I keep coming back to the mutuality of view, heart and belly. I notice the dynamics in daily life, and get curious about it… how does it look when I explore it a little more closely?
It is simple when it is lived. And there is now end to how complex it can get when I try to sort it out within thought.
For instace, I notice how an open heart supports a more receptive view.
First a few general things about views…
When the view is receptive, there is fluidity, curiosity and innocence (the don’t know type) there. Receptivity to find the practical validity (grain of truth) in any story, including the reversals of familiar ones. There is a sense of not needing to defend any story or identity, because none of them are taken as really true. They are at best temporary and practical guidelines.
When the view is closed, there is rigidity and identification with stories and identities. There is a sense of needing to protect certain stories and identities. To enhance and defend them, and shoot down any story (or situation) that appears to threathen them.
And then how an open heart invites in and supports a more receptive view…
An open heart invites in a quiet kindness which allows for a shift from resisting to allowing experience. Empathy allows me to more easily find the (limited) validity in the views of others. There is a wider embrace and a sense of us, inviting in a shift from reactivity to receptivity. There is a sense of satisfaction, so less sense of being caught up in neediness. There is a sense of spaciousness allowing for a shift out of tension and contraction.
All of this supports a more receptive view. As identification releases out of stories and identities, there is a new freedom in recognizing all of these stories as practical guides only. And an open heart makes that shift easier.
In a very practical way, an open heart allows for a certain intelligence. An intelligence that comes from receptivity and appreciation.
Of course, all of this is for myself. It helps me release identification out of stories and identities. And this allows me more freedom in which story I use as a guide for action in any particular situation.
And how that looks is open. For instance, it can be flavored by yin kindness, by a display of empathy and understanding. Or it can be flavored by more yang kindness, a little more cutting and forceful. Nothing is left out as a possibility. It all depends on what experience, insight, knowledge and kindness is available to me in the situation, and what it tells me may be most appropriate.
…
Initial outline…
- view
- receptive
- closed
- heart
- open
- kindness to self, allowing experience
- empathy with others, willing to find validity in their views
- sense of satisfaction, less needy
- sense of spaciousness, less contracted/tense
- closed
- open
- belly
- nurturing fullness
- reactive
………
I keep coming back to the mutuality of view, heart and belly. I notice dynamics around it in daily life, and get curious about it… how does it look when I look at it a little more closely?
It is simple when it is lived. And there is no end to how complex it can get when I try to sort it out within thought.
I’ll go through view, heart and belly here, one at a time.
When the view is receptive, there is fluidity, curiosity and innocence (the don’t know type) there. Receptivity to find the practical validity (grain of truth) in any story, including the reversals of familiar ones. There is a sense of not needing to defend any story or identity, because none of them are taken as really true. They are at best temporary and practical guidelines.
When the view is closed, there is rigidity and identification with stories and identities. There is a sense of needing to protect certain stories and identities. To enhance and defend them, and shoot down any story (or situation) that appears to threathen them.
With an open heart,
…
- View
- receptive
- fluid view, curiosity, innocence, able find practical validity (grain of truth) in reversals
- open heart invites in a more receptive view (willing to see from other’s perspectives)
- nurturing fullness invites in a more receptive view (less caught up in fear)
- closed
- receptive
- Heart
- open
- kindness for all
- receptive view, curiosity
- understand where others come from, find validity in it, invites receptivity
- insight into dynamics of samsara invites in open heart (can find in oneself what is out there, no belief/identity to protect)
- nurturing fullness, sense of safety
- closed
- open
- Belly
- nurturing fullness
- fluid view, less identification with stories/identities, invites in sense of wholeness (shadow)
- open heart, kindness to self/others, wider embrace (wider embrace of shadow, including don’t know + body)
- reactive
- nurturing fullness