Just Another Thought

Natalie Goldberg tells the storyOf having rearranged her life and moved to a Zen monastery in ArizonaTo study with a revered rinpocheAnd, early in her tenure there, after meditation, he began his dharma talkIn it he confessed that during his meditationHe realized he wanted to quit teachingWhat was he doing here? It wasn’t as meaningful as he thoughtHe wanted to travel, to serve the poor, to touch life differentlyAs she did the math on what that might mean to her recent and distinctive choiceWas it all for naught?He added: and then the breath informed me: That’s just another thoughtAnd he continued his meditation.I had a similar experience of disorientation reading ChatGPT’s postWhat a mirror I had to look in and wonder about And release.Come back to my bodyFeel the host of sensations pulsing through my beingNotice my body’s organization, my posture, the tightness in my faceDropping the story and all its implicationsNot walking around with the apple and the scorecard and the red penBut, resting. Feeling. I found it helpful to do five senses meditationFive things I can seeFour things I can feelThree things I can hearTwo things I can smellOne thing I can tasteSpending time being hereNot in my mind, inventorying my healing, assessing my progressJust BeingOne Breath at a Time This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fallingtenderly.substack.com