Within the Buddha’s Smile.

“I love you no matter what,” he said–his eyes looking past this ‘burden’ of circumstance, offering solace within the comfort of his smile.

I had been so caught up in the chaos of my own world — from the unexpected death of a dear friend, to the hardship of an unexpected diagnosis. I felt overwhelmed, perhaps even incapable, of navigating through these sudden changes. My heart, once confident, felt the weight of unrest – as my mind, constructed barriers much bigger than my own.

At the time I felt, surely this is the end. Though, in looking back, I could see – it was the beginning of my awakening.

We often feel so judged when our worlds are falling apart. Even if by no fault of our own, we feel compelled to make right, to offset the impression our ‘failure’ might yield.

Though in reality, are we not our own worst possible critics?

“I love you, no matter what,” he continued.

I looked to a small statue of the Buddha peeking through the garden’s overgrowth. Such a serene smile, it’s hard to imagine that even the Buddha experienced moments like these.

Oh, but my darlings – I promise you, he did.

The same swirling emotions of fear, anger, and doubt — they were all there, challenging the very foundation of his own inner truth. And yet, just as the Buddha realized — even our most crippling of sorrows can yield a life-enriching truth.

We are our circumstances, my loves — both good and bad. And, we are the culmination of our heart’s greatest journey.

So, what distinguishes our path from that of the smiling Buddha? Was his more compelling? Was his mind more awakened?

What is it that compels the spirit to grow?

My darlings, our journey begins with a self-accepting heart.

“I love you no matter what,” he smiled again.

It was in that moment, that I realized – that I loved me the same way, too.

❤️

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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