Vipassana 3

Every night, after our evening meditation,  we had an hour long discourse.  

At this time, we were allowed to move.. stretch our legs out, scratch if we had an itch.  The Guru was a great speaker and used metaphors, stories and humor  in his examples to help us understand what we were doing and why.  While we weren’t allowed to speak, or even look at each other, he often made us smile and even giggle now and then.

He asked us if we ever had a visitor come see us at home bringing unwanted gifts.  He reminded us that if these gifts were anger or jealousy, we could smile, send the giver on his way and make sure he took the ‘gifts’ with him.

There were men and women.. these are just a few of us on the last day. We were happy!!  

I loved this… it simplifies issues that appear so complicated.   I am having family issues right now.  At a time when I hunger for forgiveness, acceptance and love, I  feel I am being ‘gifted’ with just the opposite. It is confusing and hurts. This mental picture of physical gifts is lovely and provides a mental image that gives me strength.  "Take your gifts, they belong to you" is what the Buddah said. 

A story that also resonated with me is an old tale.  Told and retold.  It was the one about the glass half empty/half full.  I know, heard it before.  But revisited, well.. it is such a good story!  That is why we hear it so often.

There was a boy who went to the shop to get a bottle full of oil.  Returning home he fell.  The bottle broke and half of the oil spilled out.

The little pessimist brought it to his mother and cried “Mama! Mama!  I fell on the way home, the bottle broke and we have lost half your oil!”

The little optimist brought it to his mother and cried “Mama! Mama!  I fell on the way home, the bottle broke, but I saved half of your oil!”

The Vipassana meditator brought it home to mother and crying “Mama! Mama! I fell on the way home, the bottle broke and half the oil spilled out!  I will work very hard and get the funds to fill it for you mama!  No worries!”

(OK… I don’t have the exact wording)  He said that Vipassana is about accepting reality as it is.. neither good nor bad.. just for what it is.  It is what it is.  Good times won’t stay good forever.. recognizing that doesn’t mean you are a pessimist, it just means that you should enjoy what is happening now, as things change so quickly.  And when times are tough, don’t put your head in the sand and say they aren’t tough.. just get up, brush yourself off, and make some decisions on how you are going to move on.  Nothing is forever. 

I know so many people who deny that things are what they are.. life is.. life.  It constantly changes and the good and the bad come and go.. and every living thing dies and you can’t take any of it with you. 

When he told the story I thought too though.. there is a fourth option that is also a possible way of looking at things.. It is what it is: end of story.

“Mama! Mama!  I fell on the way home.  The bottle broke and half the oil spilled out!  No worries mama!  We will just have to make something different.” 

Sometimes we don’t get everything we want, or even need.  It is what it is though, so ok.. what are you going to do now?

I think I will start with a smile and maybe even giggle now and then.