Making Friends With Me.

I was thinking today about the story of the Buddha, who for years struggled to break free from the limitations of his own humanity.

He was born into a life of privilege, with luxuries beyond all imagination. And yet, still he faced the suffering of unsettledness, of regret.

He wandered for years in search of enlightenment; believing, only through sacrifice could one transcend their being. In a weakened state starvation, he finally allowed himself a gift of healing – an offering of milk-rice from a young village girl. The young girl recognized what he so easily missed; that we must nurture self in order to know our truth.

In sitting beneath the Bodhi tree, he was finally able to relinquish his struggles – ‘becoming’ the Buddha he already was.

We are enough, my darlings – just as we are. There’s no need for self-deprecation or doubt, to create the life we deserve to live.

One, unencumbered by the limitations of self.

We have such a hard time making friends with ourselves. It’s as if we believe this nurturing isn’t deserved. But who are we to ‘shield’ this world from the boundless beauty that is you?

Instead, we should celebrate our capacity for generosity and kindness; we should raise the voice to speak out truth.

“Real fearlessness,” shares Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. “is the product of tenderness. It comes from letting the world tickle your heart, your raw and beautiful heart. You are willing to open up, without resistance or shyness, and face the world. You are willing to share your heart with others.”

You see, when we’re finally able to let it all go, this world, and all that may be experienced within it, becomes our greatest teacher.

And…

When compassion can break through to our own flawed and imperfect hearts, only then can we extend its hand to all human beings.

About

Tara Lemieux is a mindful wanderer, and faithful stargazer. Although she often appears to be listening with great care, rest assured she is most certainly‘forever lost in thought. She is an ardent explorer and lover of finding things previously undiscovered or at the very least mostly not-uncovered.

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