The poet and philosopher Rumi observed that you must keep breaking your heart in order for it to open. It's an interesting way to look at suffering, don't you agree? The poem in my previous post speaks of suffering in the same vein, alluding to suffering as a pathway or conduit leading ultimately to freedom from suffering. I think the Buddhists, and philosophers of many stripes would agree with Rumi or, at the very least, appreciate the beautiful paradox. "Freedom from suffering" I imagine as laying on a great, cosmic spectrum. As the heart opens a little more with each crack, so too do we move toward greater understanding of our connection to everyone and everything and the interconnectedness of all of it. I will heed Rumi's words while immersed in the ocean blue, and not restrain, out of fear, my natural inclination to love, lest my heart get broken. May I be brave, love deeply, and trust that healing will occur in proportion to any hurt that may arise. And now, if you will excuse me, I must continue my search for otherworldy treasures in the Aegean. Oh, and last but not least, let's not romanticize suffering or elevate it to superstar status. It's just that suffering is an undeniable part of our lives on this earth, so why not to utilize it for a lofty purpose? The Burmese Mermaid is pragmatic.
No comments:
Post a Comment