the householder path. directly after thinking about the democratic convention, and feeling a little morose and angry, and then seeing the starlings on the fire escape and hearing the green monk parakeets, and seeing them flash by green winged, i read susan piver on the different ways of being on the path, in or out of the world. most of us on the path, susan says, are householders. 

 It is a very potent path, my friends. It has the power to infuse the ordinary with profound magic. At the same time, it is what it is: preparing food, sweeping up, doing the laundry, watching television, riding the bus, and so on. The is-ness is the thing here. The householder path is not defined by what you are not. In our view, the householder is just as much on the path to enlightenment as anyone—but rather than using renunciation as a path, we use full-tilt engagement with the conventional world. Well, we do renounce one thing—that who we are and what we do have no meaning and thus we have no power to change the world. That view goes out the window entirely.

-Susan Piver

i wrote susan this note:

susan,

i was thinking about the democratic convention, feeling a little bit! morose. 

then i went on the fire escape, and communed with the starlings, 

and then i heard the monk parakeets, who i haven't seen in years,

and i thought about the long view, and resilience—we're still here!

and then i read your post, with the feeling of magic (in the sky, in the lighted clouds, in the starlings) in my veins, so,

thank you. good morning. bowing,

doug