One of the most learned and highly trained American-born lamas in the Tibetan Dzogchen tradition. He is a meditation teacher and author.
Nearly all spiritual teachers in the Western world today promise transformation through their teaching methods. Perhaps we should instead encourage more inquiry, awareness cultivation and self-observation. Transformation will certainly occur naturally as a natural by-product.
In a narcissistic and driven culture obsessed with self-improvement, meditation and yoga are widely seen as a vehicle of change. Change is in any case part of the universal law; we ought to be intentionally involved in it.
However, we ourselves might be better served by cultivating contentment and self-acceptance, loving our way all the way to enlightenment. One problem is that we draw our circle too small, and consequently feel disconnected, alienated and alone, excluded even.
“Yoga is not just another self-improvement craze. It is a practice of self-acceptance, which is a very different thing. You don’t need to be fixed; you simply need to remember who you truly are,” says Yogi Gurmukh. In the Tibetan language, the Sanskrit word yoga is glossed as “nal-jyor”. Literally, it means union with the natural state.” I like to think of it as spiritual re-union, like coming home.
It never ceases to amaze me, Lama Surya, how you speak to me thru this blog. And of course, I know you are speaking to all. It just always feels so personal for me, tho.So this topic comes as I just started therapy last week, and I had my second session today. The work of this type of therapy boils down to what you are saying: self-acceptance. I’ve had many Teachers, and I think all of them have suggested the necessity of doing as you talk about here. However, precious few of them really can instruct in how to do it. My therapist is quite good at it, using the modality she was trained in. My experience is, it takes more than just brainwashing myself with “I love myself, I accept myself.”
I’m very appreciative of the therapist, and of course, of your posts. Their timing is more than pertinent, all the time.
Thank you so much. I feel very supported by this post today.
With love and blessings, Marci
Thank you for this simple, profound reminder. Marcia L