April 1st
#47 Keep the three inseparable.
PEMA’S COMMENTARY The “three” referred to here are your body, speech, and mind. Your actions, speech, and thoughts should be inseparable from your mind training (training your mind in compassion and wisdom).
After I read this slogan early this morning, I recalled immediately a passage from the spiritual text, A Course in Miracles. It says in relation to the topic of “Honesty”, “There is nothing you say that contradicts what you think or do; no thought opposes any other thought; no act belies your word; and no word lacks agreement with another.”
In all, this mind-training slogan to me today means to practice with consistency. Can I be aligned with my thoughts, words, and deeds on a regular basis? How often during the day? Am I speaking out of two sides of my mouth? Am I smiling sweetly yet offering daggers in my mind?
Subtle inconsistencies creeped into the day appearing and disappearing as quickly as they arose. As soon as my mind went to judgment to others or myself, I was reminded of keeping all in balance. I would look at the slogan and the commentary again and remind myself to keep all as one.
This is who I want to be authentically. I know in my life of a couple of people I experienced in my life that when they would say something like, “I love you” or “I appreciate you” that I would cringe inside as it seemed to be an attempt to sweep aside any emotional abuse. I felt I could not trust what I heard was what was the truth.
I want to be honest in my interactions with others. May I continue to practice being calibrated in what I think, say and do here in the world.
Pema Chödrön’s Compassion Cards – This practice is lojong (mind-training slogans) and they are powerful reminders on how to awaken our hearts. They are also found in “The Compassion Book.” You choose the cards at random, read the commentary, and then try to live by the meaning of the slogan throughout the day.
