Every Monday I have an online meeting with Buddhist friends discussing a book we are reading together. Just for an hour. There is wealth in the thoughts.
Whatever the book is, brings up much discussion. But, it seems, after the book is done, unless we keep returning to it, we don't remember the words as much as we remember how we felt when we connected the thoughts we got by reading, with the thoughts we have in our lives.
We were wondering how to think about this. Many good things were said. In my turn, I said something to the effect, "Whatever patterns we pick up from experience, we practice best the patterns in which we feel we are present. "That we have a reason to be *here* doing what we are doing., in the way we are doing it.
We are practicing life, no matter what we do. It is all we are supposed to do. We keep learning.
We practice many patterns in our daily lives. There are some patterns that are only for ourselves. There are other patterns that help us live well with others. But many times there are patterns we must learn for the moment. We feel uncomfortable when the patterns are not what we expect, and we cannot feel present.
That's when it is best to be quiet instead of agitated because things don't fit. In the quiet we can pay attention. And learn the pattern as it is, or should be, used. In the moment.
Paying attention (being present) and learning how to flow with a change in the pattern, is what gives us peace.
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