Size
of the Container
“The
more spacious and larger our fundamental nature, the more bearable
the pains in living.”
Wayne
Muller
Have
you ever noticed the broad variation among people when it comes to
complaining? Some of us whine about the smallest inconvenience; we
accost waiters over the food we are served, we curse and blare the
horn if someone cuts into our lane on the freeway, we speak of the
“stupidity” of others. And some of us seem to endure almost
anything with equanimity and grace. Wonder what makes that
difference?
Mark
Nepo includes a story in The Book of Awakening of a Hindu
master who tires of hearing his disciple complain. He asks the young
man to bring some salt, and then instructs him to put a handful into
a glass of water. When the man tastes the water, he declares it “very
bitter.” Then, the Master and his apprentice walk to a nearby lake,
and put the same handful of salt into the lake. When the young man
tastes the lake water, he sees that it is still fresh. The problem is not the amount of salt then, but the size of the container. We
who complain about everything may want to consider enlarging our
containers to accommodate the inevitable pains, both large and small,
that life delivers.
Yesterday,
because of having a cold, I heard myself sighing and whining. I
complained to anyone who would listen about how miserable I felt. All
that grumbling did not make me feel better, but it probably made my
family and friends feel worse. In these times of war and devastation,
of Ebola and Boco Haram, of refugee camps with millions of people,
mostly children, I am whining about a head cold! Please!
Before
I whine today, even to myself, I will realize what a blessing this
day is, even with a cold. What about you? How wide is your container?
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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