Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Truthful sharing

Within the framework of the Buddhist Path,
reflecting on suffering has tremendous importance
because by realizing the nature of suffering,
you will develop greater resolve to put an end
to the causes of suffering
and the unwholesome deeds which lead to suffering.
And it will increase your enthusiasm for engaging
in the wholesome actions and deeds
which lead to happiness and joy.

Dalai Lama

Today my dear friends I wanted to share this saying with you because I got the feeling that my sharing of personal lessons somehow leads to concern with some of you, in spite of the very positive message underneath that I was trying to share with you. Most of my insights spring from situations in which I recognize my suffering and the way I have caused it myself. At some point I get insight in a situation and learn from my mistakes. To me that is a very positive experience that comes after an often self caused suffering.
If I want to share my journey with you in an honest way I cannot merely show you the insights but I will have to show you the lessons too. Otherwise I would be writing my posts with hollow words pretending to be happy and peaceful every day, even when sometimes I am not. Everyone of us has her or his way of learning the lessons of life. Some read books and succeed to practise it right away while others (like me) have to learn from their mistakes in daily life. But the beauty of it all is that we are on our way, all of us in our own tempo and in our own way.To me every moment of self conflicted suffering is a chance to learn my lessons. A chance to get an insight in the situation that causes this suffering. Like my disappointment this week first lead to suffering but later on to a very important personal insight. So let us not be afraid of sharing any form of suffering and negative experiences, but let us try to see these moments in our lives as chances to grow.

I hope this blog will become a place to share our (daily) lessons too, rather than only displaying the insights these lessons have given us . This way perhaps it can contribute something to our journey instead of a place where we are pointing out to eachother where we already are. Big hug to all of you and I am very interested in your view on this matter :)


My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God
as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet.

Gandhi

5 comments:

rkramadh said...

Sas, this is such a peaceful post with all white/off white colors. If I didn't know better, I would guess that the carnation is placed in an egg holder with milk in it?? You have brilliant ideas always to take pics. More importantly though, I feel that sharing the negative as well as positive emotions/feelings make us all more human and down to earth. If I thought you were always happy and life was perfect, it would not be realistic. For me personally, your honesty and genuineness comes through when you share your true feelings and it makes me also feel good that we are all in the same boat. So keep posting whatever comes from your heart!

vk said...

Hey there Sas! beautiful calm shots and lovely quotes.

About your remark "I got the feeling that my sharing of personal lessons somehow leads to concern with some of you.": Of course we would be concerned [though I don't remember saying anything] because we all love you. Moreover, perhaps "we" were also disappointed in our expectations from you and now you are getting "disappointed" in your expectations from "us". :) ...ha! ha! just my warped mind at work! relax.

While I felt very sad to see you go through this phase, I knew what you were doing ['cause I've been there ..done that :)] ...it hurt more as you seemed to be hiding behind words and I missed your true thoughts behind all those "only quote blog posts".....

Well, my friend now you have my honest view in this matter...you asked for it :) ...
Thanks for sharing....have a lovely evening and take care :))
Vani

Anonymous said...

Sas, I think all of us were concerned when you very vaguely wrote about "your suffering" but very few voiced their concern through words. Most of us did not know what sort of personal suffering and pain it was. (and nobody wants to be nosey and ask directly but if possible everyone wants to help in any way they can)

I think you have quite a fan base now and lots of regular readers so everyone who reads your blog feels connected to you on some level. And such a wonderful, peace loving,aesthetic and creative girl is going through a difficult time or has some situation which is making her unhappy made your readers take notice on a deeper level .

Vinita

Sas said...

Dear Rupa,

Thank you for your lovely and open comment :)

To me your words are very encouraging to keep my blog the way it is and to share on a for me personally and honest way my daily experiences. That means most of the time positive and sometimes a negative experience to learn from :)

Thank you for sharing and a big hug,

with love, Sas

Sas said...

Dear Vani and Vinita,

Thank you for your honest and open responds.

To me personally it is very normal and natural that there are days in my life that I am not so happy as usual. Those are my learning days in which I discover new lessons.

Those days are as valuable to me as the positive ones because they often give me insights on my behaviour.

I guess we all learn our lessons in our own way, and this is mine :)

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and have a lovely evening :))

with love, Sas