Skip to main content

Comfortable with uncertainty & the darker side of life


Im reading this wonderful book " Comfortable with uncertainty 108 teachings" by Pema Chodron.

In the past few weeks many things have happened that have have turned things upside down for me...

A friend decided he could no longer deal with this world and took his own life.
 My brother in law was given four months to live because of an in operable brain tumour.
 I was presented with a "huge" financial bill.
 My son was randomly attacked by a group, hit over the head with a bottle and kicked to the floor, as people walked on by and did nothing.

To say I have felt angry with the resent events would be an understatement-but it is what to do with this anger, and the feelings of uncertainty that is key... 
 This book has been really helpful ( along with talking to some trusted friends)and taking "time out" to meditate to quieten the mind. I am not a Buddhist, but I find these Buddhist teachings show me a way to experience the darker side of life ( which is of course part of life), with greater compassion and acceptance.

" Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity"
Pema Chodron



Comments

  1. That is a lot of darkness you're having to suffer through right now. Please hang in there and try to find some light. So sorry you're having to endure all of this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your kind words-Everything both good and bad passes...this book and mediation really helps

      Delete
  2. What a lot you've had to deal with......glad the book has helped- "when it is dark enough, you can see the stars" is a quote I love - thinking of you - big hugs xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely had a lot on....Thats a lovely quote too :-) xxx

      Delete

Post a Comment

All comments are moderated. If you would like to leave a comment, you can do so below.

Popular posts from this blog

Neti pot

When I was training to be a yoga teacher, one of the 6 purification techniques taught to us was Jala Neti ( also called Neti or Jaaneti). Purification techniques are sometimes performed as a way of preparing the body for a yoga practice. Whenever the neti pots came out, I disappeared, always needing to be somewhere else at that moment in time… I had many techniques to avoid it: the bathroom, the water fountain, the shop, anything but the Net. Pouring a saline solution up my hooter was really not for me and I have avoided it right up to today. I have got a steaming cold and, as a result, I now have sinus pain, so I have decided to give it another go. Talk about waiting until your back is against the wall! I rushed to the Sivanada yoga studio nearby and bought myself a ceramic neti pot and salt. I had to follow the one photographic image as the instructions were in German!!! Although I did not find it as unpleasant as some people describe, it was not as bad as I remembered. So I will us

Sharath Jois in London 2013

Sharath Jois will be in London teaching a week of primary and intermediate ashtanga yoga From 25th-30th of August- in a central London location. Booking for this will open mid May. Through  http://www.astangayogalondon.com/index2.cfm A rare and wonderful treat to have Sharath in my home town-A big thank you to  Hamish Hendry  and ashtanga yoga London for organising this. Going to have to set an alarm on my phone- as there will be a lot of takers for this....

All about the balance

A snap from inside my fridge this week. The mix of wine, beer and Vita Coca sort of sums up my family really. The ones that drink wine and beer don't go in for the coco water, and the coco water drinker doesn't go in for wine or beer. In summary, none of us need worry about the other nicking all the drinks. :-)