I Heard it Like This…
Reflections of an inspired talk by Buddhist teacher Joan Halifax.

HDR photography by Alan Briskin

TEN STEPS ON THE PATH OF SELF AWARENESS
There are ten steps we all can take to enlarge our self awareness.  These steps are like strings on an instrument or notes on a piano.  We can practice them separately but when played together, we can make beautiful music.

(if you prefer to listen & meditate – there is approx. 30 seconds of silence after the bell, before Alan speaks again; but you can fast-forward if you don’t wish to meditate)

The eighth step brings us to NON ATTACHMENT.  What kind of non attachment?  Non attachment to outcome. When we create an outcome in our mind, we begin to lose awareness of the present moment.  We may even lose awareness of others or dismiss their importance.  The outcome becomes a basis for action, a source of meaning, and a bigger canvas to project our own self importance. We may drive ourselves and others, at any cost, to reach an objective.  Some might even believe this is what leadership means or what leadership requires of us.

Non attachment teaches a very different lesson.  In driving toward an objective with little mindfulness of the present or concern for self or regard for others, we often fail to reach the objective, or worse, do harm to self and others.  We fail to notice the stop signs along the way, always rushing forward.  We fail to take note of our own intuitive insights or the insights of others.  Non attachment is a liberating energy, freeing us from the fear of not achieving our goal.  With reduced fear, we are capable of doing great things, having greater access to creativity, spontaneity, and a genuine ethic of caring for ourselves and others.  Suddenly we are noticing what is essential in the present moment and acting from the true source of our deeper desires.