Christmas
At Christmas, the celebration of family, love and the logos. We focus on the star on the tree, the good, that guides us. Christmas time is a time of retreat and focusing on the essentials. What makes my life and death really meaningful? This question helps to examine one's own existence again to find out whether what I want is what I need. Love is the connection of the part to the greater. I am part of something bigger. And then I know where I belong and know my job and can therefore take on responsibility.
Many don't particularly like the Christmas season, but only because it shows you that you often don't take on the greatest possible responsibility and don't lead your life and death in a way that makes sense. A painful experience, because it shows where you have missed the target.
Without love there is no encouragement. The holiday season is also a time when we calibrate ourselves and so, the goal (the good) anew.
Alone or lonely?
Whether as a hermit in the mountains, in the monastery or on the market square. Examining life and death and finding the true self is the task. To be alone among many is to meditate.
Contemplation - Christmas
You reflect that in spite of your effort and enduring hardship, the meditation is proceeding neither quickly nor well enough. Once more you are tempted to give up and instead study some sutras or recite some mantras. You might even contemplate settling down to a worldly existence.
No matter how much effort you seem to be putting into the practice, it does not ripen as swiftly as you would mind. You wonder; By practicing this way am I really getting anywhere? What am I doing? Now, the devil has entered your mind. You become aware of the danger. This can be a very frightening time. So you have to hold it tight with whip and bridle, and with strength of both legs firmly hold your ground. Otherwise it may actually break loose and stumble into the perilous path.
