Staying Present with Uncertainty - Rev. Sage Bennet

The reading today is taken today from the 20th year anniversary edition of When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron.

The news is full of stories of refugee crises, growing economic disparities, environmental appeals, political gridlock… depression, anxiety and are rampant.

But this is only one side of the story. As uncertainty and groundlessness increase, as we lose control of external circumstances, we find ourselves with our backs to the wall. One response is to cower in the corner, hoping that chaos and suffering will just go away.  But in our heart of hearts we know that will never happen. The alternative is to use this opportunity to start waking up. Which is the more sane approach to our life?  If we do decide to start surrendering to our uncontrollable situation, and letting go of resistance and resentment, we will have no shortage of opportunities to learn and grow. Our world no matter how crazy and unreasonable it gets, will become our greatest teacher and ally. As my teacher Rimpoche once said the world will never run out of messages. In 2000 the Hopi elders issued a prophecy for the challenging times that are now upon us. There is a river flowing now very fast, they said. It is so great and swift that there will be some of us who are afraid. They will try to hold onto the shore. They will feel that they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly.  The modern world is very good at showing us vividly how we are hooked. Stuck in fixed mind, habitually riding the wheel of suffering. These times are making the option of clinging to the shore more and more unpalatable. Therefore the Hopi elders advise us to push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open and our heads above the water. Once there we will be able to see our companions in the river and celebrate.  The elders don't lament what is happening. On the contrary, they say this could be a good time. There is plenty to celebrate in our current situation. Over the last two decades, people in every part of the globe have responded to the pressing need to start letting go of the shore. Teachings of the Buddha and the other great sages of our world are flourishing as never before.  As outer conditions become more challenging, people are discovering their inner resources. Being exposed to annihilation has brought many people in contact with that indestructible basic wisdom and basic goodness from which we are never really separate. We can see many inspiring responses to suffering all around us…. During this time of intensified and conflict altruistic consciousness is also on the rise. Many of those involved with human rights people are living today as modern bodhisattvas, putting the needs of others above their own….

What is happening in today's world is the collective thoughts of everyone on the planet. We cannot erase everything that has led up to this to make things better all at once. But we each can take responsibility for our state of mind as we go forward into the future. Instead of continuing to close down defend our points of view, we can learn to relax with the true nature of reality, which is uncertain and unpredictable.  This is the only way to transform the world from escalating aggression to a place of awakening. Learning how to relate sanely with our chaotic world is no longer a luxury. It is our responsibility. We are all capable of doing this now. I am grateful to be alive at this time living beside wise men and women how many traditions continue to give us messages over and over again: Look at your mind. Be curious. Welcome groundlessness.  Lighten up and relax. Offer chaos a cup of tea. Let go of us and them. Don't turn away. Every thing you do and say affects everyone else on the planet. Let every pain in the world touch you and cause compassion to Blossom. Never give up on yourself.