This Monday February 26, we will meet in person.
Go to calendar for our schedule
Address for OHMC meditation space:
3812 Northampton St. NW, Washington DC 20015
Please arrive a few minutes early so we can invite the bell on time. You may also arrive 15 minutes early to practice working meditation by helping us set up cushions.
Dear friends,
This week we will meet Monday from 7-8:30PM EST in person at our meditation space (3812 Northampton Street NW), Wednesday morning from 7-8AM EST online, and Friday 12-1PM EST online.
This Monday evening Camille will facilitate. Camille shares:
I have had the habit energy of worrying over many things. Most of the time my worry has stemmed from fear of things that might happen in the future. The fear of my kids getting sick, of my parents dying, and the fear of change have often held me captive, so much so that I begin to feel it not only in my thoughts and mind but also in my body. The result of this can cause restless sleep, inconsistent eating habits, and anxiety, all contributing to a very tired body and mind.
One practice of late that has helped me transform these unwholesome seeds of worrying has been reading and saying the Five Remembrances. Particularly the fourth remembrance resonates with me: “All that is dear to me, and everyone I love, are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.” (The Five Remembrances in entirety will be shared below.) The first time I read these, I started to feel tears–I knew them to be true, but I didn’t want to really inhabit their truth yet. My fear got in the way of the reality of the words and my go-to was to cover this up. It was hard to access the Five Remembrances and absorb them. In truth, I was scared to look at them and if I did, I would start worrying.
In Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm, he encourages us to look deeply into the seeds of fear, instead of trying to cover fear up, so we can begin to transform it. He encourages the practice of saying the Five Remembrances to ourselves while breathing slowly and mindfully. As we do this, we can look at each remembrance with awareness and we can “engage our fear in an empowered way.”
I have begun the practice of saying the Five Remembrances several times a week, and as I do, I follow them with Thay’s mantra “Waking up this morning, I smile.Twenty-four brand-new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with the eyes of compassion.” Following this mantra empowers me not only to face my fears with awareness and understanding but also allow space to enjoy the present moment. As Marie said last week in her writeup, I can take time to “pause,” “come back to my breath or body,” and make space for peace and joy.
I usually schedule a trip to go up north every month to help with the caregiving of my elderly parents. In January my mother took another fall and was in the ER, then the hospital, and eventually rehab. While I wasn’t supposed to go for another two weeks, it was evident that a couple days after her fall, my siblings that live in town needed help. I made a reservation and flew up that day. Usually when I go, I am quite worried that my parents will have declined further and that I may not be able to help them adequately. However, this time I went to that place of coming back to my body and breath, and I felt grounded. I was aware that the fear and worry could set in, but instead I went to what Thay calls “the island in yourself.” My practice had allowed me to “create a space of relaxation, concentration and insight.” I didn’t have to feel fearful or uncertain; I knew I was acting out of compassion and understanding. Although I was very busy caring for my parents throughout the week, I also found time to breathe, laugh, find joy, and not worry.
I invite you to explore the following questions or any other aspects of your practice as we meet in person on Monday night:
What are ways, if any, that you practice with the habit energy of worry or other habit energies?
What practices have helped you work with fear or other challenging emotions?
What practices have you enjoyed that provide more space and freedom to allow joy and happiness to show up?
I look forward to seeing you Monday night. Below is an article on the Five Remembrances and a video of Thay’s called “How to Take Care of the Habit Energy of Worrying.”
In loving kindness,
Camille