Show Up!

I'm currently preparing myself to receive teachings from Dakmar Tulku in Ohio. This has all come about rather rapidly upon my receiving some advice on reading from a friend who is also the person who invited me to the event. I am very excited. More excited than I have been about anything in quite some time. It just feels important and so I am being very attentive to what is happening right now and how I can best present myself to accept the wisdom and the transmissions offered. There will also be a Medicine Buddha Empowerment that I will take part in and experience. This is also very exciting for me as I have worked as a healer for more than 13 years.

In the last week I have been thinking of writing this blog about showing up and how important it is that we show up in response to a discussion with a friend last week about some places that she's feeling uncomfortable and where she is not bringing all of herself. At the time I was too much a commiserate friend and not at all taking the higher ground. What has struck me since and especially since I've been reading and discussing the preparations that will ready me to receive all that I can at Palyul it has become even more evident to me how important showing up really is.

Everything that I bring with me to an event really sets the reality of that event for me. It is what I spoke of in my last talk at church. If I am looking at some guy in an orange vest and hearing him talk that is the meaning it will have for me. If I realize I am hearing the teachings of a fully realized Buddha then I will receive all that there is to offer as I am ready for it. What is required implicitly is my ability to bring all I have to the table as well. If I'm only willing to avail part of my self/Self to the situation then that is all I can expect in return.

Where are you hiding yourself? Where are you putting away the parts of yourself that others might not like? Where are you making up stories about what others might think about you instead of letting them decide? Find those places and start showing up. You deserve it. More importantly, the people you are hiding yourself from deserve it. Show up!

The following is a prayer written for me by my friend Yeshe Lhundrup. May its full realization be upon me. May any positive merit generated by my work and by this blog benefit all sentient beings.

When the Karma of the three times has ripened and your mind manifests as you truly are.
May your Lotus feet remain firm to the path.
May your view be free of obscurations and your every action of body, speech and mind be motivated by compassion to alleviate the suffering of beings.
May each moment display the result as the path that leads to your inner most recognition.
May this life bring humility to your practice and your life be long and fruitful.