Take a handful of salt and pour it into a drinking glass of water and the water becomes bitter, undrinkable. Pour the same handful into a river and the river is not affected, the water remains drinkable. Why? The river is vast and expanse and ever flowing, ever renewing itself.
When our hearts become like the river (vast, expanse, ever flowing, ever renewing), then our love and our lives become the same. The inevitable bitter events of life (though re-framing can also take much of the sting out: “There is nothing that thinking does not make it so”) do not pollute our minds, hearts, and lives.
Instead of being drained by anger or pain or resentment or discouragement, we instead remain filled with positive, solution-oriented energy. Thus, we are much more able to deal with the challenges that come our way and create the success, joy, happiness and contentment we desire for ourselves, our loved ones, and our community at large.
Closing Quotes:
“A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.” – Washington Irving, 1783-1859, ‘Rip Van Winkle’, ’The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’
“The joyful heart sees and reads the world with a sense of freedom and graciousness.” – John O’Donohue, 1956-2008, Irish poet, author, priest, philosopher
“If you go deeper and deeper into your own heart, you’ll be living in a world with less fear, isolation and loneliness.” – Sharon Salzberg, b. 1952, ‘Lovingkindness’ and ‘A Heart as Wide as the World’
Credit: I’m indebted to ‘How to Love’ by Thich Nhat Hanh for the inspiration for this blog
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier