Letting It Go At Its Root

In the end, this crisis gives us a choice: to go down, or to ascend and be a true Bodhisattva who embodies love and dignity. This follows the famous expression, “Bad circumstances become an ally to virtue”. Sometimes, suffering is the doorway to liberation because we can become exhausted with it and ready to let go of it at its root.

Sojong Reminder from Anam Thubten 4/2020 Dear Dharma friends, Life is a divine trickster that is constantly playing pranks on us. The moment we feel that there is certainty, it shakes the sense of solid ground beneath us and leaves us in the unknown. When we feel compelled to embrace this fickle nature of reality, it can cause us many woes. When there is an abnormal event, our brain sometimes tends to perceive it as a sudden adversity - as if reality has been cozy all along. Deep down, we know this is not the way things are. There is this comfort zone created by many factors: the routine that is part of everyday life, a job that provides a sense of meaning, our physical connection with certain people, and the familiar environments where we shop and dine. When a crisis turns it all upside down, some of us can be deeply challenged to the extent that we’re in a state where we just cannot relax. We may feel a whirlpool of emotions emerging like an uncontrollable force. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In some traditions, people like yogis try to get to such a state in order to see their own internal shadow. This pandemic is ruling the daily lives of many right now. There are lots of people out there who are struggling with health issues and financial distress. This is a time for us to hold humanity in our hearts. Even if one is not affected negatively, it can cause a powerful disturbance inside. In the end, this crisis gives us a choice: to go down, or to ascend and be a true Bodhisattva who embodies love and dignity. This follows the famous expression, “Bad circumstances become an ally to virtue”. Sometimes, suffering is the doorway to liberation because we can become exhausted with it and ready to let go of it at its root. During this Sojong, let’s take time to review the way we have been responding to life from the inside and make a commitment to keep our dignity in all forms of discomfort. Let’s drop into our innately compassionate hearts and hold everyone there. With palms joined, Anam Thubten