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Good to find your writing Cristina. "My premise today is that spiritual training can refine us to the point that we can be kind in this life and bring light to the world as long as we live." Yes! This is what we hope to offer at our temple - bringing folk into relationship with emptiness / fullness, and hopefully all becoming a little kinder in the process. Bowing from here 🙏🏻

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Mar 19, 2023Liked by Cristina Moon

"They only arrived at these end states by working the raw material of their lives..." This seems connected to the notion of Keizoku. The older I get the more I realize the adage "use it, or lose it". Yet, in my experience it seems more than just keeping moving to allow your body to remain flexible and fluid, but continual effort or a practice of life as a way to burn everything up and naturally refresh the mind and spirit. I find, in glimpsed moments after training, that my concerns or problems of life have fallen away and I can be more present and embody joy naturally. It seems the folks you describe have found a longer, more sustained way to be--to just be. Thanks for another good read.

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Mar 19, 2023Liked by Cristina Moon

Goals! I can only aspire to live and age as these you describe! My husband’s grandmother was such a model for me until the day she died. A twinkle in her eye and she had no fear for what lay ahead. Thank you for sharing.

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Thank you so much Cristina, what a wonderful piece. My music work brings me to dementia wards and old folks' homes a lot, and things can get a bit disturbing at times. I've sometimes found myself thinking 'What's the core essence that remains when so many of your memories and idiosyncrasies fade away?' This piece is an encouraging reminder that spiritual training provides us with something that can never be taken away. Inspiring.

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