July: Easy Does It

“Easy Does It”

by Dr. Larry Morris

Right now we may be pushing too hard, rushing too fast, trying to do too much.  Easy does it is a good motto for July.  There is always an underlying contour or pattern connected to how we are feeling about ourselves.  We may feel rushed or pressured or frustrated. We may feel inadequate to the tasks at hand.  Or we may just be feeling stuck and maybe a little sorry for ourselves.  Yet we can always choose way down deep inside—where it counts—to feel self gentleness, a calm at the center of our being.  Even though we have much to do, we can choose to do it from the perspective of inner peace and self nurturing.  We can take time everyday to remember ourselves: that we are happy and much to be here, doing what we are doing, regardless of how fast the days are rolling by, regardless of what we still must do—we can choose the way of peace and ease and let everything work together for our good.

“JUly EASE”

by Dr. Larry Morris

We can let ourselves gently ease into summer, without effort, strain or struggle. When we go swimming, sometimes we take the big plunge and dive headfirst into the water; at other times we go very slowly, inching each toe into the water, then our ankles, knees, legs, waist, shoulders, and finally our head—we let ourselves gently relax into the water. Sometimes, we are very strenuous, using all our muscles to do vigorous, heart-racing laps. Yet, at other times, we just float, letting go and letting the water sustain, support and carry us. So with this summer. Let's let the summer itself support, sustain and carry us, as we gently flow into it, not pushing ourselves or others. We can trust our hearts to guide us to where we need to be in the scheme of things. When we relax our mental grip on things, our hearts immediately begin to draw solutions and breakthroughs into our lives. When we trust our hearts, we live more and more intuitively and we are open for the unexpected realization of our dreams. We can move in harmony with the softness of the season, letting all things work together for good for ourselves and our world.

“BODHIDHARMA’S GIFT”

BY DR. LARRY MORRIS

There is a wonderful story told of the legendary Zen Master Bodhidharma who is said to have brought Zen to China from India. The legend has it that one time Bodhidharma fell asleep in meditation and when he awoke, he was so angry with himself that he cut off his eyebrows as a reminder to himself to stay awake in meditation. The story goes on that Bodhidharma's eyebrows fell to the ground, took root and sprouted as tea plants. So when a Zen monk is tempted to fall asleep in meditation, he drinks tea—which is Bodhidharma's gift of wakefulness. It’s interesting that even the great Bodhidharma got angry at himself for spiritual slackness. In fact, the great teachers of humanity have all acknowledged mistakes and shortcomings. Yet how hard we tend to be on ourselves for our frailties and mistakes! Perhaps we can be a little more gentle and tolerant of our own foibles when we stop and think of Bodhidharma's eyebrows. Let's practice self-gentleness, self-kindness and self-compassion and we will find our way is filled with ease.