To Kanda about The Saving Grace

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/18/2006 2:28:35 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,

writes:

 

....When staying in Japan the Buddhist Masters taught me

that there is contemplation in action and comtemplation in contemplation...

 

 

Dear Kanda ~ I believe you are correct to compare what I have quoted above

from your post to japa, but it gave me an entirely new perspective on this ...

maintaining perspective in and perception of the Sacred in everyday life as

well as in spiritual practices. There are a few times when I have experienced

this, I believe as a Divine gift, and it is beyond words to describe, but it

is like putting gas in your car ~ it will keep you going for a long, long

while.

 

One experience of this I had when I was in college in Richmond, Virginia. I

was rushing across the cobblestone street to get to class when my toe caught

on the edge of one of the cobbles. I didn't simply fall. I was propelled

upwards, into the air. At first, I thought, oh no. I am going to fall. Everyone

around will see (like that really mattered, but I didn't want to appear

foolish). And ... I will break my glasses. Then I completely let go. There was

this eternal moment when I hung suspended in the air and only felt the Divinity

in the situation, in all those around me, in the trees and the air and the

cobbles and the sky. If someone asked me today would I trade having had that

experience in for not getting sick, I would say, "no," without hesitation. One

second in the hands of the Divine is worth any difficulty this body may

encounter on its journey.

 

And then, of course, time rushed back in; I fell, hard. My glasses were not

broken, though they did fall off, and all my books and papers were everywhere.

My knees were skinned; I could feel the pain. And yet through all of that I

only felt joy in having had that moment of union with the Sacred. I had to

tell someone, and I didn't know any holy people then, so I ran to the office of

my art history teacher and breathlessly told him what had just happened. LOL

But he nodded sagely, and I believe he really did understand.

 

Jai Maa , Jai Swamiji ~ Linda