We are all one heartbeat
We are all one heartbeat and my heart is aching today as I watch the news unfold of another school shooting in the United States. This news has been reoccurring rapidly since the birth of my first child who is now 10 years old. I can remember holding her tiny little body in my arms, a young 26 year old mother with my eyes glued to the TV as I watched the Sandy Hook tragedy unfold. I’ll never forget the feeling of hot tears streaming down my face and wondering what world I had brought this child into.
How many more innocent lives need to be taken away so senselessly before anything is done? Not just the something, but the ANYthing- there has been zero advancements done in protecting our youth, or in addressing the mental health, or gun issue in our country. When does literally ANYTHING happen to stop this insanity from happening? Unfortunately, it is one of the quickest topics that turns political before the spark of an idea can even be lit. It pains me to live in a country that has the largest school shootings. And what are we doing to stop it? What can we do? I will literally do anything but I feel helpless, heartbroken, and scared.
As I am processing the news and taking it in small increments because I know if I get too absorbed, it will take me away from my family and I will spiral, Let me just say here, I know what a privilege this is for me. It stops me in my tracks, takes my breath away, and shakes me to my core to even try and fathom what the parents of the victims are going through tonight, or what any parent who has lost a child to gun violence has experienced.
As I try to find solace, I am reminded of The Yoga Sutras of Pantalai which is the foundation or layout of Yoga guiding or leading us to Samadhi which is nirvana or bliss. This is a state that we are capable to reach, this is part of our purpose here on Earth- to reach Samadhi. The sutras cover the 8 Limbs of Yoga which is a path for us to follow and practice on and off our yoga mats.
The first limb is made up of the ‘Yamas’ which are the moral values or ethics and abstinences. This is like a “How To” on being the best version of ourselves in this human experience.
The first Yama is Ahisma or non-violence or non-harming. This is the most important of the Yamas as it pertains to non-violence in all aspects of life. It’s the Golden Rule as to how we are to conduct ourselves. Similar to the “Do No Harm”. This means not physically harming others or ourselves or even thinking poorly about others or ourselves. It also means living life in harmony, with all beings.
The act of non-harming starts with ourselves. This universal concept requires us to live peacefully with ourselves and others. To hold the intention of ‘do no harm’ because we are all One and when we harm one (or ourselves) we harm all.
I wonder how different this world would look if we would all be a bit more kind to ourselves, more loving to ourselves, more compassionate to ourselves. The world that we perceive and create on the outside is based on the world that we experience on the inside. It takes a village and it starts with each and every single one of us to practice Ahisma in our moment to moment lives.
When that negative or self-sabotaging thought or belief starts to creep in, or when you have a negative thought towards someone else, remind yourself that you are harming the whole because this negativity will radiate outside of you and touch all of those around you and the ripple effect will reverberate through the entire world.
During times of such helplessness, let’s shift our awareness to non-violence. How can we lovingly treat ourselves and the world around us?
When we authentically wake up and remember that we are all connected, we are all One, we really are all brothers and sisters, this is when the shift will happen. When we loves ourselves so much that that love can’t help but infect the people around you and that love is spread to all the people, connecting us all through an energetic web of love.
When will we drop our greed and our agendas? When will we drop our judgments and our self-righteous beliefs?I believe the start is to truly know that we are all one heartbeat.
The energy of such horrific events can take a toll on us and allowing this suffering to happen is a form of self-harm, Yes, we need to feel these emotions, we need to sit with the grief and the pain for a while, but we cannot hold this energy forever- it’s just too hard and creates more suffering internal and external.
To move this energy in a constructive way I recommend practicing Tonglen Meditation. Tonglen is where we take in the pain and suffering, the things we normally close our hearts to, we take into the heart and into our entire being, we open our hearts to this dark, painful, murky energy on the inhale, and hold for a moment, allow the energy to transmute within us, and then we slowly exhale with intention the visualize of peace, loving, harmony. Here is a great video I have always enjoyed of Tonglen from Pema Chodron.
I invite you to practice Tonglen Meditation during such difficult times, in addition to whatever steps you can take to bring more peace and harmony to this world.
I would love to hear your experience with Tonglen Meditation, feel free to email me.
My heart is your heart,
Amanda
