Greetings,

Last month we talked a lot about the limitations of taking refuge in insubstantial things. We looked at how habitual our taking refuge can get, even to the point of becoming addictive. We also looked at how normal it is to take refuge. Hopefully you have come to see some of the refuges you take shelter in when you're stressed out, and how limiting they can be. It's important that we feel the limitations of these insubstantial things we take refuge in, not because they're bad or negative or somehow less than. We need to see the limitations because of the nature of what refuge actually means.

A refuge is a pointing to something that is protective. It is a safe shelter. A ground/foundation upon which we can stand. When that refuge is insubstantial, it does not provide a protection but instead it provides a separation from. It doesn't provide a safe shelter but rather a hideout. And finally it doesn't provide a ground or foundation upon which we can stand; it instead forces us to compromise our values, our practice, our sense of stability until the so-called present moment difficulty has passed.

There is one more thing that needs to be considered here. Most present moment difficulties are perceived through the mind. They may or may not be a genuine threat, vulnerability or instability. The perception arises out of assumptions, opinions, expectations, and memories. These are all mental formations that our ordinary mind holds as fact and true. The mind then points us towards something it believes is a better way of dealing with the moment. Stay with me here... An untrained mind makes up a narrative around an experience. It then makes up the refuge that's needed to save us from its narrative or fix the problem in its narrative and points us towards that refuge. This is a naturally occurring phenomena because of our inherent fear of unpleasantness, discomfort, unfamiliarity, the unknown and/or uncertainty. When such "un-ness" (if that can be a word) defines something in our present moment, we drop our values, our practice and any possibility for lasting peace in exchange for the mind's insubstantial refuge (temporary relief).

It's important to remember this reactivity is impulsive and immediate. Unfortunately, it happens before we even recognize we're following the mind's delusion. I believe Buddha saw how important a trained/disciplined mind was in the face of some perceived difficulty. During the night of his awakening, I believe he saw the freeing nature of mindfulness. Our mindfulness practice is, therefore, the source to train the mind how to behave in difficult moments. It provides the discipline for the mind to remain secure when faced with its own perceived difficulty.

What we actually need in a moment of perceived difficulty is something that will keep us in the present moment. Something that will garner a sense of protection, safety, and groundedness, such that we can stay in the present moment long enough to see the truth of what is occurring. A genuine refuge is what enables us to be with difficulty without collapsing. It builds our capacity and resilience. It supports the development of inner stillness and a calm, clear mind.

This is what I'd like to talk about this month. How can we learn to connect with a genuine refuge in a moment of perceived difficulty and/or reactivity? What would it take for us to stay present to the difficulty and/or reactivity? What would our practice look like if we were able to stay? How can taking refuge support us in discerning whether to stay or not? What factors need to be present for mindfulness to be present in moments of difficulty, unpleasantness, reactivity, and/or confusion?

Let's spend the month exploring the possibility of feeling grounded when there's reactivity, confusion, anger and/or fear present. This will go a long way in helping us understand why the triple jewel is considered a genuine refuge.

With a deep bow,

Tuere