Curiosity, Pt. 2

Rockaway Beach, 9/25/16, first weekend of autumn

Yoga Friends,
 
Author Elizabeth Gilbert's (of Eat, Pray, Love fame) latest book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, explores what it means to live a creative life. In an interview with Krista Tippett, her philosophy was summarized in this way:
 
Creativity in life as in art is choosing the path of curiosity over the path of fear.
 
Truly, when we are in a creative state of mind, our minds experience openness and expansiveness, a sort of "anything is possible" attitude.
 
As yoga and meditation take hold deeper in our lives, we are also training in adopting an expansive view of the human condition and an "anything is possible" attitude. Both free us up to experience more of life, just as it is, as it is unfolding.
 
In my own life recently, I've been met with a lot of uncertainties, so many that in some moments I have been paralyzed by fear. What has really helped me get through it all has been returning over and over again to an abiding curiosity. 
 
And remembering that this is a universal experience felt by most if not all people have helped me to not take it so personally when it happens.
 
As you practice choosing the path of curiosity over the path of fear, may your creative outcomes truly benefit of all beings everywhere.
 
aloha, with metta,
paul

Curiosity

Master Teacher Pema Chödrön 

Yoga Friends,
 
The Buddhist Meditation Teacher, Pema Chödrön, was interviewed by Bill Moyers a while back. This advice has resonated with me ever since:

The best spiritual instruction is when you wake up in the morning ... say, "I wonder what's going to happen today," ... and carry that kind of curiosity through your life."
 
A goal of practicing yoga and meditation is to keep the mind open and spacious. Curiosity is one tool that we can use to help us work towards that.
 
As I've worked recently to scale up my nonprofit organization, Keoni Movement Arts, I've experienced so much uncertainty. Should I do "...?" Will my actions bear fruit? What has helped has been an abiding curiosity. I've asked myself over and over again, I wonder what will happen if I try "...?" This feeling of curiosity has freed me up a little each time from being frozen by my fear of the unknown outcomes.
 
None of us truly knows what will happen to us today, tomorrow, or this week. Curiosity can help us to take that next action.
 
May you remain curious, ... for the benefit of all beings everywhere.
 
aloha, with metta,
paul

By Love Alone is Hatred Healed

9/11 Memorial (photo by Paul Keoni Chun, 9/8/16)

Yoga Friends,

15 years ago today, the world changed. Hard to believe it's been so long. I have many faded memories and feelings by now. Still, I think it is important to look back, remember, and reflect.
 
Earlier this week, I got to visit the memorial. I was immediately struck by the names etched into it. They seemed to represent every culture, ethnicity, and religion on the planet. Truly, the reverberations of 9/11 were felt by virtually all peoples on this earth. One that day, we were One.
 
Once again, we have an opportunity to consider what we can learn from the events of 9/11/01 and put into practice in our own lives. I've often shared this teaching from the Buddha at this time:

Hatred never ceases with hatred,
but by love alone is hatred healed.

For me personally, when confronted with my own shortcomings and failings, I have tried to use them as opportunities to give myself doses of love and kindness. I can certainly "hate" my way toward further self-improvement, but I chose to try to "love" my way toward that outcome. I truly believe that every act of love and kindness towards our own selves ultimately has global consequences.
 
Perhaps you'll come across this fork in your road in the coming days, when you are confronted with a personal failing. May you choose the Path of love and kindness toward your own self, for the benefit of all beings on the planet.
 
May we never forget.
 
aloha, with metta,
paul