When we accept our own suffering, we accept all suffering. And when we accept all suffering, it is our own suffering. We allow ourselves to feel the pain, the fear, the horror, and yes, the helplessness.
Right now we can’t help but face what is happening in our world, and it’s not a world we recognize. It’s not the world we thought we were living in. How do we respond? What is our practice? And how does it help?
Simply enough, it starts here: a new dharma talk about the hidden power of helplessness.
Photo by Bonnie Kittle on Unsplash
A deep bow to you in gratitude for the quiet force of this talk.
Comment by Nick Webb — March 22, 2022 @ 2:17 am
I, too, scour the news for some new light, some hoped for change of direction. “They also serve who stand and wait.” What can we do but do what we do, better, in honor and memory of lives laid down. Comfort and compassion, both “c” words.
Comment by Larry Misiak — March 23, 2022 @ 7:43 am
I daresay, Larry, I don’t know much about poetry, or remember any lines once read, but that line of Milton’s is never far from reach. It strikes the deepest chord, the universal chord.
Comment by Karen Maezen Miller — March 24, 2022 @ 2:43 pm
Good talk. I’ve missed you posting your talks. They helped me through the early months of the pandemic when I was a frontline worker (grocery store, I’m still there)
Comment by Ralph — March 30, 2022 @ 10:42 am