I will repeat myself.  I love Sangha!  Tonight we left it informal, and had an open discussion regarding the challenges of practicing Buddhism in American society.  This may very well have been one of my favorite meetings.  It gives me hope to know that it’s not just me, struggling to offer large scale love and compassion.  We live with information overload, all pointing us at the “things” that will make us happy and always fail to do so.  But in this small circle of friends, we sit together in peace, all Buddhas-to-be.  I sigh with contentment. 

Being honest with this group comes naturally (as it does with Women’s Circle, but there are many that participate in both groups, YAY!).   I posed the question about whether any attachment can be positive (Buddhism teaches that attachment causes suffering).  As usual, everyone had inspiring responses.  Mi offered that there are good and bad attachments.  Healthy attachments come from a good place, family bonds and such.  Fr noted that the difference between them is rooted in whether the attachment is based on desire for that “thing”.  Ah.  I understand.  Then, he asked the question.  “What is it that you desire?”

The thing I desire most is some kind of cohesive family unit.  I want so badly to create a family for myself that attaining it stays impossible.  Mi suggested that sometimes, we accept a substitution which is similar to our true want, but does not quite meet the standard we expect.  In other words, we settle and it causes suffering. 

Then she brought to my attention that I already have that which I desire so.  I have created family.  I have Sangha Family.  I have UU family.  I have Women’s Circle Family.  They, along with my family of friends from various schools, jobs and 2 special members of actual blood relation, offer safety, compassion, love and guidance without condition.  I was so focused on the idea of what family was, I was missing the functioning family all around me. 

Even here, on bravejournal.com, support is out there.  There are blogs I’ve stumbled across, one to the next, and have subscribed to a few.  I look forward to reading their blogs, how they allow me to peek at their souls.  I try to add comments because we all deserve our thoughts to be valued by others.  Some bloggers have visited here in return, and I’ve received nothing but lovely comments from caring sentient beings I’ve never met.  I appreciate every thought that comes my way from all those who end up here.    

I only hope that I can at some time return the unconditional blessings of love, advice, dharma guidance, bitch & moan time, and shoulder to lean on to all these amazing people.  I wish to foster my own Buddha-nature by honoring the Buddha-nature in others.  While the pain I’m experiencing is my negative karma to burn off, I must have banked some serious good karma to be blessed with the friends I have.  

Peace to you, my family. 

Another interesting and thoughtful post. I've just written on my blog about missing not having actual children but it is very true, there are many people out there who are spiritual family - and they are precious.

Thnaks for putting a link to me in your 'friends' section. It is much appreciated.

All the best ~Hazel