I have been re-reading bits of “When Things Fall Apart” by P Chodron recently. A go-to book for me when I need to ‘remember’, if you know what I mean. I read something very powerful this morning in this book that I wanted to share. I’ve recommended this book before on my blog, and today, I am recommending it again. A wonderful, enlightening book.
“There is a teaching on the three kinds of awakening.
*Awakening from the dream of ordinary sleep. *Awakening at death from the dream of life. And *Awakening in this life, now, into full enlightenment from the dreams of delusion, ego, and fear.
When I learned this, and realized that life is just a long dream to be lived fully, I realized that I might as well try looking at and ridding myself of what scares me and angers me, instead of running away. Thus, ridding myself of it. I haven’t found this easy all the time, but in the process, I’ve learned a lot about real love and real peace.
Our personal demons come in many guises. We experience them as shame, guilt, worry, jealousy. As abandonment and rage. They are anything that makes us so uncomfortable that we continually run away.
We do the big escape: we act out, say something we regret, walk away, slam a door, hit someone, or break something as a way of not facing what’s in our hearts. Or we shove the feelings underneath and somehow deaden the pain. One must be careful to not spend one’s whole life escaping from the monsters of the mind. All over the world, people are so caught up in running. In keeping ourselves busy and distracted. This is easy, but also very painful and as a result, we miss the opportunities and beauty around us.
The way to dissolve resistance to life is to face it head on. To not run and become poisoned by self doubt, becoming cowardly and afraid.
Being pre-occupied with the self, is like being deaf and blind. It’s like standing is a vast field of glorious wildflowers with a black cloak over your head. Beautiful things die this way. Experiences and blessings are missed.
That’s where there is ro much resentment and résistance to life.
At this point, it would be wise to practice and learn loving kindness, first towards yourself, and then passing it onto others.
Don’t miss out on living your life truly happy.”
