Transforming Power of Acceptance - for yourself, for others.

“You know quite well, deep within you, that there is only a single magic,

A single power, a single salvation.... And that is called loving.

Well then, love your suffering. Do not resist it, do not flee from it.

It is your aversion that hurts, nothing else.”

Herman Hesse

Bussho Lahn, a priest at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, used this quote on Sunday as part of his talk on “Dharma and Karma”.

How it struck me. February, a month that we sell and market gifts as an expression of LOVE. But... what if someone would try to sell you suffering (anger, sadness, lust, greed) would you buy it? Doubtful. And yet suffering can be such a gift. It is a persistent presence that demands my attention. It seems to want something. Can I slow down and turn my attention towards it (sit in meditation and be WITH the sensations in my body) instead of distracting myself from it (eat it away, drink it away, binge-watch Netflix it away)?  Suffering, like the alert on my mobile that reminds me I’m suppose to make time to do something. Yet, this something is like TAXES!  Potentially difficult, not desirable, unwanted, ill-timed.  It wants attention. It wants care. Ultimately, it wants love. Unconditional love. 

I am not encouraging you to seek out suffering or submit yourself to suffering or continue suffering in a way that is harmful to your being. No. Yet, suffering is part of our human condition. You will suffer in this lifetime. I will suffer, I have suffered.  

How it struck me. February, a month that we sell and market gifts as an expression of LOVE. But... what if someone would try to sell you suffering (anger, sadness, lust, greed) would you buy it? Doubtful. And yet suffering can be such a gift. It is a persistent presence that demands my attention. It seems to want something. Can I slow down and turn my attention towards it (sit in meditation and be WITH the sensations in my body) instead of distracting myself from it (eat it away, drink it away, binge-watch Netflix it away)?  Suffering, like the alert on my mobile that reminds me I’m suppose to make time to do something. Yet, this something is like TAXES!  Potentially difficult, not desirable, unwanted, ill-timed.  It wants attention. It wants care. Ultimately, it wants love. Unconditional love. 

I am not encouraging you to seek out suffering or submit yourself to suffering or continue suffering in a way that is harmful to your being. No. Yet, suffering is part of our human condition. You will suffer in this lifetime. I will suffer, I have suffered.  

Can I spend time with my suffering?  I have an aversion to it. I’ve been conditioned to think of anger as bad, sadness as weakness, lust as unacceptable, greed as gross.  Why would I want to BE with any of THESE dreadful characters? Because, being committed to offering a sacred, open, caring presence to all parts of ourselves is the best path to being responsive and loving.  Because, the more we know ourselves, the deeper and greater our gifts can be to others. Our strength and courage transforms into skills that build trusting and loving relationships.

There is a cushion to sit on. Be with whatever arises in the moment.  There is an open door to walk through and through suffering there is love. 

“The cure for pain...is in the pain.” - Rumi