This was a timely read for me, as I have been grappling with exactly how dedicated I can be to others, who may be suffering terrible situations (or perhaps my mind is exaggerating), and to what extent that goal diverts me from simply growing in my own embodiment of The Good.
Sometimes, actions are profound, sometimes they are just rearranging the pigpen, at the expense of true Inner growth, which may look (paradoxically) like detachment or disinterest. It is very hard for me to allow myself to detach, when others seem to be drowning.
An extremely profound poem was once shared with me, Mary Oliver's "The Journey". It sums up a lot of this tension. I have trouble believing that my own life has as much value as those I'm trying to "save", and that sometimes social projects are a distraction. I am still unclear and have a lot of guilt.
I'll leave it here, and will thank you deeply for addressing a current knot that's been difficult to untangle. Please have me in your thoughts.
So much suffering! I feel like since I'm here, if we can share a moment of kindness, laughter, closeness... isn't that spreading Bodhichitta? So they might offer it to the next person?
Yes, of course we should do that if we can. Spreading very positive karma in that way provides benefit to all. This would, however, only work with someone who had more of an open heart and mind. People who are very closed-minded or dominated by anger might take offense if they hear someone laugh. They might think that kindness is a sign that someone is a fool. Being close, honest and open would be out of the question for them.
It really depends on the person and the situation. We should always do our best, but sometimes that means simply detaching. As we develop Bodhicitta, our compassion grows and we begin to sense what we should do in various situations a bit better. Our presence is very situational, dependent upon Bodhicitta, as well as our capacity to open our heart and mind in such a way that we sense what would bring the most benefit to all.
This was a timely read for me, as I have been grappling with exactly how dedicated I can be to others, who may be suffering terrible situations (or perhaps my mind is exaggerating), and to what extent that goal diverts me from simply growing in my own embodiment of The Good.
Sometimes, actions are profound, sometimes they are just rearranging the pigpen, at the expense of true Inner growth, which may look (paradoxically) like detachment or disinterest. It is very hard for me to allow myself to detach, when others seem to be drowning.
An extremely profound poem was once shared with me, Mary Oliver's "The Journey". It sums up a lot of this tension. I have trouble believing that my own life has as much value as those I'm trying to "save", and that sometimes social projects are a distraction. I am still unclear and have a lot of guilt.
I'll leave it here, and will thank you deeply for addressing a current knot that's been difficult to untangle. Please have me in your thoughts.
"The Journey"
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voice behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life that you could save.
So much suffering! I feel like since I'm here, if we can share a moment of kindness, laughter, closeness... isn't that spreading Bodhichitta? So they might offer it to the next person?
Yes, of course we should do that if we can. Spreading very positive karma in that way provides benefit to all. This would, however, only work with someone who had more of an open heart and mind. People who are very closed-minded or dominated by anger might take offense if they hear someone laugh. They might think that kindness is a sign that someone is a fool. Being close, honest and open would be out of the question for them.
It really depends on the person and the situation. We should always do our best, but sometimes that means simply detaching. As we develop Bodhicitta, our compassion grows and we begin to sense what we should do in various situations a bit better. Our presence is very situational, dependent upon Bodhicitta, as well as our capacity to open our heart and mind in such a way that we sense what would bring the most benefit to all.
It's a great way to frame it, what brings the most benefit to all...