Be grateful to everyone.

Mimosa pudica - photo by H. Zell

          Every spring a sprawling plant appears under a particular oak in my neighborhood. Its blooms resemble gumball-size, florescent-pink explosions. But the most interesting feature of this plant is its reactive movement which characterizes its common name - sensitive plant. If the plant is disturbed by a touch, temperature change or breeze, the leaflets fold inward exposing its prickly stems. The reaction is thought to discourage insects and herbivores who might munch on the leaves. Yet the defense is energetically costly for the plant as it interferes with the process of photosynthesis. Most people have similar reactions when provoked by people or situations. We close up and show our thorny sides; our habitual patterns come out in full force. But this slogan is a reminder to be thankful to whomever or whatever makes us aware of our blind spots. Our irritations show us where to focus in order to deepen our practice, where we need to be calmer, more patient and flexible. What provokes us becomes training equipment to help us widen our minds and hearts.

Each time someone provokes us, we have a chance to do something different, to tend to our own reactions. Either we can strengthen old habits or we can take a moment to pause.
  ~ Carrie Dinow

For more information on the thirteenth slogan, go here.

Slogan Thirteen

Be grateful to everyone.

From the Lojong for the Layperson booklet:

            This slogan doesn't mean we need to be a martyr and never speak up. When we find ourselves dealing with an upsetting or frustrating situation, we can (as Pema Chodron explains) “realize that when you've met your match, you've found a teacher.” We all have places where we are stuck yet unaware, and these teachers help point out our blind spots. Without them, we’d have nothing to work with in our spiritual practice, nor would we develop beyond our ego. As Alan Wallace says, such a person or situation “kicks us out of our complacency and pushes us into practice.”

Photo: Redbud leaf surrounded by lantana blooms and dogwood berries.*

*Early editions of the booklet may have a different description, because I originally failed to change it when I had to redo the photo for printing purposes.

            I have two furry alarm clocks that wake me up every morning at 5:30 am. They don’t care if I've had a restless night’s sleep or if I have no place important to be that day. The tomcat has a yowl on par with a foghorn. His mom doesn't meow; she just pats whatever part of me is sticking out from under the cover and gives me “the stare.” It’s their breakfast time regardless of how much I’d rather sleep. I could get angry, but that would be about as useful as screaming at my bedside clock. They act much like the alarm on the clock - as a tool used to wake me up. By the same token, I have a spiritual toolbox filled with implements like meditation, writing poetry and walks in nature. But inside are other items I may not think of as relaxing and restful, though they are just as useful on my spiritual journey. They may appear as a reoccurring bill that’s already been paid, the unwelcome diagnosis of a beloved pet or an angry driver who curses because I didn't move as soon as the traffic light turned green. None of these situations are pleasant, yet they are all tools to awaken me by offering an opportunity to practice patience, compassion and kindness.