A word on the Dalai Lama

A friend of mine shared with me recently that she had some fears about living a spiritual life. (It has been suggested to me that I "continue to enlarge my spiritual life" as a solution to my particular brand of self-centeredness). My friend told me that she feared she was not being spiritual enough. She said she was also afraid of getting comfortable - what if she thought she was being "spiritual enough" but it turns out she wasn't and she screws up again?!

I told her that I had those same fears - how will I know if there is enough spirituality in my daily life? Will I know right away if my prayers worked? If I just say them and I don't hum with Divine energy while I'm praying are me prayers good enough? If I could do it better, would I know by now? Will God think that I could pray better and punish me if I don't hum with Divine energy?

One thing my current spiritual adviser has impressed upon me in this last year is that I can invite God into every stream or avenue or area of my life. God can be the thing that connects them all. I don't have to choose what "parts" of my day are for God and what "parts" are for me. (Like that Kahlil Gibran poem I put in one of my posts).

I told my friend these words of wisdom that my friend had shared with me and encouraged her to just let God be a part of everything that she did. I told her that if she did so (brought God into everything) then every act could be prayerful or at the very least spiritually connected. She could be spiritual all day every day. (Not perfect, just aware and humble).

Then I came up with an example.

The Dalai Lama. His Holiness travels all over the world speaking to millions people. I got to see him in Minnesota about ten years ago and I found his presence truly magical. He was this tiny old man in bright red and orange robes with big, coke bottle glasses and I think he was missing some teeth. He was answering questions from audience members and I remeber thinking, "Gaahhd! He seems so . . . normal!"

He spoke English, he said something about McDonald's, I remember he laughed at himself. He was sharing a story about how he had made a mistake and he laughed at himself.

So it dawned on me the other day - if the Dalai Lama travels all over the world and eats McDonald's, and makes mistakes - he doesn't cease to be a holy man just because he does those things.

The Dalai Lama is still the Dalai Lama even when he's in line at Cinnabun in the Newark International Airport.

They are not separate.

If I chose to invite God (or God-awareness) into as many minutes of my day as I can, then it doesn't matter if what I'm "doing" is standing in line at the DMV, or waiting tables, or putting my boyfriend's niece down for a nap.

Thank you to the Dalai Lama for His Holy Human-ness!!

I can do everything today with gratitude and humility - it is my choice.