Letting Go

While reviewing some of my older posts, I came across this one from 2013. As it directly spoke to me on many levels regarding relationships and agendas, I decided to post an edited version of the original post. I hope that it speaks to you and empowers you to release what is no longer working for you in any area of your life.

Dragging the Corpse

Several years ago, while on a retreat with Don Miguel Ruiz in the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan, Don Miguel spoke about how challenging it is for us to be fully present in our lives. Don Miguel elaborated that our human tendency is to bring our past into the present. This aspect of our human nature profoundly impacts our future. The metaphor Don Miguel shared with retreat participants was: "to bring our past into our present is the equivalent of dragging around a stinking rotting corpse with us wherever we go." Think about this image and allow all of your senses to participate in this image. Over time, we aren’t aware that we are dragging this corpse behind us and don’t even notice how this impacts our life – the weight, smell, sabotaging of work and relationships, as well as the effort required for transporting our burden.

The Burden

The Zen story “The Burden” provides a similar example of our tendency to hold on to the past. Although it may not evoke the image and smell of the graphic Don Miguel Ruiz metaphor, this simple story always sends me on an inner journey. Its message is powerful – one that evokes questions regarding awareness, intention and behavior. Here's the story......

Two monks were returning to the monastery in the evening. It had rained and there were puddles of water on the road sides. At one place a beautiful young woman was standing, unable to walk across because of a puddle of water. The elder of the two monks went up to her, lifted her, left her on the other side of the road and continued on his way to the monastery.

In the evening the younger monk came to the elder monk and said: “Sir, as monks, we cannot touch a woman?” The elder monk answered: “yes, brother.” Then the younger monk asks again: “but then Sir, how is that you lifted that woman on the roadside?” The elder monk smiled at him and told him: ”I left her on the other side of the road, but you are still carrying her.”

Questions to Ponder

What burden from the past are you still dragging around today? How different would your experience in the world be if you allowed yourself to release this burden?

Janet

 Please visit the following links for related posts:

Optimal Performance Fundamentals
Courage Revisited