This past week at the Assumption Abbey Monastery in the Ozark mountains, MO, I spent some time reading religious texts. The many examples of pain seemed so universal, and so personal…and so today.
Like this…
Many many years ago, there was a young woman, Kisa Gotami, who had a newborn baby son who was the joy and pride of her life. One day, the little guy took sick and a few weeks later, he was dead.
Beside herself, she tied his little body to herself and went from house to house asking for medicine for him. Someone took pity and sent her to the spiritual guru in town, the Buddha.
The Buddha told her that she’d done the right thing coming to him. She sighed in relief.
“He told her to returm to town to fetch a few mustard seeds from each household where no one had died and to bring the collection back to him.
“Relieved that a magical ritual for her son’s resurrection was under way, she set out eagerly.
“An exhaustive canvass however, yielded not a single grain. At every door in town the reply was the same: ‘Oh Kisa, many have died here!’
“Finally Kisa Gotami realized the nature of the medicine Buddha had dispensed. Her insane grief was now replaced by gratitude for the Buddha’s compassionate wisdom and she took her son to be buried…” – Huston Smith, 2003
Next time your best prospect says no, remember how many others have gone before you, who’ve had THEIR best prospects say no.
Can you accept it and go on like Kisa did?
What a wonderful story. And what a perfect time of year to share it.
Thanks, Kim.
Catherine