This is an Entertaining Enlightenment from a friend of mine.

>>> GrayBear 7/12/2008 10:41 AM >>>
“If you listen too much to the suffering, the anger of other people, you will be affected. You will be in touch with only suffering, and you won't have the opportunity to be in touch with other, positive elements. This will destroy your balance. Therefore, in your daily life, you have to practice so that you can be in touch with elements that do not constantly express suffering; the sky, the birds, the trees, the flowers, children - whatever is refreshing, healing, and nourishing in us and around us." - From "Anger, Wisdom for Cooling the Flames" by Thich Nhat Hanh

This stands out for me as only a short time ago an inmate asked me if the laundry was going to be done today, and I replied angrily "how would I know!" After having worked here for so long, I have built up a negative "habit energy" in how I interact with people here. This of course carries over to the outside world, as there is no separate me, one here and one outside of here. This energy is inside me, I believe, in part, due to what the author is saying in this paragraph. All around us, every day we come in here, we are surrounded by negative people, negative energy, and negative feelings. However, I do not place blame for this energy. It is in all of us, the important thing is that we recognize it, and how we deal with it.

Writing this is a wonderful way for me to touch the healing part of myself, and nourish myself, as I am reminded of the things outside of this place. Also I am reminded that I am not my feelings, and that they are not me. (this will be a discussion for later) And of course it reminds us of balance, and it is easy for me to forget how important that is in my life, and how much I neglect it.

Entertaining Enlightenment is an excellent idea Mike. 2 pats on the back for that one!

Truth, Honesty, Courage, and Compassion

GrayBear