Open
The weather is completely clear and the temperature is warming - still on the east coast of the continent it is 62 degrees fahrenheit - so much can change in a day. Today is Saturday.
It is common for things to change dramatically in short periods of time. Most of the time, we are asleep. An old teacher once instructed that to be “open on all sides” is the strongest position to take when it comes to life. Anything can happen, any time and being prepared for that part of reality is something to appreciate.
Yet, even with instruction people appreciate this only now and then — as when a sudden change comes about and for people who are numb to where they stand in life, it takes a lot to awaken to reality. It can be a change in weather (which many people have experienced) and now because of the experience of it - they realize that all the talk about climate change might be real, not just another alternate set of facts. For others, it takes the death of a loved one - a child, a spouse, a bestie.
When one is truly open, all things can come and the self is no longer. In this way, there is really no difference between life and death - nothing to kill and nothing to mourn because the fullness of living has been realized. The wake up call is the thing not to miss because it opens the way to seeing the fact of eternity in all things, in all ways. There can be no mistake about the fact that every day is a source of learning what it is to be human. It has nothing to do with all the ways in which we judge encounters of the moment. It has everything to do with how we merge with the rest of what is called “living.”. Indeed, even bearing witness to what we call '“death” is part of the experience of being alive. And to be open to all of it is the trick.
How does one cultivate the capacity to be open on all sides? A myriad of answers exist. One can come across the cruelty of poverty, the compassion of a stranger responding to a crisis, the fearlessness of a mother moving into action to protect her child, a sibling sharing a treat, the deep love of a friend standing by for a final breath to be taken - all of it provides fertile ground for cultivation of our humanity. Being ready and seeing the truth of each and every situation and encounter is the training. Getting through with a little more insight into the disappearing self is the learning. Extending one’s capacity to love and forgive even those who once were reviled is a breakthrough!
It is a rare being who is able to breakthrough suddenly, without any awareness of all the things that happen in life being the source of learning. Those beings exist and are rare to encounter. These persons are born with big love in their being - no training or lessons needed; it is just who they are and how they live. For most, it takes effort to become a truly refined human. The refinement is not in the way of acquiring things or mannerisms; rather, it is the quality of their being.
If one is lucky enough to meet such a person, endless inspiration to become truly OPEN will be the gift. For some, that inspiration will lead to realizing that every encounter is a source of possibilities to refine their being. For some, that inspiration will be a reminder of who they really are. For others, that inspiration will be unseen. And this is why human beings are so precious - we offer one another, without intention, the opportunity to become truly refined in our humanity.