guest house

I have generally been avoiding livejournal.

But I learned something today, something important enough to break the silence.

I cannot explain to you what I learned, but I can show you what I finally learned it from. For the full lesson, you would also need my yoga teacher, and medication, and probably the whole arc of my life, so this will have to do.

If I had learned this twenty seven years ago, or even twenty seven weeks ago, it would have saved me thousands and thousands of painful wounds.

With that in mind, I humbly suggest you read this at least once. If you have read it before, read it again.

Guest House

This being human is a guest house
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
~ rumi