A wonderful documentary entitled “Fierce Grace” about Ram Das (aka Richard Alpert) showing, through his own challenges, how important it is 
to separate from the trap of titles and categories that seem to suck us in to limited thoughts and belief systems…
Despite some “interesting” experimentation as a Harvard Professor, his story is
one of liberation for limitations and an ardent embrace of the peace found in each moment… This last sentiment is one that I sometimes struggle with as some moments don’t seem to be filled with anything positive… but on closer scrutiny… it becomes clear that the moment is clouded by either the past or the future…
It seems we have a desperate need to define ourselves by what we do or what has been done to us…
Why?
More than likely because we feel the need to satisfy some external measurement set down by who knows who… there are so many that the details become obscured by the crowd of dema
nds that attempt to bury seeds within and they quickly become rows of “harevestable” crops which further establish their boundaries…
Next we become familiar with them…
And we do tend to cling to the familiar don’t we…
And in so doing we water the seed that rapidly takes root…
Sadly many seeds prove to be weeds, thankfully some become strong trees and foundations to elevate us to expand our view from their tall trunks and strong branches…
The question that begs to be answered is why let the weeds through in the first place?
The only way is to scrutinize each one… gratefully we have all the tools needed, we just have to be reminded of the need and our ability to do so…
In this we find the unique benefit of looking inward to be our greatest ally…
If we can stop the external tumult for long enough to focus on our breath, connect with our inner calm, and objectively look at the many influences around us, by looking at them without the mask of title (man/woman/victim/victor/son/daughter/mother/father/wife/husband/etc/etc/etc) attached, we will see which crops to plant and which will provide the greater harvest as everything we do today is creating the future that will bear fruit in time to come…
The present is always the time to get on your yoga mat, turn your gaze inward, and see with clarity…
Namaste
