Beyond Habitual Patterns

Here is a quote from Chogyam Trungpa (through "Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week") that I thought was particularly relevant to us as Miksangers, even those of us who may not be Shambhalians or Buddhists. Have a look. - ian

October 26, 2007

BEYOND HABITUAL PATTERNS

How on earth, how in the name of heaven and earth can we actually become decent human beings without trying to entertain ourselves from here to the next corner?...It boils down to taking interest in what you see. I have a very frustrated feeling, actually, that when I talk about appreciating red, white, blue, and green, I'm not sure whether you actually appreciate those colors or not. Maybe you think I'm trying to tell you that you should be artists or something. And when I say that you should listen to the sounds that go on in the world, maybe you think I'm trying to tell you to be musicians. And when I talk about the textures of your body -- sense perceptions and feelings -- maybe you think I'm trying to tell you to become salesmen in the garment industry. I'm beginning to wonder.


We are not talking about becoming experts in marketing things, but we are talking about our own situation: how we can actually stop habitual patterns and appreciate the nitty-gritty of the real world on the spot. We can appreciate the bright, beautiful, fantastic world around us; we don't have to feel all that resentful....Once we put a stop to habitual patterns, the vividness, the magic, will begin to descend, and we will begin to become masters of our world -- individually, personally, of course. We will begin to appreciate our world.

From" Overcoming Habitual Patterns," in COLLECTED KALAPA ASSEMBLIES, pages 266 to 267.

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.

Magic balls

Magic balls, originally uploaded by alamonde.

Annie took this one during our Level I weekend in September. I am rediscovering it at the end of October. :-)

Brick & Bow

IMG_0013, originally uploaded by Ian Kenney.

Symmes light

Symmes light, originally uploaded by Ian Kenney.

Park colour IV

Park colour IV, originally uploaded by Ian Kenney.

Soft

S3600024, originally uploaded by alamonde.

Bus light

Bus light, originally uploaded by alamonde.

Grey brown

Grey brown, originally uploaded by Tom_Moore.

Cool blue

Cool blue, originally uploaded by Tom_Moore.

Skyscraper

IMG_0043, originally uploaded by Ian Kenney.

Not sure if this is about colour, light, or space. Hmmm.

Colour

IMG_0005, originally uploaded by Ian Kenney.

Early Morning Wall

IMG_0036, originally uploaded by Ian Kenney.

I was chased off the front porch as soon as the shutter closed.

Clocktower

IMG_0066, originally uploaded by Ian Kenney.