What did you find inspiring, interesting, controversial, or curious about tonight’s talk?
1 Like
Such a beautiful talk by Anne today. I recently came back to the program after being out there ‘doing research’ for about 9 years. But part of that ‘research’ was trying psychedelics and finding Ram Dass, so this was a serendipitous talk for me. Just wow. The Rules for being an adult in this culture about hiding anything different or wrong about you, and if you can’t “At least have the decency to be ashamed about it” really hit home for me. I pretended to fit the mold for so long until I finally got clean and started my transition. Grace over Drama was another good one. I used to use Gift of Desperation but I like that one better I think. Thank you so much for giving us this talk <3
7 Likes
Right??? That articulation is so incredibly potent!! I think most of us can relate to it…how we’ve held it subconsciously without even realizing it.
That talk was BEYOND inspiring! The way she navigates the truth of our shared humanity while maintaining such vulnerability and Lovingkindness was extraordinary!
I wish we could just purchase one talk at a time to share because this is one I would want to share with a LOT of people!!!
5 Likes
Right?!?!? I highly recommend any one of her books. “Traveling mercies.” “Help, Thanks, Wow.” “Dusk, Night, Dawn”. I haven’t read these but love the titles “operating instructions” and “some assembly required.”
2 Likes
This was a wonderful talk and I look forward to reading Anne’s work, so thank you so much for the introduction. My question is that though social conditioning is a part of our relative truth and breaking this conditioning brings us to realization of a unified consciousness & existence. How does one then deal with the karma they create just by living in our modern society of comfort and pleasure. Just by living in comfort we are facilitating the suffering of other beings. But at the same time over countless lives we have created so much suffering that no austerities can combat the sins we’ve committed. Currently I’m reading a translation of Shantidevas text -" how to be a bodhisattva" and one of the fundamental teachings is that we cannot be free until all beings are also free . Now taking refuge in devotion and practice shows an individual love and shows that this love goes beyond their perceived self schemas. But then what? How do you deal with the fact that for eternity we will suffer as long as those around us are suffering? Because if they suffer we also suffer. How do you not push this love outward and when it is rejected how do you not get trapped in your self riotousness? I apologize as this became multiple questions, but how does one go about practicing the bodhisattva vow in a time where the surrounding environment we have created for ourselves only entraps all beings that much more. I’d love to hear anyones thoughts or what they’ve learned through Ram Dass or other teachers.
If you accept the idea of a Bodhisatva, I feel that one important aspect is that such a being still maintains their inner peace while helping others. This would include forgiving all because to understand all is to forgive all, and in so doing, one is able to stay calm in LOVE even while incarnated in the midst of a storm, so they need not “leave the wheel of rebirth” and be totally liberated from physical birth in order to feel the fulfillment of their service, even to those suffering whom they compassionately serve. It is accepting that the world is as it is without having to run from it or avoid engaging in it.
That’s just one perspective . . .
1 Like
Thank you so much, I love how you said "accepting the world as it is without having to run from it and avoid engaging in it. How does one understand all without experiencing it all? It’s difficult because I feel trapped in my own privilege and a sense of separateness from those who have suffered more than I can comprehend. I’ve had this worry that without the situation I’ve been blessed with, I would not have the time or space to look into and practice this work, and by working on myself I am neglecting the needs of others. And sitting in my warm apartment it’s difficult to accept that people will be sleeping without a home, companionship, or love and this becomes somewhat overwhelming. Forgiveness seems as an understanding that each individual situation is unique relative to their environment , therefore any harm produced is derived from the conditioning of that environment and without connection to true being. But in the present moment an individuals environment is relative to their own mind and outlook. And how do you forgive yourself when by simply doing what is needed to survive, you still produce negative karma? Is it simply to just be present and actively try to relieve the suffering of those around you? Because that is tricky also, it still feels stuck in the I and them mindset, and a neglect of the immediate issues that many people are dealing with. With all that said, I see what you’re saying and it’s a beautiful mindset to accept and join the flow of our surroundings, but the universe and nature can be cruel to a lot of beings, which if we are all one flame that then that cruelty is happening to us as well, and to have faith in that universe is challenging.
1 Like
Anne was so authentic; so brutally honest. Which, I believe, makes us want to look at and mirror those qualities.
She’s truly a ‘warrior’…showing us the way. I’m so glad I tuned in.
PS: Fingers crossed for hurricane healing, Jaquelyn.
Peace. Namaste.
Today’s talk was inspiring…i could listen to her all day long. Her voice was calming. Each word she said made me think about how important it is to be kind to ourselves and others.
“I don’t want to be strategizing to win, I want to be me” is line hit me…I feel we are so trapped with all these capitalist world that we are missing out on empathy with eachother, I am sometimes feel I am losing myself.
Today’s talk definitely helped me to pause and reflect.
Thank you so much for this course 
1 Like
Though it wasn’t a word that came up a lot in Anne’s sharing, humility felt so fully infused and boldly expressed in her presence and reflections. The sort of healthy humility that can say things like,
"I don’t know, but I am learning. . . "
“I wonder . . .”
“You are right, I am sorry . . .”
“Can you please say more?”
“I need your help . . .”
“Thank you for . . .”
In these turbulent times it is refreshing to witness such a full, loving expression of the power of humility. In Anne I experience what I understand the deepest (and most literal) meaning of humility to be: coming to Ground.
Having been in 12 step programs and having spent years in therapy healing childhood trauma, so many things resonated. That critical parent/nazi general/shame producer in my head, that outsider status, and also that coming home to divinity, to my true nature, to compassion for all beings. We can always come home, we can always be kind.
1 Like