At the beginning, this was a way for me to explain to those who wanted to know, why I had left a good job, abandoned an apartment lease, sold my belongings, and bought a one-way ticket to Burma. It then served as a link to the outside world while I practiced intensive meditation, and has since continued to be a practice journal in daily life.
Over time, my impression of what the precipice is has changed, but most consistently it has referred to a state of unknowing, of not-knowing knowing, of trusting in life unfolding just as it is. Sharanam (śaraṇam, śaraṇa) means refuge and is most often associated with going for refuge to the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha. For me it is a symbol of surrender and of the importance of finding communion and a home that supports us in the awakening process, the ongoing journey in which our small selves loosen their grip revealing our true selves, or God or Dhamma—for me, one in the same.
I haven’t had time or wanted to write in this venue for some time now. This blog thus serves only as an archive at this point. Please take advantage of the resources and the stories and conversations (don’t miss the many rich comments) herein.
Thank you.
Rev. Katherine C. Rand, PhD
on the precipice 