I said to Siddhi Ma, I said, ‘Ma, Maharaji said He has the keys to the mind, so to me that means that I am where He puts me, where He wants me to be. So, Ma, is it grace? In other words, is it His doing, or is it my effort that’s important? What’s the deal?’ So, She said, ‘Krishna Das, it’s all grace but you have to act like it isn’t.’ Which is very far out. It’s a done deal. None of this is happening. It just looks like it’s happening. But because we believe it, we have choices to make, we have practices to do. We have karmas to perform because everything is a karma. Every thought is a karma. So, you want to create the karmas that will bring the goodness into your life and into the life of other people around you also, since everything you do creates some kind of karma. Let’s at least try to create some happiness for ourselves with our actions and others…” (excerpt from The Evaluative Mind, Grace, Dada Mukerjee)
Author / allan showalter
No Going Back
As far as I am concerned, there is no going back to life as we knew it before Covid-19 forced us into a different kind of living. Why? Because going back is inferior to going forward, at least in some cases.
To go back to my prior life, I would have to do all of the grocery shopping and Covid-19 has forced me to let my son Rob do all of it. We have both benefitted from it. We are trying new things and when he comes in from the store, I can’t wait to see his haul. And he cooks at least half the time.
I would have to spend one or two Sundays a month at T.J.Maxx and Marshalls, what I call “Going to the bazaar.” I would buy little food treats, the random cosmetic and a few new tops. Honestly, most of my wardrobe comes from there. I have a dozen pairs of black slacks and lots of tops. Now my life is much simpler and I have to think of things I can do to amuse myself.
I have spent more time online, watching YouTube videos that catch my attention. There is a couple in London raising their new baby girl and their menagerie. Two Malamutes and a Maine Coon Cat share space in the most endearing way.
I also discovered a woman filming her life with 3 dogs and a cat. She subtitles what they might be saying in a way that is awfully funny.
They are much more interesting than me pecking out essays for unwitting souls to read. Actually, these unwitting souls are my best friends. My only “real” friend has just moved into a village for seniors. I haven’t seen her since the Sheltering in Place began.
This new life is much simpler than the old one because my mind has fallen quiet. Before, I busied myself thinking of things I could buy at the bazaar or things I needed to do. Now each day stretches before me and I stretch and yawn.
I have been 3 places in 3 months. The neurologist for a check-in, the dentist to get my teeth cleaned and to the salon for a haircut. Well, we did pop in Whole Foods after the neurologist and that was quite pleasant.
I do fall into the political scene online and begin to mutter under my breath, “When will people wise up and see through Donald J. Trump?” Apparently not soon enough to prevent lots of damage done under his so-called leadership.
Writing essays—I have been doing this for so long that I know when it is time to write a new one. Sad to say, this is it. Me skipping through a few paragraphs about what I have been up to. I know that I will not go back to life pre-Covid-19. I can’t say why exactly, but when I visualize the crowds everywhere, I have a feeling that crowds never deliver what they promise. But then, neither do I!
Vicki Woodyard
What I Know For Sure
No human beings are enlightened. No human beings know God. They may theorize and pontificate, but still, they do not know.
Perhaps this is why Zen is such a quiet teaching.
Lately I have been of that persuasion myself.
How does food taste on the tongue?
How do you enjoy water when you are thirsty?
Do you know anything at all outside of human knowledge?
I don’t think so.
Vicki Woodyard