Equanimity in the midst of Life's Ups & Downs

     “Life throws things at us that we cannot predict and cannot control. What we can control is who we are along the way. We can … control how much energy, compassion, and integrity we bring to our journey.

     We’ve all heard of the sudden millionaires, the lottery winners whose lives have gone haywire. And we know others on whom success has hardened like a shell, sealing them off from friends and family. These examples teach us that it’s not just badd news that carries us away from ourselves. Good fortune can threaten our integrity, too. An old Buddhist story tells of the seeker who after years of instruction and meditation goes on a pilgrimage high in the mountains, where at last he has a transforming vision that heralds his enlightenment. Full of excitement, he returns to his teacher to tell of the wonderful thing that has befallen him. The teacher, a man of many years and hard-won wisdom, replies: ‘Don’t worry, you’ll get over it.’ What we’re after is equanimity, the poise that allows us to accept gracefully the blessings and burdens that are beyond our control. What we’re after is the ability, regardless of circumstance, in the face of disappointment and happy surprise, in the face of tragedy and bliss, to return home to our true selves and our highest natures.” 

       Simmons P. Learning to fall. The blessings of an imperfect life. Bantam Books, NY, 2000. 

     See also: http://www.johnlovas.com/2013/03/the-tao-way-middle-way-emptiness.html

Andre Gallant   http://www.andregallant.com/