02 May the beauty of life
We live in difficult times. Sometimes life seems like a turbulent, turbulent river that threatens to drown us and destroy the world. So why shouldn't we hold on to the certainty of the edge – to our familiar patterns and habits? Because, Pema Chödrön teaches, this kind of fear-based security prevents us from having the infinitely more satisfying experience of being fully alive. The teachings she presents here – known as the “Three Commitments” – provide a treasure of wisdom for us to learn to step right into the river: to be totally and fearlessly present even in the toughest hours, in the most difficult situations. When we learn to let go of our protective patterns and do so, we begin to realize not only how much better it is to live this way, but also, in a wonderful side effect, we find that we begin, in a natural and effective way, to reach out to others, helping and supporting.