Photo: Rajah at the Blessing of the Animals, Buddhist Stupa, Sedona, AZ
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”
This quote from Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh is printed on a wall hanging in my office. I read it every day as a reminder of what my only real job is as I work with my animal and human clients: deep presence.
All the other facets of my work flow from this…telepathic communication, being a conduit for healing energy, coaching and mentoring work with people…being fully present for each being, animal and human, is not just the foundation of my work–it IS my work. It’s my only real job…everything else is the work of Spirit.
A client told me the other day that she had never before felt so deeply listened to and understood as she had in our session together. This touched me deeply, and reminded me how this essential need, to be truly heard and understood, is common to all of us. This is what our animal friends want…this is what we humans want in our relationships with each other…this is what our animal friends give us so freely…and this is where we humans often fall short..but at the core, it is what we all desire.
Deep presence is how we are designed to be with each other.
Deep presence, truly listening to and understanding another being, is a practice. I find the teachings from the Buddhist tradition to be particularly helpful, and the writings of Thich Nhat Hanh in particular have a beautiful simplicity and clarity that I just love. Here is a wonderful offering on presence:
“…a fundamental condition for Love is your own presence. In order to love, you must be here.”
We can all blossom like flowers in each others’ presence. The animals show us this every day.
Namaste.
