Notes from a one day OST meeting

[Judi Richardson]

Chris....

As I read your graciously generous posting, I smiled as I have several
pages of similar notes.  How ever-willing that self-critic is to jump
right in there just when I think I've achieved a mind free from doubt.
At that point my attempt to just hold my ground requires the "inflatable
shoes" to become lead shoes.

Your stunning description of silence resonates.  On my own and with
groups I share meditation, silence (although often stormy) is welcome.
Yet in working with groups I fall into mindreading — as I sense others
are uncomfortble with the silence, the host in me who is conditioned to
insure that everyone has a good time wants to fill in the space and
silence.  My knowing is that this is manipulative and closes space —
still it offers over and over.

The following story arrived on email — I offer it.....

An old man, a boy and a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the
> > donkey and the old man walked. As they went along they passed some
people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy
was riding.
> >
> > The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they
changed positions. Later, they passed some people that remarked,
> > What a shame, he makes that little boy walk." They then decided they
both would walk!
> > Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to
walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the
> > donkey.
> > Now they passed some people that shamed them by saying how awful to
put such a load on a poor donkey. The boy and man said they were
probably right, so they decided to carry the donkey. As they
> > crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell
> > into the river and drowned.
> > The moral of the story?
> >
> > If you try to please everyone, you might as well
> > kiss your ass good-bye.
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