Day 15 of 365: Skandha of Feeling, Reprise

Today was originally going to be a contemplation on the last of the five skandhas, rounding out my excursion into these teachings for the moment.  Instead, it seems fully appropriate to take what the world has served up as the path: the skandha of feeling, piping hot.

Today was a travel day during which I returned from Shambhala AD Training in Atlanta.  Coming back from a great experience of delving into teachings and opening up with the fellow ADs in training, I knew some practice opportunities would arise in living color as the week began.  This morning's excitement involved an early morning metro ride to the Atlanta Airport which did not disappoint.  Arriving at the airport, there were more people than I have ever seen in an airport.  Frequent travelers were even remarking on the crowds.  Not being a fan of big crowds or airports, opportunity 1 immediately presented itself - dislike (aversion).  There were certainly some other kleshas flying around, kind of like sprinkles on a cupcake, but an intense sense of aversion was undeniable.  Opportunity 2 arose as I began to weave my story line about the situation.  Wouldn't this be better if I had already had some coffee?  Opportunity 2: passion (intense like) for the idea of the cup of coffee.  What was really interesting was watching these two feelings interleave with one another as I made my way through the security check point, rode the train to the concourse, and stumbled around as I looked for some place to get coffee.  Every now and then some indifference dropped in for one reason or another.  With ample time before I made it through the check point and the coffee materialized, there was time to look.  Where is my like and dislike?  Where is the object of either?  Do I dislike each person in the crowd?  Not really.  So, how could I dislike this "crowd" without disliking the individuals?  If I took away 1 person, would I still dislike the "crowd"?  What about 2 people?  Where is the crowd?  What about the cup of coffee?  I didn't even have the coffee yet, and I knew it probably wasn't going to be that good.  Who desired the coffee?  Where in my body exactly did I feel the pull of passion for the coffee coming from?  Could I pinpoint it?

What a gift from the lineage of teachers that tody's ripe experience could start seeming less personal, that the felt sense could actually be kind of interesting, and that the whole situation could really provoke a smile in the midst of a caffeine deprived haze.  What revs your skandha of feeling?

The Atlanta Airport - Past the practice opportunity of the security checkpoint

The object of my fixation about to materialize.