Keeping the Flame Alive

 Deep within each of us is the flame of our own uniqueness, what Renaissance neoplatonists saw as a spark of the eternal flame, the divine light of inspiration. It inspires us to make our own creative contribution to the world—writing poetry, books, and articles; composing music; creating visual arts; making scientific discoveries; coming up with new insights, new solutions to life’s daily dilemmas and challenges, large and small.

As we’ve seen in previous posts, too much clutter in our lives snuffs out the flame, as do the incessant demands of “drama queens,” and conformity, which smothers our spirit. Sadly, today too many companies treat their employees like replaceable parts, valuing profit over persons. Obsessed with the bottom line, they downsize to increase “productivity,” squeezing more work out of a smaller work force, demanding that 40 people do the work of 60. In a desperate drive for innovation, one Silicon Valley corporation has even deprived employees of their offices. Removing all their personal effects—staplers, family photos, and coffee mugs—each day these people must find a new work space.  Difficult external conditions can snuff out the flame, make us feel like victims of circumstance, with no control of our lives, not only destroying our creativity but making us doubt our sanity.

Yet as the Buddha realized, although painful conditions arise, suffering is optional. The power of mindful awareness can reignite the flame, transforming oppressive circumstance into liberation, creating new possibilities not only for ourselves but for all beings. Viktor Frankl discovered this power of the mind in a Nazi concentration camp, surviving to inspire millions with his book, Man’s Search for Meaning. Nelson Mandela emerged from 27 years in prison with a vision of the new South Africa, and Aung San Suu Kyi has kept the flame alive for democracy in Burma.

Like Frankl, Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, and centuries of other creative men and women, we are each keepers of the flame, the sacred source of our inspiration. Who knows the power and possibilities that lie within you?
Take a moment now to connect with this source. Focusing on your heart, ask yourself:

• What in my life snuffs out the flame? These are situations to avoid or transcend.
• What ignites and strengthens the flame? For many people it is contemplation, beauty, play, time spent in nature.
• Focus on your heart, feeling the flame burn brightly as you visualize what nurtures you.
• Feel this creative energy warm your heart, healing, nurturing, inspiring, flowing through your body and out your fingertips, preparing you to make your own creative contribution to the world.

Right here, right now.
Namaste,
Diane

Finding Open Spaces in Your Life

Pushed and pulled by competing demands, rushing to catch up, juggling family needs and work expectations assaults us with chronic stress. Toxic to our systems, it literally making us sick. Research has linked toxic stress to increased risk for anxiety, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart attack, atherosclerosis, stroke, early dementia, and clinical depression. As Stanford University neurologist Robert Sapolsky realized researching baboons in Kenya and London scientist Michael Marmot learned studying British civil servants, it’s not so much the demands themselves, but the lack of personal control that breaks our systems down.

Buddhist teacher, musician, and high-tech entrepreneur Lewis Richmond offers a simple, subversive way to break through toxic stress.

In his book Work as a Spiritual Practice, Richmond tells of Christine, a nurse in a large urban hospital. Downsizing had increased her work load. She was always rushing down the halls from one patient’s room to the next. Richmond asked her to try a Buddhist practice, saying a mantram (or mantra), a short affirmation or spiritual phrase, while walking down the halls. By reclaiming that in-between time, Christine became less stressed, more caring with her patients, more at peace in her life.

This simple act of reclaiming the open spaces—finding margins in your days—can help you break the stress response as well.

Try this subversive practice. Instead of filling your mind with what you have to do, should have done, shouldn’t have done, find the open spaces in your days:
• When walking into work, to lunch, to a meeting—claim this time as your own.
• Take a deep breath and release it.
• Feel your body relax.
• Say a mantram or just look at something beautiful.
• Take another deep breath, release it, and feel new freedom in your life.