The Buddha begged for his meals. He wandered from village to village asking for alms, as was the traditional monastic practice, and strangers placed food in one his few possessions, his begging bowl.
How many of us, particularly us mothers, would feel comfortable asking for this kind of help on a daily basis? So many us struggle to receive anything from others at all, even when it is freely offered. We are reluctant to ask people to watch our kids, give us professional mentorship, or loan us money, let alone provide our daily meals.
But the Buddha saw begging as part of his spiritual practice. As theologian Thomas Merton has said, the begging bowl of the Buddha represents, “not just in a right to beg, but an openness to the gifts of all beings as an expression of the interdependence of all beings.”
When we allow ourselves to receive generosity from others, we are reminded that we are all interconnected and dependent on each other for survival. None of us survives in this world alone. Accepting gifts is both humbling and deeply honoring of our spiritual selves.
So, this Mother’s Day, (and every day beyond), if you are a mother who is used to always giving, I encourage you to show yourself a bit more generosity, to be more accepting of life’s gifts.
One way to do so is give yourself the gift of my new Group Coaching Program for Moms. We start next week, so if you’re interested, please reply Yes, to this email by the end of the day on Mother’s Day.
In any case, please allow yourself to receive the beautiful gifts this world has to offer. Generosity binds us together.
Weekly Gifts
This year I’m working on my theme of Generosity by giving at least one gift every week of the year, and to chronicle and reflect on them here.
Week 16, Apr 15-21: My husband and I hosted a Hawaiian-themed potluck dinner party for our friends. We rotate who hosts monthly among four families, and this is a perfect example of how gift exchange—the giving and receiving of food—binds us together.
Week 17, Apr 22-28: My dad turned 70(!) this week, so I drove from Portland to the Seattle suburbs to surprise him, take him out for breakfast, and spend the morning with him. My instinct was that one-on-one time together would be a good gift, and, indeed, he was delighted.
Week 18, Apr 29-May 5: The conversations I’ve been having with women about my new Group Coaching Program for Moms have felt like an exchange of gifts: their honesty and vulnerability in exchange for my listening ear and coaching. And with those who’ve agreed to join the group, it feels like we’re both about to start unwrapping more presents!
The Group Program for Moms starts next week, so if you’re interested, just email me at daniellelasusa@gmail.com with a “Yes!” by the end of the day on Mother’s Day, and I’ll follow up!
Danielle LaSusa Ph.D. is a Philosophical Coach, helping new moms grapple with what it means to make a person. She is the creator of The Meaning of Motherhood course, which explores the changes in identity, meaning, and wisdom that come with motherhood. To join her mailing list, subscribe here.
© Copyright Danielle LaSusa PhD, LCC, 2021. All rights reserved.
