To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is itself to succumb to the violence of our times. Frenzy destroys our inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of our work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.
~Thomas Merton, Author and Trappist monk (1915-1968)
How easy it is in our toxically driven culture to move to the beat of the desires of the ego—the desires of money, recognition, being right, and even the desire to be ever helpful. Being busy is almost a facet of status in our culture, as if our worth could be measured by the number of our commitments.
Our worth or happiness cannot be found by being busier. Doing more will not lead to greater contentment. Contentment does not come from looking outward at other people and doing what they are doing. Rather, contentment comes from looking inward, reflecting on our wholesome intentions, and opening to the love and understanding that resonate within.
We all need to balance our energy out (energy toward our family, work, and friends) with energy-in: Energy-in toward collecting in stillness, in solitude, and realizing for ourselves our inborn goodness, beauty, and peace. It’s within each of us, but only by settling can we rediscover it.
Make the time for centering, for quietude. Inner peace can be found in a moment anywhere, but can be helped along in nature, a garden, art, music, prayer, and meditation. By softening into stillness, our everyday lives, work, and relationships—as simple as they may seem—all take on tremendous value and meaning.
This month I’ll be offering a ½ day meditation retreat in Las Cruces and a dharma talk in El Paso. Please check the schedule below for times and exact locations. These are given on a donation basis.
May grace and peace be yours in abundance,
Laura
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½ Day Meditation Retreat
July 22: Las Cruces, NM; 12:30-4:30 pm, The Unitarian Church, 2000 South
Solano Drive. Instruction, practice, conferences, Q & A.Dharma talk
July 22: Dharma talk, El Paso, TX; 5:30-7:30 pm, Yoga for Life at 111 Rio Flor. This is just off Mesa between Camille and Thunderbird.
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For more information:
505-343-1216
laura@lwrightnm.com
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Laura Wright Meditation
Albuquerque, New Mexico