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It Is Possible to Be Present
Welcoming suffering and entrusting our pain to the Sangha allows us to generate “the collective energy of mindfulness”:
like a boat capable of carrying our sorrows, the Sangha supports the recognition, embracing, and transformation of pain without struggle, with gentleness.
Suffering is compared to garbage in a garden; like an organic gardener, we transform the garbage into compost to nourish the flowers and vegetables. By holding our suffering “like a baby,” we transform it into nourishing matter, opening the door to understanding, compassion, and healing.
The Four Noble Truths:
- Suffering is a reality (the first truth)
- Its causes, its nature (the second truth)
- The cessation of suffering, well-being (the third truth)
- The noble path leading to the end of suffering (the fourth truth)
Daily practice—conscious breathing, walking meditation, sitting in mindfulness, eating and cooking in mindfulness—brings us back to “the here and the now,” our true home. Each in-breath, each step, and each moment offer “the joy, solidity, and freedom” essential for transformation and deep living.