January 6 – Regain a connection to the sacred

Dear Friends,

On the theme of the right intention of renunciation, Phillip Moffitt says, “the ultimate purpose of skillful renunciation practices is to help you regain a connection to the sacred.” He provides some examples of what to practice. Here is a brief snippet of the each of the three renunciations he mentions, with a link to the full article if you want a deeper dive:

There are three renunciations you can practice, any one of which will dramatically change your life. None involves giving up your job, marriage, or sex life or even forsaking buying that new car you’ve been dreaming about. Yet if practiced diligently, these practices will bring you greater happiness and inner peace.

Surrender Self-Righteousness
The first of these renunciations is giving up your attachment to being right – right in your opinions, judgements, or interpretations.
…
Stop Measuring Your Worth
The second renunciation is giving up measuring how successful your life is by how well your desires are met.
…
Give Up Being the Star
The third renunciation is to give up being the star of your own movie. Without ever thinking about it, most people experience each arising moment from the point-of-view that it is happening to them.

“Practicing Self-Restraint”
http://dharmawisdom.org/teachings/articles/practicing-self-restraint

Perhaps you would like to practice one of these today. Renunciation ripens at its own pace, so perhaps you can renounce the need to be perfect!

You might also notice, as described in this translation of Kabir by Robert Bly, that there’s always something more you could renounce:

Friend, please tell me what I can do about this world
I hold to, and keep spinning out!

I gave up sewn clothes, and wore a robe,
but I noticed one day that the cloth was well woven.

So I bought some burlap, but I still
throw it elegantly over my left shoulder

I pulled back my sexual longings,
and now I discover that I’m angry a lot.

I gave up rage, and now I notice
that I am greedy all day.

I worked hard at dissolving the greed,
and now I am proud of myself.

When the mind wants to break its link with the world
it still holds on to one thing.

Kabir says: Listen my friend,
there are very few that find the path!

Robert Bly, Tr., Kabir: Ecstatic Poems
http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/hulenp/poetry/itstillholdson.html

Bring a light touch to this day. See if you can find contentment that is revealed with renunciation. Feel free to report back what you find.

With good wishes,
Andrea