“I Go Down To The Shore”
I go down to the shore in the morning
and depending on the hour the waves
are rolling in or moving out,
and I say, oh, I am miserable,
what shall—
what should I do? And the sea says
in its lovely voice:
” Excuse me, I have work to do.”
~ Mary Oliver, A Thousand Mornings
The horrific, senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmed Aubrey and countless others has brought light to decades of inequality and injustice that have occurred in our country. You may be feeling grief, anger and helplessness.
Instead of numbing or looking away, we can draw strength from
the mindfulness practice of the the Three Tenets. With regular application,
the practice of the Three Tenets can become a way of living from
the center at all times.
NOT-KNOWING letting go of fixed ideas about yourself, others, and the universe.
BEARING WITNESS to the joy and suffering of the world, to see all of the aspects of a situation including your attachments and judgments.
TAKING LOVING ACTION that arises from Not-Knowing and Bearing Witness. The underlying intention is that the action that arises be a caring action, which serves everyone and everything, including yourself, in the whole situation.
There is much work to be done.
We want to be involved as a community to help make change happen.
If you feel empowered, here are a few ways you can be part of the solution:
Join the Poor People’s Campaign, a Sustained Community Movement
Make cash donations to the Atlanta Food Bank and Emmaus House, who work tirelessly to improve the lives of Atlanta City residents
Support Campaign Zero, a solution based initiative to end police violence
Support NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund Inc , America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice
As we work to improve the health and quality of our own lives, may we stand together to uplift, unite and improve the lives of others.
“Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu”
May all beings everywhere, be happy and free, and may the thoughts,
words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way
to the happiness and freedom of all.
Om Shanti,
Marty & Marti Yura