Reflecting on the early years for practice–how we often try to get free of difficult states by engaging in battle with them. Gradually, we learn to shift from fighting mindstates to receiving them with an open heart. We see that there is a softening taking place simply through being willing to embrace them.
Acceptance is neither passive nor indifferent, but an alive, responsive relationship to all of life. Wise acceptance, including self acceptance, is the gateway to peace, deep understanding and freedom in our life.
Our world, thought and experience are shaped by our intentions, some of which lead to suffering and struggle while others lead to happiness and freedom. We learn to cultivate the wise intentions of loving kindness, compassion and renunciation which are the forerunners of wise attention.
the Buddha described the path of liberation in terms of a bird with two wings--the wing of understanding and that of compassion. what the mind recognizes as truth, the heart experiences as love. it is in the awakening of heart/mind that we experience freedom and discover our Buddha nature.
