Into the Heart of the
Dance |
Learning the Dance through the process of learning ballet, expressing the balancing and
re-balancing that goes on as we try to stay on our toes, fully aware of our self and our
world. |
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The desire for greatness (that overriding passion to munch on the world and its denizens!)
is exactly the fuel that is necessary as we begin our journey of spiritual growth.
We have to want it with a child-like hunger that doesn’t allow the possibility
of failure (what? me, be another casualty? you must be joking!). Soon we will
learn otherwise.Not very many of us will become a
Buddha or a Jesus (or even a Mr. Rogers) in one lifetime. So for us, the journey
becomes as important as the outcome (getting there is all the fun!). |
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One of the first lessons that we learn on the path of growth is that our enthusiasm
is not enough to see us through the course (my crown chakra shall be open by Thursday,
next week, at 7pm... just in time for dinner!). Often we learn this lesson through a
painful failure. (Oh, my god! You mean I actually have to remember to do the mantram for a
whole two minutes???) The desire to become more of who we
really are requires that we knuckle down and learn how to discipline ourselves into being
self-realized (yes, it's 5am again! Time to get up and do that boring exercise again!) |
| The process of growth would be infinitely
harder if we had to do it alone. Fortunately for us, we have Friends in High Places (and
we don't mean the noisy upstairs neighbors). These Friends know all about human weakness
and failure. Though they don’t judge our mistakes, it is their job to correct us. "Your teacher will correct your movements from time to time.
Try to understand why and work hard to get them right." These corrections are often
hard to take (who do you think you're talking to?) but they are necessary.
After we accept the necessity of correction, we can learn
how to be grateful. |
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Another bit of advice.
The teachers suggest that pupils surround themselves
with like-minded individuals. "There is no better way of learning to dance than
studying with other people who are equally interested and motivated to succeed."
Which is to say: "Go forth and find your own
crowd!"
Group-learning is very valuable because you can learn from
your own mistakes as well as learn and be entertained by the mistakes of others.
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| The neophyte needs to remember (and if you want to know
what a neophyte is, just look in the mirror) that learning requires tremendous effort, but
it should also be fun. The hazards and pain of
this difficult journey that we have chosen for ourselves can be offset by a sense of humor
(if you can find or get one).
Instead of trodding along on the path in pain and
suffering, we can learn to dance on the path to spiritual enlightenment. |
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Life is difficult and learning the dance at its heart is even more so. Therefore, we
should do our best to learn all the tricks of the trade, to take all the hints, clues and
suggestions that our Teachers have to offer. Then, if we take heed of our responsibilities
and trust that we are on the chosen path for our highest good and the good of all sentient
Beings everywhere, we will soon be dancing down the path to becoming a fully realized
human being.And that's when your real Work will
finally begin... |
