What is beyond suffering?
Stand still and find out
Hello Hedge Schoolers,
A huge thank you to the beautiful souls who wrote and provided feedback last week. I am going to be playing with the form of this newsletter over the next little while to find the right cadence and form to share. Let me know how it lands for you.
Contemplation
“Man is the only animal whose desires increase as they are fed; the only animal that is never satisfied.” - Henry George
Our insatiable thirst.
Where does it come from?
Why we do reach for more?
What are we running from?
Personally, I have spent this year whittling away the excess of my life. To put down the vices that I unconsciously reach for and to notice how much of a grip they have on me. The inquiry that lies behind this relates to suffering.
What happens if I stand and face the suffering?
This has been inspired by a beautiful teacher named Gangaji. Below are two guiding teachings, excerpts from her amazing book, "The Diamond in your Pocket", that I am using.
1. Stand and face it
"Willingness to suffer fully, even for an instant, without trying to escape or be saved, means that suffering is no longer an obstacle to full surrender into the mystery of existence. Relief from suffering stops being the goal” - Gangaji
2. Suffer all the way
Suffer all the way. To consciously suffer is to suffer with full consciousness. To recognise the impulse to escape and instead face directly whatever is appearing, be it grief, horror, extreme loss, or sadness.” - Gangaji
So can you stand and face your suffering and suffer all the way. What shows up when you do?
Expression
This is a poem from my upcoming Poetry Chapbook which ties in beautifully to this week's inquiry.
Become your storm
with deep surrender
to booming thunder
and the lightning
of wildness
To fight as flight
the sheer tenacity
of resistance
leaves our boats
weathered
anchored
stranded
Become your storm
with deep fervour,
dying into winds of discontent
with heartfelt joy
Awaken in the aliveness
of being broken
on rocks
for alive
is a life alight
with the radiance
of a moment
Become your storm
Till next week,
Steve