It's Not Over There, It's Inside Me

By Lisa Shelly

This morning when I woke up I had this thought or voice in my head that said, "I am over here trying to learn about over there."  WHO said that? Was I dreaming and someone said that to me?  I have read from some sources that Earth is a school.  What is it that I am ”trying” to learn in this Earth School?  And, why am I trying? Shouldn’t I just “sit” down and learn it?  “Trying” is not actually “doing.”   So, what is it that I am trying to learn that is over there? Then I thought, Just Show Up. I am learning about Buddha's teachings at Just Show Up. Reality is here and the spirit world is over there? Then, during the sit this morning I realized it's not over there, it's inside me. I am learning about myself. Then, I remembered Dogen’s line “to study the Buddha Way is to study the self.”

Note: See the post on this website’s Readings Page titled “The Priceless Pearl” dated February 18, 2025, which relates well with Lisa’s reflections.