I've felt helpless, too, but like with any task, I'm finding it's often best to start with small yet meaningful actions. giving time, energy, and resources where we can. not reinventing the wheel, but making the wheels that already exist turn more easily.
Alice, this newsletter is such a reminder to us all during these troubling times, that we all have to help one another and no matter what, this is all temporary. Life has been such a roller coaster lately. As soon as we get whiplash going one direction, we are just as quickly getting it from the other direction. We all need to take a deep breath and remember to be a helper in any way we can.
This is beautiful, Alice. Thank you for the reminder to pause. It is absolutely needed for clarity and power that will carry us through with action.
I’ve just recently found a volunteer opportunity packaging things for relief boxes that are given to needy people here in Houston. I believe if we connect with other caring activists and look around, we can find ways to alieve suffering in our corner of the world. And if we all do what we can where we are, much can be accomplished for suffering people everywhere.
Alice, I think this is one of my favorite newsletters that you have written. Your deep reflections are ones that resonate within us all during this time of turmoil.
Your points are ones many of us often tend to identify. We as humans have hardened our hearts in so many ways, jumping to conclusions; judging before pausing to reflect.
I must point something out here though. You claim to not be a teacher, yet you are. Not only as a culinary instructor, your suggestion that we consider reading Pema’s book was a gentle lesson as well. Softening of the armor that surrounds our hearts. Bodhichitta. Not exactly an easy task, yet a mindful one we should practice.
Also, perhaps if we choose to pause, give our minds time to absorb our spinning world around us, we may find there are small insignificant ways to appreciate other humans trying to survive during this tumultuous time.
When you wrote: “suffering (which isn’t an accurate translation of dukkha, the Sanskrit word for the first noble truth, and that is better translated as “unease”, perhaps) is a fact.
It’s a fact because we, as humans, tend to reject the ‘uneasy’ in pursuit of what is pleasant instead,” i was immediately reminded of JFK’s speech about why we were going to the Moon - “because it is hard.”
I heard that when I was 4 years old, and it became a guidepost. Avoiding unease and unpleasantness just causes society to be superficial and it goes downhill from there.
You mentioned clichés, and they are clichés for a reason: they ring true. We need reminders. And you reminded us. 🙏 what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger
I've felt helpless, too, but like with any task, I'm finding it's often best to start with small yet meaningful actions. giving time, energy, and resources where we can. not reinventing the wheel, but making the wheels that already exist turn more easily.
Wonderful!
Alice, this newsletter is such a reminder to us all during these troubling times, that we all have to help one another and no matter what, this is all temporary. Life has been such a roller coaster lately. As soon as we get whiplash going one direction, we are just as quickly getting it from the other direction. We all need to take a deep breath and remember to be a helper in any way we can.
This is beautiful, Alice. Thank you for the reminder to pause. It is absolutely needed for clarity and power that will carry us through with action.
I’ve just recently found a volunteer opportunity packaging things for relief boxes that are given to needy people here in Houston. I believe if we connect with other caring activists and look around, we can find ways to alieve suffering in our corner of the world. And if we all do what we can where we are, much can be accomplished for suffering people everywhere.
Alice, I think this is one of my favorite newsletters that you have written. Your deep reflections are ones that resonate within us all during this time of turmoil.
Your points are ones many of us often tend to identify. We as humans have hardened our hearts in so many ways, jumping to conclusions; judging before pausing to reflect.
I must point something out here though. You claim to not be a teacher, yet you are. Not only as a culinary instructor, your suggestion that we consider reading Pema’s book was a gentle lesson as well. Softening of the armor that surrounds our hearts. Bodhichitta. Not exactly an easy task, yet a mindful one we should practice.
Also, perhaps if we choose to pause, give our minds time to absorb our spinning world around us, we may find there are small insignificant ways to appreciate other humans trying to survive during this tumultuous time.
When you wrote: “suffering (which isn’t an accurate translation of dukkha, the Sanskrit word for the first noble truth, and that is better translated as “unease”, perhaps) is a fact.
It’s a fact because we, as humans, tend to reject the ‘uneasy’ in pursuit of what is pleasant instead,” i was immediately reminded of JFK’s speech about why we were going to the Moon - “because it is hard.”
I heard that when I was 4 years old, and it became a guidepost. Avoiding unease and unpleasantness just causes society to be superficial and it goes downhill from there.
You mentioned clichés, and they are clichés for a reason: they ring true. We need reminders. And you reminded us. 🙏 what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger
Thank you for taking the time to write. And thank you for my beautiful present. You are a gem. I really hope we get to hug soon.