tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post1458572741958318446..comments2022-10-20T09:33:01.271+02:00Comments on GROUNDED SPIRITUALITY: THE LIMIT OF MY COMPASSIONAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-18609841738914530252011-09-28T18:55:22.694+02:002011-09-28T18:55:22.694+02:00Thank you Claudia.Thank you Claudia.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-45730787176121531852011-09-28T18:42:52.428+02:002011-09-28T18:42:52.428+02:00Very moving post Ben, thank you for the courage to...Very moving post Ben, thank you for the courage to write about those moments and making it a lesson not just for you but for all of us.<br />Love and light<br />Claudiaflowers of my mindhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561969683940673680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-68123125906753230382011-08-30T08:29:47.748+02:002011-08-30T08:29:47.748+02:00Thank you all for your comments... they came at a ...Thank you all for your comments... they came at a time when I was up to my eyeballs in nappies / diapers, hence the lack of response!<br />Anita / Moonfairy - I'm glad you learnt and are learning those lessons. There is no room for guilt. Your Father would not want that. "Regrets are just lessons we didn't learn yet". Stay on path, and remember your Father with love.<br />All the best, BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-68014388755346376802011-04-07T15:59:55.311+02:002011-04-07T15:59:55.311+02:00This was a beautiful post...thank you for sharing ...This was a beautiful post...thank you for sharing it. I think I found it when I was ready to really hear what you were saying. I lost my father the last day of August 2010. He had been sick for a long time and had many close calls over the years. That summer I knew he was getting ready to leave us but I just didn't want to deal with it. Long story short....I found a million and one reasons not to get out and see him.Including ...I had just started a new job..he was mad at me over my new spiritual beliefs...this was just another phase he was going through...it went on and on. The reality was I hated seeing him sick...hated seeing someone who had always been so strong in a fragile weak body. In the end I was not there and had so much guilt....but from that my dad taught me many lessons even after he was not here physically. You just taught me another one....thank you<br />Namaste<br />Anitamoonfairyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00409609091641956310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-16256524892524499862011-04-07T15:52:56.859+02:002011-04-07T15:52:56.859+02:00Thank you for helping me to be a better person tod...Thank you for helping me to be a better person today through your experience.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04680449269074355530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-22913916945821719912010-09-06T07:54:17.044+02:002010-09-06T07:54:17.044+02:00Wow, that is so beautiful... thank you for sharing...Wow, that is so beautiful... thank you for sharing.<br /><br />namasteAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-77891851779300652622010-08-18T17:35:21.673+02:002010-08-18T17:35:21.673+02:00This is very eloquent, Ben. Thank you for sharing ...This is very eloquent, Ben. Thank you for sharing this touching experience. Isn't it amazing how the universe conspires to open us up? <br /><br />Blessings, <br />Kim SequoiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-63699871602025291592010-08-12T20:38:02.533+02:002010-08-12T20:38:02.533+02:00No, it's not selfish. I think it's just an...No, it's not selfish. I think it's just an old pattern - many generations old - of simply not being able to accept things as they are. We judge that things should be a certain way... or that things are 'wrong'... or that other people should be different. In reality, our judgement comes from our head... instead of from a deeper space. The deeper aspect of us simply accepts things as they are: and rejoices.<br />I think that perhaps, now that you recognise that helpless feeling, it might be easier to visit. Let me know.<br />Love, BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-42047806543846996532010-08-12T20:07:48.810+02:002010-08-12T20:07:48.810+02:00Yes! Swamji is still at the NY Center, and often t...Yes! Swamji is still at the NY Center, and often teaching in Woodbourne. He is a great teacher.<br /><br />Hmm. I think it is difficult-- makes me sad--to watch my Grandmother and all those around her be unhappy. They are all physically ill, most in wheelchairs as they can no longer walk. And not in their right minds either, doing and saying and behaving in ways they would not have before dementia/alzheimers set in. They are largely unhappy and don't wish to be there. I feel helpless because I cannot really make it better for her. Although I know my presence does make her happy. I think that is it. The sadness is due to feeling helpless. So, it is all about me. Selfish still. The human condition? Maybe.<br />Prem,<br />sueSusannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-28151974049827145892010-08-12T18:42:37.882+02:002010-08-12T18:42:37.882+02:00Ah, do you know Swami Sadasivananda? Is he still i...Ah, do you know Swami Sadasivananda? Is he still in NY?<br /><br />Sorry to hear about your Grandmother. It is difficult isn't it.<br />Can I ask you, what is beneath that sadness? - I mean, when you allow yourself to really feel that sadness, what is the deeper feeling below / beyond it?<br />Another way of putting it: how does that sadness make you feel?<br />With love,<br />BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-65497063932136965232010-08-12T18:14:02.682+02:002010-08-12T18:14:02.682+02:00Hi Ben,
I live in Buffalo, NY and I study at the ...Hi Ben, <br />I live in Buffalo, NY and I study at the ashram in Woodbourne, NY. <br />And I just returned from visiting my 96 year old grandmother with dementia. Like you, I do visit often, but not enough, and it is because I too get so sad. Tough lessons.<br />Prem,<br />SusanSusannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-31269701631308076252010-08-12T16:57:58.576+02:002010-08-12T16:57:58.576+02:00Hi Susan, thank you so much.
Where are you from?
L...Hi Susan, thank you so much.<br />Where are you from?<br />Love,<br />BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-84750534698936791602010-08-12T16:40:03.844+02:002010-08-12T16:40:03.844+02:00Dear Ben,
Thank you for sharing this. I am also a ...Dear Ben,<br />Thank you for sharing this. I am also a Sivananda teacher, and I can hear what a fine teacher you are through your writing. I can also hear what a fine person you are. <br />With Om and Prem,<br />SusanSusannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-16985782583105227102010-07-26T11:43:05.019+02:002010-07-26T11:43:05.019+02:00Thank you TiTi,
I'm glad you had the wisdom an...Thank you TiTi,<br />I'm glad you had the wisdom and strength to grant your Father his last wish. Your story is almost like a mirror image of mine. We both left, but your motivation was selfless, mine not so... not that I regret. I've learnt that lesson now.<br />Thank you for sharing - you brought a tear to my eye.<br />With love,<br />BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-22921935735002151432010-07-24T22:56:32.686+02:002010-07-24T22:56:32.686+02:00Oh Ben. I am so grateful that you shared this. I w...Oh Ben. I am so grateful that you shared this. I was with my father at the end of his life. I washed every inch of his body in preparation for his departure. I knew it was the end and I was hard pressed to leave. I wanted to be there and to continue to hold him but he looked me in the eye and said "Go now dear daughter - I wish to die alone." So I reluctantly complied and he died moments after I left the room -- fearlessly and alone. <br /><br />He was so very weak and ill that I could have ignored his last request. I could have remained next to his hospital bed and no one would have faulted me for doing so. All around me would have thought that it was the right thing for me to do but it wasn't his wish. I respected his last wish and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. <br /><br />Today I am at peace with his passing but in those few moments when I was on one side of the hospital door and he was drawing his last breath I was not at peace. I wanted to control his passing. I wanted it to be good for me. <br /><br />Namaste,<br />TiTitimethiefhttp://thistimethisspace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-53482365122564520522010-07-22T10:38:43.321+02:002010-07-22T10:38:43.321+02:00Thank you for taking the time to read and comment ...Thank you for taking the time to read and comment Sue. Much appreciated.<br />Love, BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-1764405734219724912010-07-21T02:35:21.654+02:002010-07-21T02:35:21.654+02:00Ben, thank you for sharing this, it meant so much....Ben, thank you for sharing this, it meant so much.<br />xxSueUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00211268732159592090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-71570079242064997322010-07-18T14:39:22.726+02:002010-07-18T14:39:22.726+02:00My strength makes the mountains look like molehill...My strength makes the mountains look like molehills.<br />My softness could make the newborn chick weep with joy...<br />RAWRAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-10463863102021853952010-07-18T14:29:00.546+02:002010-07-18T14:29:00.546+02:00Ben, everything happens for a reason; whether it i...Ben, everything happens for a reason; whether it is missing the flight or finally got home and receive the news. The important thing is you have said what you wanted to tell him and both of you feel the love you have for each other. It is not how it ended, it is how it got there.<br />Stay strong. I am sure that is what your father wants if he is still alive.<br />Take care.LionGirlhttp://www.theliongirl.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-497753111995120862010-07-16T11:46:46.503+02:002010-07-16T11:46:46.503+02:00Hi Cynthia,
thank you.
Yes, there are no 'wron...Hi Cynthia,<br />thank you.<br />Yes, there are no 'wrong' choices. "Regrets are just lessons you haven't learnt yet" (Beth Orton).<br />With love,<br />BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143455220083511145.post-68357975457648200282010-07-15T18:02:44.564+02:002010-07-15T18:02:44.564+02:00What a beautiful post. My spiritual teacher would...What a beautiful post. My spiritual teacher would tell me (as you have said) there are no accidents and all IS in divine right order, even when I think I chose wrongly. <br /><br />How fortunate we are to know that the barrier that masquerades as death is really an illusion as is time; it is never too late to heal.<br /><br />Your post is invaluable. Perhaps I, and others, are saved an experience like it because you walked before us and lit the path.<br /><br />Thank you.Cynthia Occellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013772492476961433noreply@blogger.com