Brush with Crime
I had some things stolen, and have been filling out police reports for the past few hours. It was just a "wrong place, wrong time" thing for me… but it is too bad since before that it was a great day otherwise. Seems like things like this happen right when everything is coming together… as a reminder of the impermanent nature of everything.
Pema Chodron on impermanence (follow link for full article, sorry about the formatting):
To think that we can finally get it all together is unrealistic. To seek for some lasting security is futile. To undo our very ancient and very stuck habitual patterns of mind requires that we begin to turn around some of our most basic assumptions. Believing in a solid, separate self, continuing to seek pleasure and avoid pain, thinking that someone "out there" is to blame for our pain – one has to get totally fed up with these ways of thinking. One has to give up hope that this way of thinking will bring us satisfaction. Suffering begins to dissolve when we can question the belief or the hope that there ís anywhere to hide.
More:
We’re all addicted to hope – hope that the doubt and mystery will go away. This addiction has a painful effect on society: a society based on lots of people addicted to getting ground under their feet is not a very compassionate place.
Thanks Pema… So – I was reminded of this with my little brush with crime tonight. Goodnight.
I am torn about this. Pursuing security and stability doesn’t seem wrong as long as you understand that it isn’t complete security or complete stability. It is when you act as if it is guaranteed, that it is only fair that since you did this work for security and stability it can’t be taken away or altered. That is when bitterness and anger and resentment come in.
I live by my famous quote I made up: Life is much more unexpected…..than I expected.
LOL
I think there is a myth out there that when you become an adult, everything will become sure and secure as you figure things out… but really, it never does. People act that way, but it is just an act… nothing else. I agree with your idea that you can’t take security for granted – it’s elusive… which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I’ve known quite a few people (including me sometimes) who have felt trapped by the mechanisms and systems they themselves set up that were supposed to make them feel secure. Expect the unexpected
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