Complicated and Simple

I have listened to many hours of dharma talks by many teachers.  Sat and walked at the Wat by the Gas Station and have read many pages since I have come to Thailand.   I just posted about swimming and ending suffering is much the same.  It is simple.  Rather than try to do something, you stay with the moment and watch what is happening.  

Not just paying attention to the highway and cars and people, but what is my response to what is happening   The happening.. will happen.   My response does not have to be my conditioned reaction.

Life requires constant attention. Outside of sleep, when I walk, sit, move, lay down, anything and anytime if I am not attending to what is happening, I will react.  Often I will respond and then feel bad about how I acted.  

In the "knee jerk" reaction, I victimize myself by my own actions.   It is rarely the event, incident, etc. that has a lasting affect.  It is how I attach to it that causes pain.

When I am aware, just aware - without judgment, attachment, editorializing, criticizing, etc. I am at the moment, part of the scene, but the observer of my own awareness. I enjoy things for what they are and be free of them when they pass by.  There feels like more enjoyment of the moment for that is what it is.. a moment.  There feels to be less frustration when the moment passes.. for that is all it will every be... a moment.

Like the water... .life flows.   We make it a project and cause pain when we try to hold on to anything that passes by.   I am grateful for the moments... and the next moment.... place...people.

When I want something that I don't have or try to hold something or someone where I want them to be... I cause myself pain.

Meditation - either as a way of life or in "retreat" from the world, is a full-time job.  It makes life real and not to be viewed as pessimistic or optimistic... it just is.

Today, I rode out to the hot springs, and I brought my suit so I could go into the sulfur pool.  It was relaxing, and several of the other bathers offered me a hand getting in and out of the pool. I am so healthy and fit, that I could not understand their concern and shook my head no help needed.  They don't know me and only see an older person not rushing.  My response (knee jerk)  was more...why are you offering rather than the observer of the entire picture...    you are very kind to offer, but I feel I will be ok without your assistance.

My new toy, the GPS allowed me the option of several ways home.  I took the "road less traveled."   It had many broken pavement patches, and I had to pay attention to the road since there were many spots that the road was missing   I  was looking at the road and did not see a car overtaking me until the car was a foot away from my right leg and there was just a bike width between me and ditch to my left.  I relaxed and told myself to just keep moving in the same direction and speed.  The car passed and we were both still on the road.

I was reminded that even in the country, I need to look behind and to the right and left and that was a call for me be mindful and aware.  

Within the next few minutes, I looked ahead and saw what appeared to be a small pile of sticks.   As I got closer... the stick slithered off the highway, and I had to move to the right to avoid the last of the tail of this now 5-foot snake.

The more aware..., the more awake and the less snake.