Life–
Full of suffering:
A lingering dissatisfaction
And an ongoing attempt
To stack the cards,
To win the game,
To get “my way”
Yet
You’ll never get it.
The last perfect scoop of sand
–A beautiful sandcastle
My perfect creation!!!
10 seconds later
The wave washes it away
–A heap of sand
The Buddha taught for over 4 decades. He traveled all around India, spreading the Dharma. He went on foot, had few possessions, and was homeless. Despite years of teaching, traveling, poverty, and old age, he said late in his life that there was great sweetness in the world and he could understand wanting to live for another century. Where do you find such sweetness and warm affirmation? In your things? In your perfectly collected set of entertainment and schemed circumstances–the perfect friends, job, life??? Is it external? Do you have it at all?
One who knows others is intelligent
One who knows himself is enlightenedOne who conquers others is strong
One who conquers himself is all-powerfulOne who approaches life with force
surely gets something
One who remains content where he is
surely gets everythingOne who gives himself to his position
surely lives long
One who gives himself to Tao
surely lives forever
— Tao Te Ching verse 33, trans. Jonathan Star
On the Way 
Mar 20, 2015 @ 19:44:19
I have to be honest…there are so many good things on this blog that I’m not sure where I should begin giving these posts the thought and reflection they deserve. My feeling though, is that I should start with this one. I see and feel that lingering sense of dissatisfaction all around me sometimes. It feels almost like two buckets of sand that I’ve been carrying with me for no good reason down this path.
So yeah, I’ll start with that…. 🙂
Again, very thought provoking posts here. Really enjoying it.
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Mar 20, 2015 @ 19:52:56
Thank you, Ray. I appreciate the positive general support of the blog and the more focused comment on this post. I’m glad that this is thought provoking for you. It’s a wonderful feeling when minds meet.
The interesting thing about “suffering” as I talk about it here is that I’m grabbing onto the Buddhist term “dukkha” which apparently translates poorly into English with “suffering”. That general sense of dissatisfaction you mention is a bit closer, but it’s hard to express that in one word or even briefly. I’d love to hear any further thoughts/experiences that are coming up for you. Keep walking, friend!
Gassho! (A bow with gratitude)
Z
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