Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all. When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that’s the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a great adventure. Life is like that. We don’t know anything. We call something bad; we call it good. But really we just don’t know
Pema Chödrön, When things Fall Apart
The weather has turned quite windy with heavy showers here in Ireland and they say that it is finally going to get colder. Indeed the leaves are turning colour and falling, although much later than we are accustomed to in this part of the world. It is a change from the last two years and people would be quite happy if the good weather continued for another few weeks. We have a natural tendency to try and hold on to, and make permanent, things that are going well. However, as the old text reminds us, it is when we understand impermanence that our minds cease to be contentious and we stop fighting with how things are:
When you feel that you are making emotions and thoughts solid,
contemplate impermanence as a reminder that all is in flux.
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
Letting go of fixation is effectively a process of learning to be free, because every time we let go of something, we become free of it. Whatever we fixate upon limits us because fixation makes us dependent upon something other than ourselves. Each time we let go of something, we experience another level of freedom.
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche, Letting go of Spiritual Experience
Keep in mind that no matter how badly you feel things have been going, no matter how long it has been since you last meditated, you can always begin again. Nothing is lost; nothing is ruined. We have this very moment in front of us. We can start now
Sharon Salzberg
Once in a while
I just let time wear on,
leaning against a
solitary pine
standing speechless…
as does the whole universe!
Ah, who can share
this solitude with me?
Ryokan (1758 – 1831)
The future is made of the same stuff as the present
Simone Weil
