Mirrors; Right View; Precious Teachers; Interrelationship

I received a "learning again" today on right view, wrong view and perception through an email conversation. No matter what is taking place in our lives, even if we are ill, even with something like cancer, life's lessons continue on. It is good to pay attention.

Everyone knows that I teach and attempt to practice good meditation practice, Mindfulness Meditation. This in no way means that someone called teacher has mastered a life subject, it just means they have found something they think worthy and want to share it with others. This is why it is called a practice -- we practice to incorporate these practices into our own lives throughout our lives.

One of the teachings of Mindfulness Meditation Practice is Right View:

"Aware of suffering created by attachment to views and wrong perceptions, I am determined to avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. I will learn and practise non-attachment from views in order to be open to others’ insights and experiences. I am aware that the knowledge I presently possess is not changeless, absolute truth. Truth is found in life and I will observe life within and around me in every moment, ready to learn throughout my life."

I learned a long time ago that every thing and every one in our lives is a mirror. What bothers us about something or someone can also be found in ourselves.

The Native Americans teach that we are all related, all connected in the great web called life. In the Native American Lakota language Mitakuye Oyasin (Mee-tah-koo-yay O-yah-seen) means "We are all related." **The Cherokee say we are all related this way: Gusdi Idadadvhni (Gus-tee Ee-da-da-duh-nee), or Ea Nigada Qusdi Idadadvhn (Ah-nee-gah-dee Use-tee Ee-da-da-duh-nee), meaning "All My Relations In Creation." Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves, all things connect, all things touch. If you look further, you will find that this is commonly held by most, and I believe all, belief systems.

From the Zen tradition:

"Suffering, unhappiness, violence, and war escalate when we are overcome with anger and try to punish and inflict suffering on the other side. We act this way because we believe that as a result we will suffer less, but of course this action only leads to the other side desiring revenge. This is the surest course of destruction."

**[Creating True Peace, Ending Violence in Yourself, Your Family, Your Community, and the World, Nhat Hanh, Free Press, © 2003.]

While we may be walking our own path, occasionally meeting up with suffering along the way, ... well, the people we come into contact with are walking their own path, occasionally meeting up with suffering along the way. This is a reflection, and the reflection is there for us to learn from, not only about compassion towards the other person, but to look more deeply at how to offer compassion to ourselves. The Mirror. Nature can also teach us these things -- don't miss the Mirror Lake photo at the beginning of this post. Messages for us are everywhere.

There is a teaching that when we are in conflict with someone we should regard that person as our Precious Teacher, for there is a lesson to learn about ourselves from the one who causes our discontent. Again, we are all related, we inter-are. We are a long chain, and the chain reacts in full circle.

From the East:

Interrelationship

You are me, and I am you.

Isn't it obvious that we "inter-are"?

You cultivate the flower in yourself,

so that I will be beautiful ...

I support you; you support me.

I am in this world to offer you peace;

you are in this world to bring me joy."

~Hanh~

From the West:

“Humankind has not woven the web of life.

We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

All things are bound together.

All things connect.”

~Chief Seattle~

The world works better if we strive to be mindful, look deeply, and shine a light to see if we are practicing Right View - always attempting to make thoughtful choices, always striving to offer compassion ... to ourselves and to others. Someone once said to watch the words with care, for they have more power than atom bombs. I believe this to be one of the great truths, but we as humans sometimes forget. It is good to always have awareness. I'm still working to do this more consistently.

Gusdi Idadadvhni

Ea Nigada Qusdi Idadadvhn

Mitakuye Oyasin

-We are all related-

**Special thanks to Richard Teesatuskie of the Long Hair Clan, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and Pat Cummins, Nashville, TN, for their help with Cherokee interpretation, spelling, and pronunciation.