awake.
One day Siddhartha Gautama was out taking a walk. Another person walking approached him
and asked “Are you God?”
Siddhartha replied, No
Are you a celestial being?
Again, Siddhartha said no.
You must be a wizard! The man proclaimed, sure of himself.
Once again, Siddhartha said shook his head and said No.
Well, then what are you? The man had to know.
I am awake.
***
I have everything I need. What needs to be changed in me will happen in time. I have no resolutions. No lists of wishes or insights. No clever thoughts on this past year. I have nothing but a prayer for this next cycle, a practice that I take on.
To be awake in each and every moment. To be truly awake when I lift my head up at dawn, when I hold my child’s hand, or listen to a friend tell a story. I want to be awake while I breath this new baby down into my canal and out into my opening and look upon it’s face I want to be awake when I make love to my man and while I stir the kale and chicken soup on the stove. When I wash my dishes, I want to be wide awake. I want to be awake when I breath out my short morning chants and when I walk down to the espresso kiosk. I want to be awake when I write. I want to be awake in my sleep. I want to be awake even in the most mundane moments of my life; I am sure they wil be the most beautiful and profound.
My new year practice is: I am awake.
