This are simple words with so much depth...Can you relate?
Stephen Dobyns, poet
OVER THERE HE MADE
"Over here he made a pile of what he had had and lost.
Over there a pile of what he was owed. Then a pile of
what he possessed and a pile of what he desired. After
measuring them, he added a pile of what he deserved
and put it beside the others. Then came the pile of what
was his by rights, the pile of what he had failed to achieve,
the pile of what he had been cheated out of, the pile of
what had been stolen. His calculations took years. In the
beginning he had many gifts, different roads his life could
take, now his calculations took all his attention—what he
had, what others had, what he should have—all the oughts
and might-have-beens. It made its own pile."
Oh yes, Indira, thank you for posting this, I can relate. This is the perfect description of the ego and how it develops over time. It is so enlightening to begin to see the ego as it really is. For this is to see myself as I really am. And only through this awareness can I be free -- because as I see the ego -- so well described here in this writing by Dobyns -- I see the true nature of ego -- grasping, controlling, lost in greed and pain.
ReplyDeleteWhat I become aware of, I can become free of. This is one of the most significant teachings of our school, Indira -- that what you become aware of begins to lose control over you. What you are not aware of controls you.
Thank you for another profound lesson, a way to begin my day with new awareness.
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ReplyDeleteOh--I just noticed my comment got deleted. How ever did I do that? Now I don't remember what it said. So I will start new.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the teachings you are learning, Kevin. I appreciate the way you pay attention and then write about what you are learning.
I just love this writing by Dobyns. It really hits the spot!