Contemplative Monday

Just wanted to say that it is good to be back here. I missed you all.

Also, the following 'lesson' helped me last week when I thought 

I had something unique to me only. Thanks so much for your

words of encouragement. 

The following quote is from: 'Heart Advice, Weekly Quotes From Pema Chodron'.

STEPPING-STONES TO AWAKENING

 " There's no way to make a dreadful situation pretty.

But we can use the pain of it to recognize 

our sameness with other people.

Shantidiva said that since all sentient beings suffer from strong,

 conflicting emotions, and all sentient beings get

what they don't want and can't hold on to what they do want,

and all sentient beings have physical distress, why am I making 

such a big deal about just me?

Since we are all in this together, 

why am I making such a big deal about myself?

 Whatever usually drags us down and causes us to withdraw

into ourselves is actually the stepping-stone

for awakening our compassion 

and contacting the vast, unbiased mind of the warrior."