"I don't have the time."
"I've been too busy."
"I have other obligations."
Every day, it is tempting to blame our schedules and obligations for the lack of time to spend in devotional activities such as meditation, altar-tending, communing with nature, or personal divination. After all, there are so many things that we have to pay attention to: work, home life, family life, community obligations, and more. Each of these is a major distraction from dedicated spiritual activity, right? It's hard to find the time to do the small things that give us spiritual centeredness and consolation when we have so much going on. It's hard to find the time for self-care when we have so many duties. It's hard to find the time to still the mind when we are saturated in a world of nonstop communication.
This is the story about time that we tell ourselves when we realize that yet another day has passed without a visit to our shrines or a session of seated meditation or that walk we planned to take so we could listen to the trees. So often, we sacrifice spiritual self-care to another, more seemingly vital, activity. And, let's be honest, sometimes we sacrifice spiritual self-care so that we can sit on the couch and watch a TV show or play on our phones. It's not always work that takes a higher priority than our spiritual lives. In fact, sometimes we build up our spiritual activity in our minds as "work" and then we seek to escape it instead of fulfilling it with joyful hearts.
But what if you took the time, nonetheless? What might that change in your mind? What if you could remember that the spiritual activities that you think of as "work" actually refresh and rejuvenate you? What if you wove spiritual activity so closely into your life that it became as natural to you as brushing your teeth or eating food every day?
What if you did not wait until it's too late?
For the next week, try this every day: attach one aspect of spiritual practice to a non-negotiable daily activity. Bring your child with you to the shrine to recite one single hymn or light a candle. Take 5 minutes of silence in the morning right after you put on your clothes. Spend three minutes in quiet gratitude at the start of each meal. Recite one mala of OM MANI PADME HUM during your commute, quietly or internally if you have to. If you have to walk to the mailbox, take the long way and talk to a tree. Append your practices to your obligations, and therefore sanctify those obligations. See what happens when practice is woven into life instead of separate from it. See what happens when you choose to control your time rather than letting it control you.
The Heart of Kuan Yin
In the midst of unbelievable chaos, the ocean of samsara churning, worldwide suffering, internal doubt and turmoil, war, and grief, where do we turn? To whom do we dedicate the energy generated by suffering so that it can be transmuted into wisdom?
In the midst of celebration, closeness with beloveds, happy achievements, spontaneous declarations of love, contentment, friendship, and good news, where do we turn? To whom do we dedicate the energy of our joy so that it can be transmuted into wisdom?
"She Who Hears the Cries of the World" receives our exclamations and dedications of both suffering and joy. In her vast heart of wisdom is a lotus flower that is nourished by the mud of our sorrow as it turns its face to the sun of our happiness. She does not differentiate between "good" and "evil", and instead shows us that in reality, all is one. There is no duality. There are only manifestations of phenomenon that serve to enlighten us with increased awareness. In order to receive this awareness, we cannot choose to see ourselves as separate from one another. We must choose to see ourselves as cells in the same body, each doing its part to sustain the whole.
But what happens in the body when a group of cells becomes diseased? The body then creates new cells with the express purpose of restoring wholeness. On the surface, the assertive action of these cells might seem violent or revolutionary. White blood cells "devour" disease, rendering it harmless, consuming the fire of disease so that it cannot cause damage. Would we characterize the activity of the white blood cells as violent, illegal, or thuggish, when, in fact, the restoration of health is the ultimate act of compassion for the ailing?
To the same token, occasionally white blood cells go rogue and begin taking over the body. They can form clusters that become tumors. They can overrun the blood. Then, the body requires regulatory measures to cease the enthusiasm of the white blood cells. Treatments for this condition can involve potent chemicals, the administration of radiation, and surgery. Would we characterize these methods of treatment as willfully aggressive, overbearing, or cruel to Mother Nature, when, in fact, the restoration of health is the ultimate act of compassion for the ailing?
The Heart of Kuan Yin beats in each of us, reminding us to come home to the center of stillness where compassion may be found. It is not wrong to heal the diseases of suffering that threaten to harm our world. It is neither wrong to rein in our impulses to go overboard in doing so, especially when our actions replicate the tactics of the diseases we are seeking to heal.
In times of suffering, and times of joy, as well a times of confusion, we can dedicate the energy of our undifferentiated, painful, gorgeous, terrible, beautiful experiences to the Heart of Kuan Yin, and thereby return to true compassion, which is both fierce and tender at once.
May the merit of this practice,
and all of my activities,
be of endless benefit
to all beings in all realms,
beginningless and continuous.
May all obstacles be overcome,
and suffering cease,
at the sound of liberation.
May all beings be freed from suffering and its causes.
May all beings have happiness and its causes.
May we carry the essence of Kuan Yin in our hearts.
NAMO KUAN SHI YIN PUSA.
Strawberry Rose Chocolate Tamale Recipe
On May 1, in honor of the start of the merry month of May, my extended family made sweet tamales. Several folks, after seeing this picture on social media, asked for the recipe, so here it is. Making tamales from scratch is an art, a labor of love, and a commitment. Plan at least 4 hours for this task (as well as a few minutes the day before to toss the dry corn husks in water), especially if you're a beginner.
Ingredients:
1 bag of masa harina
1 bag of cane or coconut sugar
1 very large jar of coconut oil
1 package of ojas, or corn husks
salt and baking powder
1 bag chocolate chips
2 large containers of fresh strawberries
1 bag of dried strawberries
rose water
additional jams or jellies in jars
Prepare the ojas, or corn husks:
Soak overnight in water to soften
Remove from water one at a time and pull off any debris, corn silk, etc.
Gently pat dry with a clean towel and place to the side
Prepare the masa:
Prepare masa harina as directed on the side of the package (except triple the recipe). This means you will use 6 cups of flour, 4 cups of water, 3 teaspoons of baking powder. BUT: add one cup of sugar to the mix, and only use one teaspoon of salt instead of 3. Mix these ingredients together to make a dough, using clean hands, and making sure to break up any lumps. In a separate bowl, mash 2 cups of coconut oil with your hands so there are no lumps. Slowly add the doughy masa to the oil (NOT THE REVERSE), and mix the dough in so that the oil is consistent throughout. Using a mortar and pestle, grind the dried strawberries until they are powder, then add this powder to the masa, turning it pink.
Prepare the filling:
Slice one package of fresh strawberries into thin slices. Open a package of chocolate chips. Dig in the fridge to find half-used jars of jam and jelly- any flavor will do. All of it is delicious.
Prepare the "salsa":
Slice one package of fresh strawberries into a pot. Add 2 tablespoons of rose water, a little plain water, and another cup of sugar. Stirring occasionally, then later constantly, bring to a boil and reduce, reduce, reduce until it has a jam-like consistency. Set aside to cool.
Prepare the pot:
Use a steamer with a basket, or else turn a pie plate over and poke holes in the bottom to create a platform inside a regular pot. Make sure there is sufficient water at the bottom, but not so much that it will be touching the bottoms of the tamales.
NOW, make your tamales!
Make sure the corn husk is not too wet - pat dry with a towel is needed. Spread a tablespoon or more of masa on a corn husk, coating the inside. Then, lay several chocolate chips and some sliced strawberries inside. Feel free to get creative here, adding honey, jelly, jam, etc. Not too much! A teaspoon or so will do! Here is a great video about spreading the masa just right.
Then, roll the husk into a tight bundle and fold the bottom edge under to keep it closed. Stand tamales, open end up, in the pot and pack them in tightly. You will need to be able to cover the pot with a lid.
Cover the top of the pot with the lid, and layer one or two wet dish towels over that. Place pot on medium-high heat and bring water to a boil. Monitor closely- you may need to add a small amount of water after a while so the bottom of the pot doesn't burn. Tamales should steam for 45-min to 1 hour, depending on the size of the pot. When you lift the lid (don't do this too often) and see that the masa has fluffed up and is pulling away from the husk, then test to see if your tamales are done. They should have a bread-like consistency, neither goopy nor hard.
When you are ready to eat these tamales (AND YOU WILL WANT TO EAT SOME RIGHT AWAY OMG), unwrap them and spread a little bit of the strawberry-rose "salsa" on top of them.
Nomnomnom.