Monday, May 20, 2013

This Too Shall Pass

Last Friday the Mayday tree outside my home office window finally started to bloom. It seems like it was only last week that the yard was still covered with snow and all the trees were bare. Now everything is coming to life once again.

So often whatever pain or difficulty we may be going through seems to be lasting forever (like our winter here in Alberta) but something always happens to shift the energies and move us into new life.

I'm reminded of the parable of the ring:
One morning, the boy Solomon saw the goldsmith who works for King David's Palace walk out of the palace very desperate and sad. Salomon asked the goldsmith with curiosity, what makes you feel so sad and desperate? The goldsmith answered, I have to provide a solution to the King within seven days. If not I will be taken out of my job. I am really confused because there is no solution for what the King has asked.

What is the solution that the King is looking for? Solomon was curious. The goldsmith presented the demand of the King to Solomon as follows: I need to make a gold ring for the king with an inscription on it which should help the king not to be very happy and forget the divine truth at his happy moments. At the same time the inscriptions on it should help him not to lose his heart when he is facing failures and desperations. Immediately Solomon gave what he needs to inscribe on it:

He said write as follows "This too shall pass."


I use that saying often. It does indeed remind me that no matter what is going on it will not last forever.

Sometimes we think we want only happiness and peace and joy 24/7 but is that true? Perhaps the full range of emotions is just as wonderful as all the colours of the rainbow. Perhaps every season is beautiful in its own way (they are very distinct where I live). Perhaps we have painful experiences and joyful ones because we need the contrast. Perhaps instead of wishing we could have only one kind of experience it would be more helpful to embrace the one we are having with the awareness that "This too shall pass."

When we are in tune with the cycles of life and the present moment there is no need to rush anything or try to make things happen.  We simply need to pay attention and the next step is always made visible when the time is right.

Namaste

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