r/TheMindIlluminated • u/AutoModerator • 8d ago

Weekly off-topic and practice update thread

Update the sub on your practice or share off-topic posts here.

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u/HatManDew 6d ago

I had a couple really interesting realizations recently that I believe are due in part to what I learned from TMI.

#1: The goal is not to avoid "burden", but rather to have burden not feel burdensome

#2: A "retreat" can be done in day to day life

As an example for #1, recently we started fostering a kitten that was part of a litter of strays that my daughter took on from her neighborhood. She was able to find permanent or foster homes for 10 of them. The 11th however has physical disabilities in her spine such that she is incontinent. Obviously this one is hard to re-home (and hard to care for). And my daughter is moving to Seattle, so my wife decided we would help and take on fostering the kitten. I won't go in to the details but this is not an easy project. I think a couple years ago I would have been annoyed and frustrated that this burden fell on us. But now I see it as an opportunity to learn kindness and generosity from my daughter, and to spend time with my wife, to do something other than watch TV in my free time, and to help a life.

For #2, I probably don't really have a leg to stand on with this since I have never actually been on a retreat. In my mind, I have always felt that a retreat is a way to deepen mindfulness and attain insight. My realization is that there are ways to do this in day to day life. So many things "I don't want to do" that are hard and yet by using them as an opportunity to practice mindfulness I often start seeing things in a new light.

Anyway, just thought I would share those. Happy Monday!