| OPENNESS |
| MARCH I |
| "Failure to accept new ideas and the points of view of others keeps us in our own little shell and inhibits our ability to see the different sides of beauty in life.” ~Author Unknown~ |
OPENNESS COMMENTARY: Openness recognizes that just as we have our points of view there are
many others who disagree. What we fail to recognize is that what we believe or disbelieve is the same
thing “a point of view.” It isn’t really different just an ideology in different clothing. Religion, Politics,
Causes, etc. all fall under the “same thing category.”
The pain that is created by what we believe comes from the idea of separateness. We form an “us or
them” mentality, which is the cause of most wars. We close our minds, cover our ears, and see who can
out-shout the other, holding onto our beliefs like the other person’s disbelief puts us in some sort of
jeopardy, and depending on how far one wants to take it, a belief can create as much harm as it can good.
You don’t have to give up what you believe, but the key to healing is to accept diversity. If we truly listen
to what another is trying to say, or look deeply into their hearts we can focus on our sameness. See what
makes us part of each other. For example: We love, we believe, we feel pain, and passion.
Opening your heart to another doesn’t mean you have to give up what you believe nor your values. It is
just that you listen with a sense of curiosity, rather than judgment. The key to an open heart is to
recognize that what you believe is not at risk. Only you can change your own mind, no one else has power
over your thoughts.
It is often exhilarating to get into discussions with others about our opinions, and educational as well.
Nevertheless, there are times when another person’s dogma can become oppressive, and even when you
“agree to disagree” they will not relent. That is the time to take leave of their company, without judging
them as good or bad, but rather recognizing they are stuck in a narrow point of view. It is good to
remember that sometimes you just can’t make peace with someone who wants war.
Opening the mind opens the door to the heart and that can be really frightening. Because hearts can be
broken, but just keep in mind they can just as well they can be mended. You can over come this fear with
by recognizing that openness is a main ingredient to loving kindness. Remember the fruit of us opening
our hearts is peace on earth.
many others who disagree. What we fail to recognize is that what we believe or disbelieve is the same
thing “a point of view.” It isn’t really different just an ideology in different clothing. Religion, Politics,
Causes, etc. all fall under the “same thing category.”
The pain that is created by what we believe comes from the idea of separateness. We form an “us or
them” mentality, which is the cause of most wars. We close our minds, cover our ears, and see who can
out-shout the other, holding onto our beliefs like the other person’s disbelief puts us in some sort of
jeopardy, and depending on how far one wants to take it, a belief can create as much harm as it can good.
You don’t have to give up what you believe, but the key to healing is to accept diversity. If we truly listen
to what another is trying to say, or look deeply into their hearts we can focus on our sameness. See what
makes us part of each other. For example: We love, we believe, we feel pain, and passion.
Opening your heart to another doesn’t mean you have to give up what you believe nor your values. It is
just that you listen with a sense of curiosity, rather than judgment. The key to an open heart is to
recognize that what you believe is not at risk. Only you can change your own mind, no one else has power
over your thoughts.
It is often exhilarating to get into discussions with others about our opinions, and educational as well.
Nevertheless, there are times when another person’s dogma can become oppressive, and even when you
“agree to disagree” they will not relent. That is the time to take leave of their company, without judging
them as good or bad, but rather recognizing they are stuck in a narrow point of view. It is good to
remember that sometimes you just can’t make peace with someone who wants war.
Opening the mind opens the door to the heart and that can be really frightening. Because hearts can be
broken, but just keep in mind they can just as well they can be mended. You can over come this fear with
by recognizing that openness is a main ingredient to loving kindness. Remember the fruit of us opening
our hearts is peace on earth.
| REPEAT ASPIRATION EVERY DAY FOR 7 DAYS WEEK 1 ASPIRATION: Today, I aspire to suspend my points of view and truly listen to what others are saying with a sense of curiosity and an open mind. SUPPORTS ~DAY 1~ ”The gentlest thing in the world is an open mind. Since it doesn't believe what it thinks, it is flexible, porous, without opposition, without defense.” ~Byron Katie ~DAY 2~ “Minds are like parachutes — they only function when open.” ~Thomas Dewar ~DAY 3~ “The truly open mind doesn't have a goal or a purpose other than to be what it is. It's not attached to concepts of self or other." ~Byron Katie ~DAY 4~ I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.” ~Gerry Spence ~DAY 5~ “If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.” ~John F. Kennedy ~DAY 6~ “If your everyday practice is open to all your emotions...then you'll understand all the teachings that anyone has ever taught.” ~Pema Chodron ~DAY 7~ REST AND REVIEW Now, without judgment review your week. This week there were times I was able to truly listen to other people’s views with a sense of curiosity. Now breathe in how it felt. Then breathe out the wish for everyone to share in feeling of openness. Now, look at your short-falls. This week there were times I just shut down, and didn’t want to hear what some one else had to say. Breathe in your painful emotion and breathe out the wish: May all those who feel shut down be spared from this feeling. Feel free to use your own words in this practice |
REPEAT ASPIRATION EVERY DAY FOR 7 DAYS WEEK 2 ASPIRATION: Today, I aspire to fearlessly open my heart to another, rather disagree with them or not. SUPPORTS ~DAY 1~ “The only way to find true happiness is to risk being completely cut open.” ~Chuck Palahniuk ~DAY 2~ “Sometimes the completely open heart and mind of ‘bhodichitta’ is called the ‘soft spot’, a place as vulnerable and tender as an open wound. It is equated, in part, with our ability to love.” ~Pema Chodron ~DAY 3~ “The widest thing in the universe is not space, it is the potential capacity of the human heart.” ~A. W. Tozer ~DAY 4~ “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ~Jalal ad-Din Rumi ~DAY 5~ In the face of doubt, openness prevails. ~Unknown ~DAY 6~ “We are not held back by the love we didn't receive in the past, but by the love we're not extending in the present.” ~Marianne Williamson ~DAY 7~ REST AND REVIEW Now, without judgment review your week. This week there were times I was able to truly open my heart to a person with whom I disagreed. Now breathe in how this felt, then breathe out the wish that all who feel separated feel this feeling of truly opening their hearts. Now, look at your short-falls. This week there were times when I felt judgment instead of openness. Breathe in your painful emotion and breathe out the wish: May all those who feel this judgment be spared from feeling. Feel free to use your own words in this practice. |
| Loving God, You promised to transform our stony hearts into hearts of flesh, free us from selfishness and indifference. Increase our capacity for mercy, empathy, understanding, and tenderness... Draw us into your great heart, and unify us so that our hearts beat as one. ~Author Unknown~ |
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YouTube Channel to view
more of our videos.