Mindfulness and Liberation True Love Global Sangha: - The ...

OOf the different forms of activism I’ve practiced in my life, themost transformative, perhaps, is the relationship activism I practicewith my partner, Liz. Our partnership acts as a microcosm for ourrelationships with all beings. We practice to nourish not only thehappiness of one another but also the happiness of the world. It isvery real, engaged Buddhism.My grandfather, an educator and Methodist minister, was amentor to me. I once asked how he and my grandma had madeit through fifty-five-plus years together. He offered me his sagecounsel: “Every morning you can sit down at the breakfast tableand look across to your partner and say, ‘Why did I marry her? Sheis not what I really wanted,’ or you can say, ‘Wow, how lucky I amto have her here to share this life with!’ The choice is yours.”With mindfulness, I have realized that I do have the powerto choose my own reality. When I was new to the practice, I focusedon suffering. But I came to discover that suffering is onlyone of thousands of Dharma doors. Without sunshine, we willnot have lotuses. Mindfulness gives permission to relish joy inrelationship.Liz and I practice Beginning Anew on each new moon. Wepractice hugging meditation in the morning and share appreciationsbefore we go to bed at night. Our mindfulness rituals createa container for transformation and when we feel their fruits, weonly want to practice more! That is why I see our relationship asa practice center. It brings us home to ourselves and we becomeeach other’s mirrors and mindfulness bells.Right Relationship with SexualityMindfulness helps in practicing with sexual energy. I grew upfeeling ashamed of my sexuality. In my experience, sexuality wasoften used as a weapon or status symbol. I remember walking downthe halls of high school, being taunted with names like “fag,” andlistening to guys talk about their latest sexual escapades. I wentthrough puberty during the advent of pornography on the Internet.It fascinated and confused many of us young people. Luckily, otherseeds were watered in me, and I was able to channel my energiesinto music, theatre, sports, and supportive friendships.Upon receiving the Five Mindfulness Trainings, sadly, I foundmyself condemning my sexuality as I tried to emulate my brotherand sister monastics. My misunderstanding pitted me against myself, my body, and others. I’ve learned that committed relationshipand the Mindfulness Trainings are manifestations of true love;both work to push suffering up to the surface so it may be healed.Inevitably, my mindfulness practice and relationship invited meto come into right relationship with my sexuality, embracing theseintense energies with care. My partner, the trainings, and Sanghaprovided protection and antidotes to fear and confusion.Although sexual energy contains no suffering in itself, myhabit of contracting around it can create hell on Earth. Holding thisenergy with mindfulness, I feel a natural respect and love. Sexualenergy puts me in touch with my capacities of generativity andcreativity. How amazing that this energy of vitality and creativityis alive in me! “Breathing in, I recognize sexual energy as awonder of life! Breathing out, I smile. Breathing in, I let it expandRelationshipas EngagedBuddhismBy Nathaniel Vosetrue LOVELiz and I are two hands of thesame, greater body.photo by Renee Burgardthe Mindfulness Bell 33