Am currently reading several books and have put them aside temporarily to go through a nice, if somewhat cheesy, little book by an American sensei, George Leonard.
He writes about this lovely little concept that could be misunderstood as ego manic but is actually a brilliant way to put into practice acceptance or non resistance.
He talks of 'owning the mat'. So when you step onto the dojo mats you say to yourself, 'this is my mat'. You treat everyone as your guest and act accordingly, including everyone in your gaze, sending out welcoming feeling or intention toward them, taking responsibility for them. And you acknowledge that they own their mat also.
But this expands way beyond the dojo. When walking down the street, try, 'I own this path' and smile accordingly at everyone walking along it. Welcome to this space I am walking through.
I love this concept and am using it everywhere I go today. I visit alot of different sites in my job, entering alot of offices as a face that may not be recognized by most that work there daily and thusly encounter spiky energies from time to time that can be uncomfortable. I am entering someone else's territory if you like.
But when 'I own this office' my energy is transformed completely out of discomfort and into acceptance of all around me and good intention to those I meet in it.
When people are a guest in your home it is your responsibility to make sure they are comfortable and relaxed yes? If they fall over you rush to pick them up. If they ask you for something you do your best to get it. What if everyone you meet is met as though they're a guest in your place?
Recommended practice.
