreational drugs, or prescription drugs to temporarily avoid the discomfort of our seriousness.
Then along comes the Buddha Jesus and other teachers who says drops the dualities, just show up and notice.
As adults we have the capacity to understand and respect the space of others, to procure our own food, even to have some measure of independence while appreciating our interdependence. We can do all these and related activities without over analyzing. We can eat, dispose of waste products, make love while also being responsible regarding diseases and pregnancy. We can refuse to accept the social constructs of race, many aspects of gender, age and so called sexual orientation. We can play with abandon and still perform adult tasks, all without seriously thinking about them or checking page 93 of the rule book. We can seek and give comfort when needed.
We do not need an enormous books of rules. We do need to know our behavior either enhances the functioning of the whole or detracts from it. It behoves us to know that our vehicles can quickly become killing machines or some substances such as lead are not beneficial if mixed with our drinking water. It is helpful to appreciates how oxygen feeds fires or that fire can bring needed warmth and danger. We are born. We live a short while. We return to Mother Earth.
We can read books such as Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, the Critique of Reason or Critique of the Power of Pure Reason and experience them having fun in exploring some life questions and issues or we can drag ourselves through each serious book.
Showing up with love is, I believe, very important. Analyzing whether to show up with love for hours on end does not seem very helpful or fun.
Sharing our grief and mourning is very necessary for good health. Wearing our grief and mourning as a required school uniform is depressing and boring.
We can dance with abandon; dance with honesty; dance with the pain; and dance with the laughter.
We can dance.
Written April 6, 2021
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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