Pema Chödrön is the bomb
Sep 09, 2022
I’ve been rereading Pema Chödrön’s excellent little book, “How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind,” and the title of Chapter Seven struck me: “You Are Your Own Meditation Instructor.” She says that an instructor “can’t necessarily see whether you’re spaced out or too tense, too harsh or wandering all over the place, too caught up in your emotions.” Her point is that having an instructor or a guide is always recommended, but once you know the basics of meditation, only you know what’s really going on in your mind. You are the principal witness of your life, you get to trust your own insight, and you know what you need in any given moment.
Where will you begin if you get to be your own teacher – not just in meditation, but in life? What will you notice about what you need? What kind of teacher will you be? Let’s hope it’s the supportive, kind-hearted type, right?
While we’re quoting Pema, here’s another one of her gems I love: “Remind yourself, in whatever way is personally meaningful, that it is not in your best interest to reinforce thoughts and feelings of unworthiness. Even if you’ve already taken the bait and feel the familiar pull of self-denigration, marshal your intelligence, courage, and humor in order to turn the tide. Ask yourself: Do I want to strengthen what I’m feeling now? Do I want to cut myself off from my basic goodness? Remind yourself that your fundamental nature is unconditionally open and free."
