Even if my skin should parch
even if my hand should wither
even if my bones should crumble into dust,
until I have attained the truth
I shall not move from this seat.
Thus spoke the Buddha on the eve of his awakening.
He had been following the example of ascetics and had endured five years of mental and physical deprivation, believing that austerity was the path to freedom. But it was not. He only became more confused and distraught. Then along came a woman by the name of Sujata who offered him milk and rice which he took to satisfy his hunger and, all at once, he was invigorated and, as the next day dawned, came to full awakening.
This story teaches us that perseverance is important but not to the point of extremism. Extremism is just another trap engaging the mind in battle and leading to more suffering. No matter how hard we try to free ourselves, trying is not the way out. The way out is the way out. Respecting our capacity enables us to find it.
Extremism is just another trap engaging the mind in battle and leading to more suffering.
ReplyDeleteYes, we often exchange one suffering for another.
It is so frustrating though,
I really would like to not suffer.
LOL-impossible I know.
Thanks for the post,
Ellen
"Do or do not, there is no try". In the words of "Yoda".
ReplyDeleteVery good post.
Balanced effort: I find kind attention often brings me into balance. Softness and steadiness, opening and resting are some of the words I use to bring balance.
ReplyDeletethanks for another balanced post!
"...this doesn't mean go with the flow. As one person, Jim Hightower, once said, "The opposite of courage is not cowardice, it's conformity. Even dead fish go with the flow." So this is not about being a dead fish!"
ReplyDeleteKem McLeod- Rest in Your Experience
Good!
ReplyDeleteOurs is the Middle Way--the way of Living Koans.
At either extreme, we split off and become half-human--a bin Laden or a Hugh Hefner.
As Ikkyu teaches: INSIDE THE KOAN, CLEAR MIND GASHES THE GREAT DARKNESS.