Week 14 Challenge - Seeing the Divine

This year I decided to challenge myself to reflect on various Yoga and Buddhist aspects throughout the year. The challenges come from a variety of places including readings in Deborah Adele's Yamas and Niyamas and Thich Nhat Hanh's Heart of the Buddha's Teaching and Happiness.

This week's challenge was to see the Divine in everything. What an interesting challenge.

There are places I find it easy to see the Divine. Nature. Animals. I find it harder to see the Divine in man-made objects, so I practiced seeing the Divine in my neighbour's house (the view out my front window) this week.

Interestingly, when it comes to people, I find it easiest to see the Divine in strangers. It must be something about not having any real notions about them that allows me to see the Divine in them. Plus I've had a practice where I picture a little ball of light at people's hearts for a couple of years now, which is my way of seeing the Divine in those I don't know. I find it much harder with those I do know, both friends and foes. This week I practiced putting aside my notions and feelings and seeing the Divine.

I also always try to see the Divine in circumstances. This was a good week for that. Early in the week I found out that all of my Regional District classes are cancelled as they've shut down their entire recreation program. I believe things work out as they should, so I accepted it gracefully. And a few days later another opportunity presented itself.

I think it's a good practice for me to look for the Divine in everything. I think of it as looking for the Buddha, whether it's the Buddha within someone or the interconnected nature of all things.