Ok, so a few things I wanted to say. First, I will go away for a little while after this entry, not long, perhaps a week. I have a lot of reading to catch up on. I need to refuel my mind. Also, I need to squeeze in more guitar time, and now I have this harmonica I should learn/practice. I think I am giving up on Rae’s dang jaw harp….?
Anyway, before I have my short lapse, there is a story I want to mention. It begins with two buddhas sitting under a tree, taking time for simple joys in life. They are very content in their simplicity, and the fact that they have the time to enjoy the world around them. Suddenly, a very frantic man comes upon them. The man is upset because all his cows ran away. His cows are his livelihood, and now he doesn’t know what he will do in life without his cows and he is contemplating taking his own life.
The two buddhas promise the man that if they see his cows, they will certainly let him know. It is at this point one buddha turns to the other buddha and exclaims: We have a lot to be grateful and happy for in life; we have no cows to lose!
While this could be read as a story about the burden of possessions, I think it is more about the value we assign to our attachments in life. If losing your cows means that you have lost happiness or a reason to live, then I suggest letting go of all of your cows (figuratively mind you, but literally if you are so inclined). Quite possibly the biggest challenge in life is to find a deeper meaning for living that can never run away.
If you find it hard to let go of your cows all at once, try letting them go one at a time. Life is not about having the most, it is about making the most of it...everyday!
