Just Another Example

Page 164 in the Big Book: "The answers will come, if your own house is in order."

Page 84: "They will always materialize if we work for them."

Perhaps meditation is seeking answers to unasked questions. We sit with our koan, try to clear our minds of extraneous stories, and wait. For what are we waiting? I think it's clarity we wait for -- clarity is the answer.



Sitting with a Step and sitting with a koan is the path we are taking ... sitting brings us clarity, leading to happiness, joy, and freedom.

Is my house in order? Is my mind clear of anger, resentments and fear? Do my thoughts keep me away from what is happening right now? Housecleaning/mind-cleaning ...it's about letting go of our thoughts and coming back to the koan or back to the breath. This is all there is in this moment -- this koan -- this Step --this very breath. There's regular daily meditation. There's impromptu meditation during the day. This is how we work at it.



We're a nation of doers. Did your mother ever tell you, "Don't just sit there, do something?" Whenever I hear this I am reminded of Buddhist author Sylvia Boorstein and her book: "Don't Just Do Something, Sit There." Our life's answers "...will always materialize if we work for them." We do incredible work for ourselves through daily meditation. Just another example of how often my 12 Step practice reminds me of my koan practice -- and my koan practice reminds me of my 12 Step practice. Really now, they are but one practice.

Bill K