Daodejing - Other Voices
Our GreatnessThis post is part of a series. For an introduction, go here.
Most of us are aware of the following quote. I find it worth reconsidering. Seems that Nelson Mandela is the one who made it famous but that it was actually written by Marianne Williamson.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Verse 25 of the Tao Te Ching is also about our greatness. It invites us to understand the greatness with ourselves and then we will know the way. Thoughts, they are always there. Usually reminding us of things that aren't so great about ourselves. Separate the thoughts from you as a practice. Your thoughts are not you, but I offer that they are talking to you, rather asking something of you. They are asking for comfort. Give them what they want and they will melt into the stillness. The same holds true for all things. We all want what we want, so why not have it? Why are we so busy depriving ourselves of what we want? Are we not good enough? Of course we are. Are we afraid that if we admit it we will stop trying? Yes! Stop trying what? To be better than perfect? Impossible.
On the flip side why are we so tied up with desire? More pushing, more trying. Still not enough greatness. Our hearts will only be truly open when we accept that we are truly glorious, glittering twinkles of the Divine. "Made in the image of God" This truly may be where we meet with some of deepest core resistances. We will never find what we are searching for through our mind. We must be quiet to hear. "Be still and know that I AM.."
Personally I have a lot of practicing to do...
~ from Trinity Healing Arts, author Sierra, original post date: 1/11/10 ~
Your thoughts are not you, but I offer that they are talking to you, rather asking something of you. They are asking for comfort. Give them what they want and they will melt into the stillness.
ReplyDeleteI am a sucker for examples, so I'd love to see that applied to a thought, such as, "No-one likes me."
How do I give that thought what it wants, so it will go away?
I like the notion of "thoughts talking to you." You just need to talk back. "But someone DOES like me!"
ReplyDeleteAlso I like the Bob Dylan line, "God knows the secrets of your heart, he tells them to you in your dreams."
Thoughts, and dreams, all one big conversation with yourself.
At some point though, you just need to shut up, stop talking.