Been thinking a lot lately about the burden of attachment and its deep connection to suffering.
This line from above resonated specifically with many recent thoughts:
".. the real work is to not need anything so badly that our inner okayness is tethered to it."
As I'm sure you know, the Buddhist conception of attachment I shorthand for "attachment of self." It's the objects we attach our sense of self to that most burden us, especially when they invariably change in some way.
Yes Damon holding loosely - it feels like the work that I’m called to in mid life seeing all the ways my ego clung to things as a proxy of ok ness and learning to let go - I’m not sure how well I’m succeeding but that’s an attachment too isn’t it 🤦🏻♀️
Apparently this whole suffering thing is unavoidable as the Buddha already told us. Why is this not more obvious (to me) after 2600 years? Talk about “slow learner,” sheesh!
I've never found your posts to be a lecture; they are all mirrors, if not for you, for all of us. Mirrors we might not have turned to peer in to otherwise. I also turned down Harvard, attending instead Carnegie-Mellon so I could continue my international career at a Pittsburgh Fortune 5 coroporation while getting my masters. Choices--balancing acts. I gained much more from Carnegie than I'd have from Harvard, faced a much more rigorous program and involved in global assignments that expanded my life in so many ways. That led me to live in Portugal, led me to helping more than 35,000 people get visas to immigrate here, as well. Choices, giving back to others, looking in the mirror.
Oh Susan i SO love your story and thanks so much for sharing it here. Yes, the path that might not look as obviously shiny but that has hidden gifts that we need to trust are there. And yes your work helping others navigate their way to Portugal is such a gift - you have touched SO many lives - truly inspiring and remarkable.
Love this post Maureen. The Zen quote at the end is perfect. Reminds me of the true feeling of abundance when you have no worries about a financial future. It can allow me to be very generous. (Admittedly it comes and goes.) looking forward to your next post!
Been thinking a lot lately about the burden of attachment and its deep connection to suffering.
This line from above resonated specifically with many recent thoughts:
".. the real work is to not need anything so badly that our inner okayness is tethered to it."
As I'm sure you know, the Buddhist conception of attachment I shorthand for "attachment of self." It's the objects we attach our sense of self to that most burden us, especially when they invariably change in some way.
Holding loosely sounds like wisdom to this coach.
Yes Damon holding loosely - it feels like the work that I’m called to in mid life seeing all the ways my ego clung to things as a proxy of ok ness and learning to let go - I’m not sure how well I’m succeeding but that’s an attachment too isn’t it 🤦🏻♀️
Ha, I s’pose, yes.
Apparently this whole suffering thing is unavoidable as the Buddha already told us. Why is this not more obvious (to me) after 2600 years? Talk about “slow learner,” sheesh!
Important message again, Maureen.
Thanks Jeanine !
I've never found your posts to be a lecture; they are all mirrors, if not for you, for all of us. Mirrors we might not have turned to peer in to otherwise. I also turned down Harvard, attending instead Carnegie-Mellon so I could continue my international career at a Pittsburgh Fortune 5 coroporation while getting my masters. Choices--balancing acts. I gained much more from Carnegie than I'd have from Harvard, faced a much more rigorous program and involved in global assignments that expanded my life in so many ways. That led me to live in Portugal, led me to helping more than 35,000 people get visas to immigrate here, as well. Choices, giving back to others, looking in the mirror.
Oh Susan i SO love your story and thanks so much for sharing it here. Yes, the path that might not look as obviously shiny but that has hidden gifts that we need to trust are there. And yes your work helping others navigate their way to Portugal is such a gift - you have touched SO many lives - truly inspiring and remarkable.
Love this post Maureen. The Zen quote at the end is perfect. Reminds me of the true feeling of abundance when you have no worries about a financial future. It can allow me to be very generous. (Admittedly it comes and goes.) looking forward to your next post!
So glad it spoke to you and thanks for reading!