Zen Koan: When you remove the wheel and axel from a cart, what's left?
When you remove your name, your role, your possessions, your beliefs, your body, what's left?
You may discover that your perception of yourself changes sdepending on time, place, relationship, or how others perceive you and how you perceive others.
There is nothing permanent that you can point to as being "you."
Taken from Heart of Forgiveness by Madeline Ko-I Bastis
Looking at myself from this perspective has been enlightening. Who I am, is really my soul. How I express my soul is up to me. I cannot control what any other person says to me or does to me. I can, however control my reaction to that. I can get angry and hurt and let that person have the power to darken my soul. Or I can accept that this is a sick person too, who deserves my compassion as I would give it to a sick friend or family member. By doing this and praying for the person as it suggests in the Big Book, I will be free of further harm to my soul. I will allow my soul to be free and shine for all to see. I will no longer allow myself to be a victim, and thereby allowing my soul to darken. I want to be a survivor!
6 comments:
Yes indeed, a powerful reminder of how our personal happiness really is up to us... Covey talks about that in his 7 Habits books. He refers to that as "bringing your own weather along..." Who cares if it's raining outside, inside is sunny, breezy and 72!
You make me smile
You always write things that inspire me.
that is sooo true,
where is that dock?? I would love to go for a walk there now... I am stuck in my grey cubbie at work... that looks much more relaxing, thanks for this post...
Rex - you have such beautiful thoughts to share I am so grateful you are here doing so. I am going to go do "my homework" right now. I refer to my writing assignments as my homework and you have inspired me. thank you for being such a fabulous gift.
What your talking about reminds me that I am the one that instals the many buttons that others can push. When I replace my buttons with love or compassion I am the one blessed from it in the long run. Good post
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