Renewal

Our way of contemplative practice readies to remain flexible and open to whatever may arise. Depending or taking recourse to any particular way is often stymying. Being ready means recognizing that whatever is coming will go, that nothing lasts. So it behoves us to rely on very little and keep cultivating the ability to face both joy and pain with steadfastness. Any fixity, whether it is in the form of the desire or hope for only what is deemed good or the preoccupation with solely what is difficult sets the stage for the perpetuation of our entrapment.

Renewal of this kind is a way of practice. We keep reminding ourselves that what is impermanent is completely unreliable, and that we ought to let go of anything that sets up or increases habit energy.

This means being spontaneous, with an eye on the allure of what we think is right or ought to happen, rather than what is occurring, whether it is joyful, or painful.