Here is a lovely quote credited to Marcus Aurelius, a wise (and yet flawed) man of ancient Rome: “There is nowhere that a man can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat than in his own mind ... So constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself." That’s what Anxiety Soothers is all about: developing resources within yourself so that you can experience a rich, full life even as you flow with and adapt to myriad changing circumstances.
However, along with the very personal struggle each of us has (and shares, believe me, with many others), we are imbedded in a much greater world of supreme suffering. Yes, it is rife with beauty, love, courage, generosity, heroism, humor, creativity, miraculous synchronicity and every kind of amazing thing. But it also contains immense pain and so many forms of suffering that it takes away the breath. And that’s not useful, because we really need to be breathing—especially the long exhalations that soothe the system.
A Buddhist gardener (long story) once simply and sincerely said to me, “but don’t you know, Jeremy? Suffering is the tool that carves the cup deeper so it can hold more light and love!” Wow. Here it is, more than three decades later, and those words remain tattooed across my soul. And I have often had cause to reflect on the ‘deepening’ effect of various forms of personal suffering, and sometimes, it is true, I arrive at a place where I find myself saying “thank you!” for a life experience that anyone would agree is perfectly beastly and no one would ever voluntarily sign up for. I’m not saying I get there regularly, but now and then…
The gardener spoke that line as if it was as real to him as the sun in the sky, and I find it immensely comforting. “Suffering is the tool that carves the cup deeper so it can hold more light and love”.Yes. But also it is a bit ‘macro’ compared to in-your-face awareness of child slavery, war, and other cruelties. So while I am quite glad to share that line with you, and hope you will let it work its magic in you, I also want to tell you about a beautiful book by Jane Goodall: A Prayer for World Peace. I felt great solace when I read this, because while the terrible things are named—no ducking, no denial—the prayer is both grounded and transcendent. This $15 non-denominational book is beautifully illustrated by Iranian artist Feeroozeh Golmohammadi. When words are not enough, because they are puny and representational and can’t possible express life’s depth and breadth, art steps in and supplies the rest.
Suffering is the tool that carves the cup deeper so it can hold more light and love. Are you being carved? Have you been? What have you found out about yourself in this painful process? Can you endure more than you thought? Are you actually, gasp, brave? A wish: may you not suffer; may you be free from pain. And, when you experience pain, may you know it is shared and let it deepen your compassion for yourself and others.
However, along with the very personal struggle each of us has (and shares, believe me, with many others), we are imbedded in a much greater world of supreme suffering. Yes, it is rife with beauty, love, courage, generosity, heroism, humor, creativity, miraculous synchronicity and every kind of amazing thing. But it also contains immense pain and so many forms of suffering that it takes away the breath. And that’s not useful, because we really need to be breathing—especially the long exhalations that soothe the system.
A Buddhist gardener (long story) once simply and sincerely said to me, “but don’t you know, Jeremy? Suffering is the tool that carves the cup deeper so it can hold more light and love!” Wow. Here it is, more than three decades later, and those words remain tattooed across my soul. And I have often had cause to reflect on the ‘deepening’ effect of various forms of personal suffering, and sometimes, it is true, I arrive at a place where I find myself saying “thank you!” for a life experience that anyone would agree is perfectly beastly and no one would ever voluntarily sign up for. I’m not saying I get there regularly, but now and then…
The gardener spoke that line as if it was as real to him as the sun in the sky, and I find it immensely comforting. “Suffering is the tool that carves the cup deeper so it can hold more light and love”.Yes. But also it is a bit ‘macro’ compared to in-your-face awareness of child slavery, war, and other cruelties. So while I am quite glad to share that line with you, and hope you will let it work its magic in you, I also want to tell you about a beautiful book by Jane Goodall: A Prayer for World Peace. I felt great solace when I read this, because while the terrible things are named—no ducking, no denial—the prayer is both grounded and transcendent. This $15 non-denominational book is beautifully illustrated by Iranian artist Feeroozeh Golmohammadi. When words are not enough, because they are puny and representational and can’t possible express life’s depth and breadth, art steps in and supplies the rest.
Suffering is the tool that carves the cup deeper so it can hold more light and love. Are you being carved? Have you been? What have you found out about yourself in this painful process? Can you endure more than you thought? Are you actually, gasp, brave? A wish: may you not suffer; may you be free from pain. And, when you experience pain, may you know it is shared and let it deepen your compassion for yourself and others.
