Gems on Peace by Pema Chodron

lavina · 01-09-2008, 10:29 AM

From "Practicing Peace in Times of War" by Pema Chodron, Boston & New York: Shambala, 2006

"War and peace starts in the hearts of individuals....
War begins when we harden our hearts..."
Peace is " softening what is rigid in our hearts."
"Whether that heart is open or whether that heart closes has global implications."

"There is a teaching that says that behind all hardening and tightening and rigidity of the heart, there's always fear. But if you touch fear, behind fear there is a soft spot. And if you touch that soft sot, you find the vast blue sky. You find that which is ineffable, ungraspable, and unbiased, that which can support and awaken us at any time."

**Mirjana** · 01-09-2008, 12:02 PM

Hi Lavina,

may I add some quotations from Eastern body Western mind (psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self) written by Anodea Judith:
"The heart chakra brings us to the place of acceptance and openness that allows the spirit inside to be still and find peace and stability without constriction. Healing the heart involves attending to the most vulnerable and sacred aspect within ourselves. Only through attending to their truth can we drop the protective armor that keeps us bound to the ego, bound to smaller parts of ourselves. Manipulation, derision, critisism, or command will not work. We can only melt the armor with the combination of feeling and understanding that is love. Through love we are able to expose our instinctual core and evolve to the next step of expressing our truth. Through love we are able to embrace and heal the larger world around us. Relationship furthers the evolution of individual souls and the collective soul of our planet."

"In honoring our individuality, we honor the subtle relationships within ourselves. We honor the individuality of every composite part: the part that seeks success, the part that fears it, the part that longs for commitment, the part that wants freedom, the inner child, the rebellious teenager, the plaser, the nurturing parent, and all the other selves we observe as we go through life. They may want different things at different times, or even different things at the same time. Learning to coordinate these internal relationships is the inner work of self-love. Our feelings are brought into relationship with our belief system, our vulnerable child forms the allliance with our responsible adult... The parts are many and the combinations infinite. Only through this relational process do we form a sense of the whole."

"The purpose of the heart chakra in the system as a whole is to get us to expand beyond our limited egos into a wider sense of connection with all life. This is the movement of the liberating current. While it is important not to deny or neglect the smaller self, it is indeed a liberating experiance to rise beyond the confines of our own needs and find joy in service and altruism"

Somebody adviced to a man who no longer loved his wife nor was loved in return:
"Love her", he told the man.
"I told you, the feeling just isn't there anymore," the man replied.
"Than love her. If the feeling isn't there, that's a good reason to love her."
"But how do you love when you do not love?" asked the man.
"My friend, love is a verb. Love-the feeling- is a fruit of love, the verb. So love her. Serve her. Sacrifice. Listen to her. Empathize. Appreciate. Affirm her. Are you willing to do that?

**Nichole** · 01-09-2008, 07:09 PM

I have linked to Pema's YouTube videos so often on this forum! I deeply admire her and this video adds to what Lavina has started on this thread.
YouTube - Pema Chodron "Common Tactics of Aggression"

Mirjana,
I just opened an email from Naropa.edu advertising a class by Anodea Judith. It was the first time that I had seen her name and then twice in the span of just a moment. Perhaps I should take closer look at her class!

Thanks to you both for sharing these potent gems with us.

Namaste

**Mirjana** · 01-11-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nichole

I have linked to Pema's YouTube videos so often on this forum! I deeply admire her and this video adds to what Lavina has started on this thread.
YouTube - Pema Chodron "Common Tactics of Aggression"

Mirjana,
I just opened an email from Naropa.edu advertising a class by Anodea Judith. It was the first time that I had seen her name and then twice in the span of just a moment. Perhaps I should take closer look at her class!

Thanks to you both for sharing these potent gems with us.

Namaste

Hi Nichole,

I would be at least a bit curious about her class beacuse I really love her book Eastern body Western mind. She didn't write about karmic principles, but she gives a good insight how and when in this life could we create our fears, guilt, shame, grief, lies, illusions, and attachements that blocks the free flow of energy. She woved together three basic threads of philosophical thought: the enlightenment philosophies, the embodiment philosophies (somatic therapy, bioenergetics, and earth-centered spirituality), and integrative philosophies (focus on Carl Jung's understanding of the soul's journey toward individuation).

When I started to read this book I couldn't stop. Commentators recommened it to yoga teachers, bodyworkers, psychotherapists, healers and spiritual seekers, and I think would be also a great preparation for parents who are expecting a child.

Hubert · 01-13-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirjana

Hi Lavina,

Somebody adviced to a man who no longer loved his wife nor was loved in return:
"Love her", he told the man.
"I told you, the feeling just isn't there anymore," the man replied.
"Than love her. If the feeling isn't there, that's a good reason to love her."
"But how do you love when you do not love?" asked the man.
"My friend, love is a verb. Love-the feeling- is a fruit of love, the verb. So love her. Serve her. Sacrifice. Listen to her. Empathize. Appreciate. Affirm her. Are you willing to do that?

Yes, but will this make my sex-life better ?

**Mirjana** · 01-14-2008, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hubert

Yes, but will this make my sex-life better ?

That's an unexpected question! It would be just a lucky guessing to answer. I think it's better to just try out

Hubert · 01-14-2008, 05:26 AM

Guess so. This is one of my greatest fears.

lavina · 02-04-2008, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hubert

Yes, but will this make my sex-life better ?

Miracles and magic happens when the heart softens and opens and blossoms with the fruits of love.

Hubert · 02-04-2008, 03:35 AM

Thank you Lavina. This kind of release and surrender is so scary. Like ... walking in air. Te let yourself be guided by mistery, and hope, an perhaps, and intuition, instead of thoughts of fact, cause and consequence, reason.

lavina · 02-05-2008, 01:07 AM

dearest hubert,
it is this fear that keeps you that keeps you away from that which you are deeply longing for.
biggest hugs,
lavina

Hubert · 02-07-2008, 03:31 AM

How do we know if someone is strong enough for our love ? Strong enough to bear our sincerity, and become part of our inner turmoil ?
Can we share our cross ?

(I begin to sound like Carrie Bradshaw.

)

lavina · 02-08-2008, 06:51 AM

Dear Hubert, I dont know if you can know about someone else when it is difficult enough to know ourselves. So I have learned to only focus on myself. The process of heart opening involves being vunerable and trusting and surrendering to that sincerest deepest longing. There are always risks and the protective walls are always close at hand ... but the gains are immeasurable...this is the magic and miracles...one softened, open heart touches all those around... with love and respect, lavina

01-09-2008, 07:09 PM	#3
Nichole SYT Moderator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Boulder, Colorado Posts: 799	I have linked to Pema's YouTube videos so often on this forum! I deeply admire her and this video adds to what Lavina has started on this thread. YouTube - Pema Chodron "Common Tactics of Aggression" Mirjana, I just opened an email from Naropa.edu advertising a class by Anodea Judith. It was the first time that I had seen her name and then twice in the span of just a moment. Perhaps I should take closer look at her class! Thanks to you both for sharing these potent gems with us. Namaste __________________ Nichole Nurenberg-Miller Structural and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist • RYT500 www.FiveKoshaYogaTherapy.com

01-14-2008, 05:26 AM	#7
Hubert saptashata Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romania Posts: 757	Guess so. This is one of my greatest fears. __________________ "My God is love and sweetly suffers all."/ Sri Aurobindo

02-04-2008, 03:35 AM	#9
Hubert saptashata Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romania Posts: 757	Thank you Lavina. This kind of release and surrender is so scary. Like ... walking in air. Te let yourself be guided by mistery, and hope, an perhaps, and intuition, instead of thoughts of fact, cause and consequence, reason. __________________ "My God is love and sweetly suffers all."/ Sri Aurobindo

02-07-2008, 03:31 AM	#11
Hubert saptashata Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romania Posts: 757	How do we know if someone is strong enough for our love ? Strong enough to bear our sincerity, and become part of our inner turmoil ? Can we share our cross ? (I begin to sound like Carrie Bradshaw. ) __________________ "My God is love and sweetly suffers all."/ Sri Aurobindo

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01-09-2008, 10:29 AM	#1
lavina Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 228	From "Practicing Peace in Times of War" by Pema Chodron, Boston & New York: Shambala, 2006 "War and peace starts in the hearts of individuals.... War begins when we harden our hearts..." Peace is " softening what is rigid in our hearts." "Whether that heart is open or whether that heart closes has global implications." "There is a teaching that says that behind all hardening and tightening and rigidity of the heart, there's always fear. But if you touch fear, behind fear there is a soft spot. And if you touch that soft sot, you find the vast blue sky. You find that which is ineffable, ungraspable, and unbiased, that which can support and awaken us at any time."

01-09-2008, 12:02 PM	#2
Mirjana Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 279	Hi Lavina, may I add some quotations from Eastern body Western mind (psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self) written by Anodea Judith: "The heart chakra brings us to the place of acceptance and openness that allows the spirit inside to be still and find peace and stability without constriction. Healing the heart involves attending to the most vulnerable and sacred aspect within ourselves. Only through attending to their truth can we drop the protective armor that keeps us bound to the ego, bound to smaller parts of ourselves. Manipulation, derision, critisism, or command will not work. We can only melt the armor with the combination of feeling and understanding that is love. Through love we are able to expose our instinctual core and evolve to the next step of expressing our truth. Through love we are able to embrace and heal the larger world around us. Relationship furthers the evolution of individual souls and the collective soul of our planet." "In honoring our individuality, we honor the subtle relationships within ourselves. We honor the individuality of every composite part: the part that seeks success, the part that fears it, the part that longs for commitment, the part that wants freedom, the inner child, the rebellious teenager, the plaser, the nurturing parent, and all the other selves we observe as we go through life. They may want different things at different times, or even different things at the same time. Learning to coordinate these internal relationships is the inner work of self-love. Our feelings are brought into relationship with our belief system, our vulnerable child forms the allliance with our responsible adult... The parts are many and the combinations infinite. Only through this relational process do we form a sense of the whole." "The purpose of the heart chakra in the system as a whole is to get us to expand beyond our limited egos into a wider sense of connection with all life. This is the movement of the liberating current. While it is important not to deny or neglect the smaller self, it is indeed a liberating experiance to rise beyond the confines of our own needs and find joy in service and altruism" Somebody adviced to a man who no longer loved his wife nor was loved in return: "Love her", he told the man. "I told you, the feeling just isn't there anymore," the man replied. "Than love her. If the feeling isn't there, that's a good reason to love her." "But how do you love when you do not love?" asked the man. "My friend, love is a verb. Love-the feeling- is a fruit of love, the verb. So love her. Serve her. Sacrifice. Listen to her. Empathize. Appreciate. Affirm her. Are you willing to do that?

02-05-2008, 01:07 AM	#10
lavina Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 228	dearest hubert, it is this fear that keeps you that keeps you away from that which you are deeply longing for. biggest hugs, lavina

02-08-2008, 06:51 AM	#12
lavina Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 228	Dear Hubert, I dont know if you can know about someone else when it is difficult enough to know ourselves. So I have learned to only focus on myself. The process of heart opening involves being vunerable and trusting and surrendering to that sincerest deepest longing. There are always risks and the protective walls are always close at hand ... but the gains are immeasurable...this is the magic and miracles...one softened, open heart touches all those around... with love and respect, lavina