A couple of years ago I attended an Awakin circle in Pune where I was visiting from California. It is truly a sanctuary of calm and peace amongst the growing commercialization around it. I returned to it recently and enjoyed the new space with beautiful art. 

I have been helping my mother set up a new home for the next phase of her life. As she makes this transition, she is mourning the loss of her former life and familiar routines. She is reluctant to accept the big change but part of her knows that she has to, so she fights it and then comes around. I am learning that care-giving is not for the faint of heart. I know that my practice with Awakin and ServiceSpace community has been very helpful in preparing me for it. I often think of Mia's blog entries as I go about it.

I am fortunate to have a kind and generous extended family helping us through this transition. I have only had to deal with the plumbers, electricians, painters, etc for the past two weeks, whereas my cousins have been handling these renovation jobs for months. I have limited skills in these new demands on me. My mother complains a lot. I have good skills in dealing with that. With prior years of inner work practices in this community and the current support of family, I get through it one step at a time. 

Two weeks ago, as I planned to go for my first Awakin circle in Pune on this visit, my mother learned that after spending the day at site with the contractors, I will not be returning to my cousin's home to join the family for dinner. She showed the first sign of caring for my daily routine, instead of taking it for granted or complaining about it. She called me up during the day to express her anxiety at my not being there that evening: "There are so many important and urgent jobs to be done. Why are you going to the meditation circle?" I calmly replied to her and said "There is nothing more important to me than going to my meditation circle." If she had hoped to dissuade me from going, she backed off promptly. And the next Wednesday, it was simply taken as a normal part of my routine.

I am glad to have the time on the cushion. One of my favorite quotes is "meditate everyday for a half hour, except when you are really busy: then meditate for an hour". I am also blessed to be part of this global family that may not be my family by birth, but is one of my choosing.