I am not awesome. Nor am I doing awesome work. I have no research, and not a single conclusion. I cannot tell you a thing about how you should live or why. Not one thing about greater meaning or purpose. I do not preach a doctrine, a science, a language or a new way of thinking. Words — authenticity, courage, creativity, happiness, innovation, greatness, compassion, mindfulness, even Zen— these are like wax wings to a fruit fly, feathers to a cloud. What I preach is practice. A preacher without a practice is a preacher. A preacher with a practice is a human being.
Try it.
Beginner’s Mind One-Day Meditation Retreat on Sept. 23 in LA.
The Art of Non-Parenting: Discovering the Wisdom of Easy, and Deeper Still: Breath & Meditation Workshop on Oct. 20-21 in Wash. DC.
Interesting — as a mother of a seventeen year old with severe disabilities, I am often called “awesome” or “amazing,” and I think of it as another weight to bear because, really, I’m just doing and being.
Comment by Elizabeth Aquino — September 19, 2012 @ 11:41 am
And this is absolutely why I love you. What a blessed reminder — none of us is awesome. On a day when I have stumbled from dawn to dusk, it’s good to be reminded to just keep practicing. xo
Comment by Katrina Kenison — September 19, 2012 @ 4:52 pm
A human being is a mensch.
Comment by Jena — September 19, 2012 @ 7:37 pm
A yoga teacher with a practice is humble.
A yoga teacher without a practice is lost, I would imagine.
Comment by Marianne — September 19, 2012 @ 8:57 pm
I’ll take human over awesome any day.
Comment by Renae C — September 20, 2012 @ 4:08 am
But the preacher with a practice can be an awesome thing to behold.
Comment by Sarah Stanton — September 20, 2012 @ 10:11 am
Like a cloud, or a fruit fly.
Comment by Karen Maezen Miller — September 20, 2012 @ 10:22 am
yes and yes and yes and yes and thank you
Comment by Carrie — September 21, 2012 @ 8:58 am
I have always used this quote from Gandhi as a guide –”An ounce of practice is worth more than a ton of preaching”
Comment by alison — September 24, 2012 @ 5:39 pm
“like”
Comment by Colleen — October 8, 2012 @ 8:59 pm