Sylvia Boorstein: “Right aspiration is what develops in the mind once we understand that freedom of choice is possible .”

I understand this to mean that I have a choice as to how to respond. Reaction does not necessarily mean a choice.

“Life is going to unfold however it does, pleasant or unpleasant, disappointing or thrilling, expected or unexpected – all of the above.”

I understand I can’t control life- not even a single day. But I keep on trying!

“What a relief it would be to know that whatever wave comes along we can ride it out with grace.”

“If we get really good at it, it could be like surfers delighting in the most complicated wave.”

That is the RESPONSE I am educating myself to have after reading a book sent by our daughter. It pictures a very strange future with machines lording it over the humans! The book was published as early as 2003. So glad it is now 2018 but the pictured future has not manifested yet. But it may still come true.

“Sometimes I feel my prayers are practice- the mindfulness practice- to help compose my mind refocus on the moment and possibly ‘incline the mind to insight'”.

“Inclining the mind is a term I learned from one of my Buddhist teachers. It means calling to mind something that you intellectually know is true in order to be able to understand it more directly, more completely.”

With the help of Boorstein practically my whole day is a prayer. Mental Training. I know my prayers are even more effective than those formula prayers I used to recite unmindfully.

Those formula prayers conditioned me to be a worrier, to be a scared martyr always using those formulas as crutch. I did not realize till I had Boorstein as a guide how much time I wasted not using my God-given gifts and powers.

Boorstein: “Lovingkindness an awkward and somewhat quaint term in English is the translation of the Pali word metta which means complete and unrestrained friendliness.”

“The Buddha taught that when the mind is at ease it is friendly, congenial, well-wishing.”

“The mind at ease accommodates with compassion.”
The above indicates my mind is not at ease!

“People do special practices to cultivate friendliness.. Some of these are meditation practices…It might seem at first glance, that metta practice, friendliness practice is in behalf of other people. It is equally in behalf of ourselves.”

i believe that practice suggested by Boorstein has transformed me a bit. Meditation has made me a bit patient – just a bit.

In my case the practice of Metta is not for people I don’t like. It is for pesky flies that very often disturb me – when i am in bed, when I am working on my laptop, when I am praying. We have been using candles as suggested by Google. But it has not worked.

I can easily avoid people I don’t like. But there is no escaping those pesky flies. They seem to cling to me. It is almost hopeless to deal with these unreasonable flies. The few times that i can swat to death one or two flies is sheer victory for me.

Sylvia Boorstein

“Paying attention with a single focus produces particular qualities in the mind. Especially important is a sense of ease, balance, relaxation- a state traditional (Buddhist) texts call ‘malleability of mind'”.

“Concentration practice strengthens an softens the mind.”

When disaster strikes i know I won’t crumble. “I won’t be irrevocably shattered.’

“…the very practice itself deconditions the mind from its habitual pattern of running from discomfort… practicing remaining calm and alert through the whole range of body and mind states that present themselves- all the while not doing anything to change experience but rather discovering that experience is bearable.”

This helped me through days when I still had skin allergies. Before I discovered how effective Virgin Coconut Oil as an ointment to stop the itch.

“When the heart is noncombative, when it is peaceful- which only happens when it is loving – the mind is clear. Wisdom prevails. we understand painful things happen because that’s the way life is. Complete God love, clear mind allows us to forgive life. The possibility of steadfast loving allows life- whatever its particulars- to always remain a gift.

I like Boorstein’s definition of FAITH: “Cosmic contentedness’
Boorstein explained further: “the Buddha taught that the universe is quite lawful.” I like that she said:”Belief systems are also extra.” What a relief that I don’t have to deal with dogmas.

:…the Buddha’s teaching about the importance of the personal, direct discovery of the truth. He did teach that taking other people’s word fr how things are should not take the place of individual practice and personal confirmation.”

I like the statement about individual practice and personal confirmation. this is so relevant for my health protocols because I have always been a marginal case. I have seen how irrelevant my doctors have become to me. I never fit into the categories they use! Hardly anything prescribed for me especially after my hip surgery by mainstream doctors worked.

“The Buddha taught that the universe is quite lawful. It isn’t a mistake. But it”s so mysterious.”

I say it’s unpredictable many times. But from experience most of the time, if not all the time, what i worry about does not happen and whatever happens turns out to be good for me.

How consoling that even Boorstein a renowned Buddhist teacher from the West still worries sometimes.

“Nothing is inherently wrong with me. I just need to work on my habits more.”

No guilt. Just remorse.

“My mind has the capacity and the tendency to take essentially neutral data and spin it into worry.” (Boorstein)