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Uncurling the Self
June 25, 2007
Spiral of Suffering ~ Canon 30d
Discomfort of any kind also becomes the basis for practice. We breathe in knowing that our pain is shared; there are people all over the earth feeling just as we do right now. This simple gesture is a seed of compassion for self and other. If we want, we can go further. We can wish that a specific person or all beings could be free of suffering and its causes. In this way out toothaches, our insomnia, our divorces, and our terror become our link with all humanity.
~ Pema Chodron
I found the quote above via Woodmore Village this morning. I loved his observation that in addition to our suffering, our joy can be a link to humanity as well. Seeing our pain through the eyes of loving acceptance is an act of alchemy ~ turning the dross of our painful experience into wisdom, which can only increase our capacity for creating joy in our lives.
Whatever path you find yourself walking today, know that someone is walking beside you or even in your footsteps right now. One day I will walk where you are at this moment, and one day you will be precisely where I am right now. Leaning into this realization has a way of unwinding the ribbon of separation which only serves to seal us off from the happiness we all so deeply long for.
Unwind your sense of "self" and "other". Uncurl the fist of loneliness and isolation ~ begin now.
Posted by susan at June 25, 2007 11:31 AM
Comments
Thank you for your soothing words and for walking with me right now.
Posted by: janet at June 25, 2007 4:19 PM
thanks q
Posted by: tamara at June 26, 2007 1:50 PM
beautiful words...
Posted by: la vie en rose at June 26, 2007 3:10 PM
Yes, I like this, because I realize that we are all connected and we all feel the vibrations of our seeds, whether they are pleasant or unpleasant. We feel each other's vibrations no matter how far.
Posted by: Bob at June 27, 2007 3:37 AM
