The black dog ....

... sinking ..

 

The laws that govern the black dog

a) it is lazy, it hates exercise.

b) it feeds on negative emotion.

c) it lies, steals, distorts and drains.

d) it relies on the labels from other people to quantify what you have.

e) it loves it when you give it your full attention and energy.

f) it will always show you your past, and hide your future

g) it hides your true self from you

The Hole

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless...
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in this same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I still fall in... it's a habit...
But my eyes are open.
I see it is there.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

I walk down a different street.

******
Author Unknown.

The Guest House

by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi

1207-1273, written in 1230

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Comments on the poem:

- this poem is about mindfulness (as in buddhist practice), accepting the different human emotions that you experience without judgement, not getting entangled in the feelings they produce, but seeing them for what they really are with a non-judgemental mind. Each emotion is like a visiting guest that will stay a while and then leave, but you must see them for what they are, not reject or run away from them, the idea is to accept all emotions as part of the human condition, we must learn from them because each is sent to teach us.

- In this poem, Rumi suggests that we shouldn't shy away from the ugliness in our lives....pain, death, suffering......instead we should embrace them and explore what learning is there for us. People don't like to talk about death, Rumi suggetses you should so that, while uncomfortable, it becomes more human-scaled and easier to deal with....through its familiarity.....sometimes the hardest of times teach us the most...

- This poem is a deep reflection on being in touch with our feelings and emotions (described as guests in this poem.) We can learn much from recognixing these feelings. They are guides to our state of mind and we can prepare for our reactions to them.