Pablo Neruda's Greatest Lesson from Childhood

What a beautiful childhood story. It's amazing how the humble pure-heartedness of the offering is something that has stayed in Neruda's heart for years. In my own life, I have similarly found that the gifts that come through the darkness and through the small holes in the walls that I have built up in myself are the ones that expand my sense of self and remind me time and time again of the profound inter-relatedness of all things. A week or two ago, I was feeling rather hopeless and upset at myself, as the anxiety and anger that I thought had waned over the past few years in which I have been meditating, had suddenly resurfaced, and as strong as ever. As hopeless as I felt, deep down, I wished for a sweet offering to come my way so that I could regain my energy and resolve to purify my anxiety and anger into something more positive. Wishing, wishing, and nothing was happening. Then I switched it around and thought, "What if I were to make a sweet offering? Or pay more attention to the sweetness that already exists?" And so I did, in the smallest of ways, like starting a friendly conversation with a stranger in the elevator at work. And seeing the goodness in the eyes of the people enveloping me in the subway at rush hour. Or even smiling at a furry brown dog happily trotting down the sidewalk on my way to the grocery store. I'm not sure how it works but I felt like the poetry of smiles, friendly hellos, and good wishes exchanged from the heart somehow opened me up to a renewed sense of possibility. I felt like we're all in this together, and that everyone and everything that responded or gifted me with something helped me to soften and feel steadier in the flow of things.

 Excellent writing. My understanding of widening the boundaries of our being is that we are all mysteriously one and much more interconnected than disconnected. I have no one story of how I have discovered the unity of all the things in my life. All that I have read and experienced leads me to strongly believe that I am one not only with all people and all sentient beings but also with all non-sentient things. Paradoxically my lack of knowing which is my noticing incomprehensible mystery surrounding me much of the time gives light to my being. This incomprehensible mystery could be seen as darkness, but it could also be seen as all light all the time. My not knowing is something I have moved to feel very comfortable about.  It helps me see myself as not separate from everyone and everything. I believe I know very little and I am comfortable seeing myself as no one going nowhere even though I'm saying these sentences now. I have noticed a strong feeling of community with many who respond to the Awakin weekly messages. It is a feeling of communion which I did not get when I received "holy communion" when I formerly was a Catholic. I have copied statements from several people who have responded to Awakin statements and have used their quotes in my writing. Thanks to all of you for being so wonderful. Warm and kind regards to everyone. 

We see what we look for and I tend to seek out connections from one to another. So, I experience the "unity of all living things" almost daily. I believe when we open our hearts and share our talents and gifts freely we create a unity. This can be achieved through actions small and large. Small = Free Hugs offered to homeless and to Strangers on street corners. Or it can be in a larger sense as we take what some may call a risk and share our skill set without monetary compensation. I was recently in Ghana where I donated literacy workshops for librarians and interviewed local "ordinary" citizens doing extraordinary things like creating their own think tanks to collaborate on bringing ideas to fruition. Everywhere I went I was taken care of. Librarians housed me and fed me, I couch surfed in the living room of a small apartment on a dusty road in Kumasi with a husband, wife and their nearly 4 year old daughter aptly named Praise; we cooked together, they made sure I knew Exactly where I was going each day and often would accompany me to the local transportation. Once on the local transport, strangers made sure I knew which stop was the right one and once, a passenger even alighted with me and took me by the hand to be sure I arrived safely. And then there were the children; everywhere I went, I heard them shouting out to me, "Obruni, Hello! How are you? I am fine!" then they dissolved into giggles. Sometimes they ran up to me and touched my skin. Always smiling. Always welcoming. And asking for Nothing in return. And it's not only with people. there was a stray cat outside the apartment in Kumasi. Whenever Hannah cooked, she tossed it scraps from the fish, bits of vegetable and the cat purred and knew it found a friend. Loving Kindness gives light to my poetry. and HUGS do too.