Ein an intense month. Moving, spatial separation, friends parting, the love of godchildren, new friendships, longings, waiting... I could write a screenplay about the last few weeks in Provence. Every day filled with pain, compassion and love - collectively in different constellations. But I don't want to tell these little stories, even though Marcel Pagnol might have enjoyed them.
What concerns me is the question of pain. Life is suffering, say Buddhists - very abbreviated. Wanting and desire are the causes of frustration and suffering. But life itself, thirst and hunger, the body's desire, also causes suffering. I have never fully understood this. I understand that desire that does not come to rest creates more and more desire. Bringing this craving to rest is part of meditative and spiritual practice. And the moments of happiness? Do they only create more craving, or can't we simply let them be as such? I.e. be able to enjoy them by letting go.
Today I met a neighbor. With all the changes at the moment, I always don't know how to answer questions. I usually say: I don't know. He understood immediately, he defended me in the round and said he just doesn't know, that's what it means to be able to let go. I was very happy about that.
When we are very attached to something, we find it difficult to let it go. Sometimes these are practical constraints. We had gotten used to it. Now we have to say goodbye. That causes suffering. So is it better not to enter into a relationship at all, for example? And if a connection breaks up, should we just stay calm? Is that even possible? Isn't that what our life is all about, these intense experiences?
A phase, perhaps. Our mental and spiritual growth goes through these phases. Siddhartha was not enlightened at the age of 5, but as an adult who had already experienced a lot, had seen a lot... growing pains. What doesn't knock us down makes us strong? That's nonsense, of course, but in essence it's interesting, because borderline experiences allow us to grow. Discovering new things, living through them and then being able to let go. This is the only way we can really develop. It would be nice if we didn't ruin the planet in the process. Stay mindful!
