For the first time in my life, I’ve found myself struggling with anxiety. I’m ok and getting some good help. It’s not the kind of anxiety that requires medication, but it is necessary for me to attend to some things like diet, exercise, lifestyle patterns, media use, etc. So far, it’s better. Where did this come from after 61 years? Who knows? The election, Covid19, moving through the years, maybe it’s that new subscription at Trade Coffee. (Switching to Decaf now)

One of my changes is a greater intentionality in what I will call my inner life. I enrolled in a Spiritual Direction training program. I wanted a structured vehicle to dive in to some areas that have interested me for decades, namely the Christian Mystics and Depth Psychology. I’ve also started meditation. I can now attest to my caliber, I’m a bonafide toddler in this new endeavor - tripping and falling like a drunken two year old.

This led me to Sharon Salzberg, one of the principle figures in bringing Buddhism to the United States. Her new book is Real Change. I prefer the audio version, as it allows me to practice some of the mediations at the end of each chapter. It’s an easy book as it’s filled with stories and personal anecdotes. The book also makes the link between the movements for Social Justice and personal mediation. The parallel in my mind is the connection between our prayer life and the call of Jesus to be about compassionate love. Infact, through out most of the book, one could see how a contemplative Christian could make the connection between love thy neighbor as thyself and prayer. Actually, Salzberg does articulate this association at one point.

One of Salzberg’s mediations involves a repetitive phrase, which I modified. (You should know be now, I don’t simply take things without putting my own spin) My version is

May you be healthy

May you be whole

May you be safe

May you be blessed

One just repeats the phrase thinking about different people. Start by saying it to yourself as in “Jim, may you be….”, You can say these phrases either out loud or silently. Go slowly, no rush. Breath intentionally as you say each phrase. Then after a few times, bring someone else to mind: a neighbor, a grocery store clerk, a family member, a distant person, someone from the congregation. Practice. Keep at it. Will your mind drift? Of course, don’t worry, just keep going.

Over time you’ll discover that you are exercising two things.

1. You’re practicing an intentional breathing, slowing down.

2. You are also practicing or exercising a muscle we all have, it’s called compassion.

Salzberg makes the point, with many examples and stories from real life, that once people practice this kind of compassion, it grows ones ability to see other people as…people. Yup, fellow human beings. But lest you think this is just an individual exercise of navel gazing without actual change, she tells the stories of many people making real change in communities. Real change in areas such as violence and prison systems, racism, domestic violence. Other meditations help one see the interconnectedness of the natural world which leads to people in Africa planting trees to combat the impact of global warming. You’ll have to read the book to see all the examples…it’s quite inspiring

The book is profound for me both on a personal inner life focus as well as connecting to making a difference in our world longing for real change.

The combination is helping with the anxiety as well.