I reach for a favorite book to remind myself of bodhichitta.
Comfortable with Uncertainty by Pema Chodron:
On the journey of the warrior-bodhisattva, the path goes down, not up, as if the mountain pointed pointed toward the earth instead of the sky. Instead of transcending the suffering of all creatures, we move toward turbulence and doubt whenever we can. We explore the reality and unpredictability of insecurity and pain, and we try not to push it away. If it takes years, if it takes lifetimes, we let it be as it is. At our own pace, without speed of aggression, we move down and down and down. With us move millions of others, our companions in awakening from fear. At the bottom we discover water, the healing water of bodhichitta. Bodhichitta is our heart — our wounded, softened heart. Right down there in the thick of things, we discover the love that will not die. This is the love of bodhichitta. It is gentle and warm; it is clear and sharp; it is open and spacious. The awakened heart of bodhichitta is the basic goodness of all beings.
One Comment
Thank you, thank you Shameless for sharing this passage. So good to be reminded that the trouble is where the good stuff is. Always! Leave it to Pema Chodron to frame it so beautifully, so straight-up. Down and down I go along the mountain path. See you there!
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