Sunday, March 29, 2009

hard

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be cleaning you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent
As a guide from beyond.

Rumi
why is this so hard to live by? why wring my hands in despair, whenever despair appears? why be angry at anger? or saddened by sadness's smile? why try to reason unreasonableness away? why rush to fix that which has yet to be broken? why is the weather inside so much harder to live with, than the weather outside? and the bird in the tree said: twee twee twee twee twee twee twee twee...

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

In the nick of time, this post.

It is about letting go of the thought that we should be feeling any other way than we do and just being with what we do feel.

Trading the continuous suffering of struggle for the transient pain of sitting with what is.

And asking the hard things what gifts they bring.

Right?

Turning away the hard feelings is a deeply ingrained habit and I am bound to lose sight of this valuable insight countless times. Will you post the gifts your hard things brought you? So deeply good and true.

I have an image of me running out of my door chasing down depression - 'wait! i'm sorry - i didn't quite catch what you were trying to say..."
xxx, Sam

Anonymous said...

It's like the pain in your shoulders during the "conquer your inner anger and burn it out" meditation...remember that one? The only way to do it is accept the pain for what it is. Pain. And move on after accepting it.

Beautiful post sweetie,

M