“Cooking” and Edges

Boil me some more.
Hit me with the skimming spoon.
I can’t do this by myself… You’re my cook, my driver, my way into existence.
--Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks)

When someone is experiencing difficulty around a spiritual/emotional/mental issue, the slang for this at Lama Foundation is “cooking”, or “having an edge”. Deep spiritual insights or breakthroughs are often accompanied by difficult spiritual, emotional or mental experiences; it is part of the process.

In all areas of internal growth, there are challenges. Although there is short-term pain or suffering experienced when taking certain steps, the long-term spiritual gains win out in the end. To ignore the “negative” ignores part of our True Nature, and so the “cooking” or “edge” that we experience while working with “negative” parts of ourselves is accepted as part of everyone’s curriculum at Lama Foundation.

This is such an important concept that the above Rumi poem, “Chickpea to Cook”, has inspired the term “Lama Bean”, meaning someone who has spent at least one consecutive year in service at Lama Foundation. A “Lama Bean” cooks and cooks, while the teacher adds spices, and over time their spirit becomes soft and tasty.

Nice poetry, but when one is “cooking”, or “experiencing an edge” with something or someone in the community, it is no fun. Interestingly, most people experience this “cooking” when they come to Lama Foundation, even for a short while. For some reason, things do not remain stuffed-down on the mountain for long. We can often feel when another is having an edge about something, even if they do not say anything. Thus, “cooking” is a fact of life at Lama, and we all do our best to offer support.

The practices of “heart club” and “mediation” are tools to safely explore one’s edges with oneself or other members of the community. Further, people are encouraged to take time to reflect within and to honor these insights as teachings directly from one’s deepest place. The “moon day” or “sun day” policy allows one to take some time in reflection of the mountain when things get a little too much. The “Watch” also keeps an eye on the emotional state of the community and can make an adjustment to community activities to be of the best possible support for everyone.

Difficult things can come up quickly at Lama, but then these things also pass through quickly at Lama. As people stay at Lama for longer and longer, deeper and deeper personal issues can come up for examination. This process is how we really learn about ourselves. Within Lama’s community setting, there are many opportunities for personal issues to be triggered, but also many opportunities for personal healing.