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Some deep thoughts at this darkest time of the year, as I try to find the path with the greatest amount of Light to deal with a situation, and to do my best to navigate in accordance with two philosophies which both make excellent sense.
A bit long-winded, I'm afraid.
One philosophy says to always remember that the spear which pierces the Other's heart is the spear which also pierces yours, for you are he.
A somewhat martial way of expressing one which charges us to do unto others as we would have done to us, or not to do to another that which we find hateful.
The other points out that there is a point where turning the other cheek becomes indistinguishable from condoning the violence the other is doing to you.
Having boundaries, maintaining and defending them, is a good thing. Those who don't want us to have them are almost always those who have something to gain by violating them, and who intend to do so.
Both of these philosophies are valid.
I think I must fall back on a conversation from many years ago with a man who had lived most of his life as a monk. He had just mentioned a core tenet of the monastery: the importance of respecting all living things.
When asked if that applied even to such creatures as mosquitos, he adopted what I think of as "Teacher Face." (You know the one, and many of you have seen me wearing it.)
Holding his open hand palm down at about chin level, he told this story.
Let's say a mosquito lands here on the back of my hand. I may let him take a little bit, then give him a puff of air hard enough to send him on his way. He's fed, and I am unharmed.
But let's say he comes back. I might let him take a little bit more, then use my other hand to thump him away.
If he comes back a third time? At that point, I might swat him.
Because you see, it is important for the mosquito to respect me, too.
A bit long-winded, I'm afraid.
One philosophy says to always remember that the spear which pierces the Other's heart is the spear which also pierces yours, for you are he.
A somewhat martial way of expressing one which charges us to do unto others as we would have done to us, or not to do to another that which we find hateful.
The other points out that there is a point where turning the other cheek becomes indistinguishable from condoning the violence the other is doing to you.
Having boundaries, maintaining and defending them, is a good thing. Those who don't want us to have them are almost always those who have something to gain by violating them, and who intend to do so.
Both of these philosophies are valid.
I think I must fall back on a conversation from many years ago with a man who had lived most of his life as a monk. He had just mentioned a core tenet of the monastery: the importance of respecting all living things.
When asked if that applied even to such creatures as mosquitos, he adopted what I think of as "Teacher Face." (You know the one, and many of you have seen me wearing it.)
Holding his open hand palm down at about chin level, he told this story.
Let's say a mosquito lands here on the back of my hand. I may let him take a little bit, then give him a puff of air hard enough to send him on his way. He's fed, and I am unharmed.
But let's say he comes back. I might let him take a little bit more, then use my other hand to thump him away.
If he comes back a third time? At that point, I might swat him.
Because you see, it is important for the mosquito to respect me, too.