oh so funny! i didnt mean to be cryptic... Culver City Junior High!!!
Mike McHatton's social studies class (8th grade?!) I never knew you well but you always looked so interesting and then you disappeared -- transfered to another school maybe?!
And i always wondered -- look at you now! still smart and interesting! this was more than 50 years ago -- wow!
How wonderful!!! Wow. A couple of CC gals make good on the east coast!
How great that you remembered me and happened to see my posts. I love it.
My husband and I are living on the southern coast of Maine just south of Portland now. I am LOVING being back on the ocean. We have been land locked since 1990, first in Bend, Oregon and then Amherst, Massachusetts. To be back on the beach and the ocean is a dream come true.
Yes, agreed, Eileen. And then again, "perfect'? What could that possibly even be. Do we need any concept of perfection at all in order to act and live with integrity and love?
Well, anything with that Suzuki quote is worth commenting on.
I love this - and fully agree, getting past hierarchy, self judgment, self blaming, shaming, is a life long process (you and I are about the same age.......37)
A great "edge" to play with - how do I relate not just to the lingering hierarchical/judging/shaming voices in myself, but in others: "Oh, look at how much better than I am than him - he's judgmental, I'm not, he's competitive, I'm not, he's hierarchical, I'm not; I'm just SO much better and higher and superior to those people who rank people in terms of better, higher and superior."
Of course, our own attitudes are not usually that comically obvious, but I find when I look close enough, I can find that voice that is saying, "Oh, I'm SO much more humble and non competitive than they are!"
We could compete all day!! "My spirituality is better than yours because I don't believe in illusionism!"
(join me for a Sri Aurobindo Satsang - do you know Sri Aurobindo wrote about this attitude of superiority to a disciple in 1934!!!
The Ashramites were telling the disciple to not bother about all that "old spirituality" - Ramana Maharshi wasn't such a hot shot, Self realization is not such a big deal, because Sri Aurobindo's teaching is so much beyond all that."
Sri Aurobindo wrote back, "Self realization not such a big deal? Are all the Ashramites Jivanmuktas (self realized)?" He then goes on to say, "I've heard people from other Ashrams find many of the residents here to be arrogant, looking down on others as inferior. If this is true, it's obviously not helpful to their sadhana!"
I've quoted this to fellow Ashramites who have expressed disdain and superiority for other spiritual paths, and to a person, they all say, "Oh yes, this is wonderful, whatever Sri Aurobindo says is perfect."
And of course, I"m completely immune from this attitude of superiority, so much so I'm obviously superior to my fellow and sister seekers:>))
I too am 71 years old, and my practice is not what it once was, but you know what, I don’t care. My practice supports me and where I am now. Thank you for this!
You are on an amazing roll Patty! Thank you for all your offerings…also, I just watched your discussion with Kim Weeks…talk about a nutshell!!! And…dare I say this here and in public? You look fabulous and I love your hair!!! Yep, I did say it-the warmest of hugs…
So glad i found you again after ALL those years! And to find you here, doing this -- such good news, Patty!!! Thank you!
Jennifer!
Give me a clue! The Center for Yoga on Larchmont, Los Angeles?
Yoga Works, Santa Monica?
Yoga Center Amherst, Massachusetts?
Saying, "All these years!!" indicate a good amount of time...
It must have been in Los Angeles, right? That would make it about 30-35 years ago!!
I REALLY want to remember.
Help me out.
oh so funny! i didnt mean to be cryptic... Culver City Junior High!!!
Mike McHatton's social studies class (8th grade?!) I never knew you well but you always looked so interesting and then you disappeared -- transfered to another school maybe?!
And i always wondered -- look at you now! still smart and interesting! this was more than 50 years ago -- wow!
cheers
How wonderful!!! Wow. A couple of CC gals make good on the east coast!
How great that you remembered me and happened to see my posts. I love it.
My husband and I are living on the southern coast of Maine just south of Portland now. I am LOVING being back on the ocean. We have been land locked since 1990, first in Bend, Oregon and then Amherst, Massachusetts. To be back on the beach and the ocean is a dream come true.
Let's keep in touch!
yes!!! so delightful -- I moved here 1982 and adore Maine where I still have family in Bar Harbor -- what a coastline indeed!!!
more soon... 💙
Yes
Perfect to whose standards is the question. If not our own, whose and why? Great writing, inquiry and deconstruction.
Yes, agreed, Eileen. And then again, "perfect'? What could that possibly even be. Do we need any concept of perfection at all in order to act and live with integrity and love?
Just what I needed to read today. And every day. Thank you, Patty. xo
Thank, Maggie! So good to be in touch. <3
Well, anything with that Suzuki quote is worth commenting on.
I love this - and fully agree, getting past hierarchy, self judgment, self blaming, shaming, is a life long process (you and I are about the same age.......37)
A great "edge" to play with - how do I relate not just to the lingering hierarchical/judging/shaming voices in myself, but in others: "Oh, look at how much better than I am than him - he's judgmental, I'm not, he's competitive, I'm not, he's hierarchical, I'm not; I'm just SO much better and higher and superior to those people who rank people in terms of better, higher and superior."
Of course, our own attitudes are not usually that comically obvious, but I find when I look close enough, I can find that voice that is saying, "Oh, I'm SO much more humble and non competitive than they are!"
So true! "I am so much better than you because I know that being better is an illusion."
It's always a tightrope. So easy to stumble. So human to stumble!
And....thank you for the Suzuki quote. I smiled big when I added it to the post and thought of you...obviously.
We could compete all day!! "My spirituality is better than yours because I don't believe in illusionism!"
(join me for a Sri Aurobindo Satsang - do you know Sri Aurobindo wrote about this attitude of superiority to a disciple in 1934!!!
The Ashramites were telling the disciple to not bother about all that "old spirituality" - Ramana Maharshi wasn't such a hot shot, Self realization is not such a big deal, because Sri Aurobindo's teaching is so much beyond all that."
Sri Aurobindo wrote back, "Self realization not such a big deal? Are all the Ashramites Jivanmuktas (self realized)?" He then goes on to say, "I've heard people from other Ashrams find many of the residents here to be arrogant, looking down on others as inferior. If this is true, it's obviously not helpful to their sadhana!"
I've quoted this to fellow Ashramites who have expressed disdain and superiority for other spiritual paths, and to a person, they all say, "Oh yes, this is wonderful, whatever Sri Aurobindo says is perfect."
And of course, I"m completely immune from this attitude of superiority, so much so I'm obviously superior to my fellow and sister seekers:>))
I too am 71 years old, and my practice is not what it once was, but you know what, I don’t care. My practice supports me and where I am now. Thank you for this!
You are on an amazing roll Patty! Thank you for all your offerings…also, I just watched your discussion with Kim Weeks…talk about a nutshell!!! And…dare I say this here and in public? You look fabulous and I love your hair!!! Yep, I did say it-the warmest of hugs…
Ha ha!! Thank you, Michelle.
I have to say I LOVE my hair too. :)
It's always so great to see you reading and sharing your comments on these posts. I always look forward to it.
Sending so much love and gratitude for all the support you have offered me over the years.It is slowly turning into a good long ride, isn't it??
With love to you and yours,
Patty