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| The Leaky Life Boat |
"We should practice...like someone who is dying. For him, there is nothing to rely on. When you reach this kind of understanding, you will not be fooled by anything." Suzuki Roshi
Everyday life is like getting into a rowboat to cross the great oceans. We head out only to find that the rowboat leaks. When we realize the little boat is taking on water and will soon sink we stop our foolish clinging. The concerns of the everyday world which often consume our energy fall away.
Nothing is a big deal when we realize we need a Bigger Self to make the crossing.
When we live in delusion about where we are we feel discordant, a sense of jarring or disharmony over the smallest of worldly matters. We forget we are ankle deep in a sinking rowboat and yet we want more or something else. We fool ourselves into thinking that getting what we want will right the ship!
We
may resort to calculations and schemes to get what we want only to find a sense
of edgy cleverness or sour bitterness. We may feel on the brink, because we are on
the brink, but we don't like it and fight against it come hell or high waters.
We are in a leaky boat taking on water.
We have in some manner or other fallen into thinking and believing the world of stuff is
real and everlasting. Why else would we get so upset when someone or something rocks the boat?
We might begin to feel fear, jumpy, and tense. Our reactions
might become more pronounced and we are easily upset. Life feels uneasy, as
though something is off kilter. We are irritable and prickly. It’s understandable.
And it tells us that we are still pinned down by delusion and ignorance. We make excuses, justify, defend, whine and
complain thinking it will change things.
The water continues to rise. Don’t be
fooled by anything.
Since I don't yet believe/accept it yet, I will practice, like an actor, that I am dying. I have always wished that I had tried acting. This is my opportunity. Thank you for the offering, Liz.
ReplyDeleteBill
Thanks, Bill. It's a widespread problem. It's not really to believe or accept it...it's to know it. I once had a dog who was pregnant. I used to say to her everyday, "do you know you have little babies inside of you?" I was with her when she delivered them and she seemed STUNNED! Despite the fact she built a nest for them and looked after them once they were born.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what might help you know you are pregnant as well?
Liz
I was talking with my Mom yesterday about how neither my Grandma nor my Dad ever seemed to get over the death of my Uncle. He died in a freak accident when he was 45 y/o and he left behind a wife and seven children. We got around to how hard it was for Grandma to outlive her son and Mom said she'd be really upset if either my sister or I died before she did, but that she and Dad hadn't exactly given us the best genes. I told her that even if they'd given us perfect genes we were still going to die. She looked stunned, too. It was as if that thought had never occurred to her.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting to me that we assume responsibility for things over which we have absolutely no control.
So grateful for the jewels in this blog.
Cheryl