0. Beginner's Mind ~ Resilient Child / Fool

Young Children, Animals and Zen 
Masters, have the ability to live 
fully Present in the moment.

Have you ever observed Children 
engaged in play? One moment they 
are running around laughing, singing, 
shouting, dancing. The next moment,
they're in conflict, tattling and crying.
Young emotions surface quickly and 
flow out seeking self-expression.

Spinning round, as small Sufi Dancers,
little ones entrain with the spin of life, 
laughing, until flopping bellies to grass,
then roll over and surrender to stillness.

Attuned with Rhythmic Breath, little Seers,
observe Sun, Sea, Earth, Wind and Clouds.
Allowing creative imagination to run wild,
they leap up, in quest of new adventure.
Chasing elusive kitties, a puppy, dragonfly,
blue bird or fluttering butterfly, they love 
 unsolved mysteries, court the unexpected 
and still believe in the power of miracles.

( This is especially true of young children age
0-7, before parental conditioning, class, race,
religion, peer-influence and social systems. )

Fearless on monkey bars and jungle 
gyms, they swing high and then let go, 
trusting wind,  to help them fly and/or 
make a great splash in sparkling water.

Pushing established limits, they pop 
wheelies on skateboards, catch air on 
snowboards and pop wheelies on bikes. 
Bravely pushing the limits of time, 
space and gravity, they conquer
 their fears and unexplored territory,
challenging and testing faith in Self.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During Winter, Humanity is touched
by stories of young Olympians who risk
injury, repeatedly "Dancing with Death", 
to advance their sport, set new records.

The Resilience of their Spirits shines as
they grab the gold, silver bronze and/or
courageously recover from failure /falls.
We stand as Sacred Witnesses to their
memorable individual / team Victories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a Zen Mind / Beginner's Mind,
we see the World we live in with the 
"soft eyes" of compassionate awareness. 

Inner- Zen Masters are inspired to
reflect and shine, share Insights from 
the most simple experiences of life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meandering down a River Path,
after a downpour of rain, I'm intrigued
by the clear reflection of trees, sky and
white clouds in a puddle blocking my way.

Like Alice in Wonderland, mesmerized
by the Illusion, I loose my sense of 
gravity, time, space and direction.
The surreal landscape inspires me to, 
reach for my camera, and returning
to centered awareness, I photograph.

I see this experience is a metaphor, 
for how easily we allow the illusions 
of our reality, to distract us from the  
true Dharma of our chosen Life Path.

Returning home, after processing the 
photographs, the digital images help 
me realize that it's possible to stop 
to admire Nature's creations, while 
remaining fully present with my 
Self in connection with others.

Enduring Stories flow into hearts 
and imaginations of generations. 
Tales of the River Goddess and
her changing currents, inspire us
to move when we sense blockages. 
Great Story Lines rise and fall with 
the breath of Heroes and Heroines. 

The Breath of Divinity, fills us up 
to overflowing until we spill, over, 
under and around our inner-rocks 
and fallen trees that restrict the 
flow of our resilient sacred Rivers.

What trauma have you experienced
that you identify with, then transfix 
 on rather than creatively re-frame it
for healing and adapting to change? 
How can the "Fallen Tree" metaphor 
help Bridge understanding of Self, 
others, and the way you live life?

Observe what or who depletes you 
and what or who energizes you. 
Do you lay yourself down, for 
others to cross to the other side, 
then become stuck in role of Victim, 
ultimately resulting in resentment?

What or Who, helps support your
personal process of becoming 
more in tune with your Self, 
 resulting in joyful regeneration?
Who comforts your inner-Child? 

How well do you embody, root, 
express, move from your Center 
of Being? Are you devoted to the
nurturing the flames of your own 
unique rhythms, breath, resilience?

Give yourself permission to Move out of
habitual routines - comfort-zones. When
is the last time you belly laughed, were
silly, spontaneous, excited, inspired?
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Allowing the creative imagination of 
the inner- Child / Fool to grow, we can
re-silence the Mind, deepening our
Soul's Quest for what evolves us.

Inhaling and exhaling Spirit consciously, 
we infuse our breath with right Intention 
 and purposeful action. Clarifying vision, 
Divine Wisdom blossoms organically.

As old, out dated cultural paradigms 
dissolve around us, they usher in new 
 higher vibrational creations of life.

Awakening from addictive trances, 
no matter how pleasurable, takes 
courage.  Yet without taking risks, 
there's no possible Soul Growth.

During times of great Personal and 
Planetary transformation, consciousness 
evolves, offering us to choice to repeat old 
reactive patterns or respond with love.

 We can become attached to our habits, 
entrenched in seriousness or call upon our
inner- Child / Fool to shake up reality and
inspire Humanity to shine its Resilience.

m/s.sage 

Thursday, 2/25/10

Rewrite- Sunday, 10-18-15