"Be as a cup and the universe flows into you. Be as an arrow
and the universe retreats from you." - Zen Proverb
and the universe retreats from you." - Zen Proverb
I loved this quote when I first came across it. It seemed to me that it was often so true that chasing after things can send them further away from us. Whereas the attitude of open expectation or 'allowing' lets things flow towards us.If you have ever watched a horse whisperer you will see the same process at work, if he advances toward the horse, then the animal retreats, but if he retreats then the horse advances.
This is something that I think that most of us would have difficulty with at first, as culturally we are taught to go after the things we want.
We are so used to taking charge of the things in our life, that the thought of 'allowing' feels passive and gives us the feeling of not being in control, not 'doing' anything.
"Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes,
and the grass grows by itself." - Zen Proverb
and the grass grows by itself." - Zen Proverb
From experience I know that it takes practise and a lot of trust to 'attract' rather than 'persue', to stop pushing and allow the situation to unfold and show itself. It seems to go against what we have been taught but the more you experience this at work in your life the easier it is to be able to relax and have faith in the process.
The lesson - Be the magnet that draws things, rather than the pursuer that chases. In our allowing we enable the smooth flow of things toward us.
12 comments:
Beautifully expressed, Susannah. Flowing with the river.......I love the quotes in this piece too.
I find that gentle effort works best... Doing what we can sincerely and then standing back and letting blessings flow to us. :)
Susannah this is so true. And it's a lesson I need to return to every now and then. Thanks for the reminder.
Sherry, thanks for visiting, it's always good to see you. :-)
Jade, yes I agree with you. Gentle effort is needed, we have to do 'our bit' too, it is then the 'standing back and allowing' that can be the challenge! ;-)
Thanks very much for visiting, it is good to meet you. :-)
Jennifer, good to see you. :-)
Yes, that seems to be the way that we need to remind ourself of things now and then. Revisiting my old posts helps to remind me of things that were very clear at one time then seem to fade with time!
What wonderful sage advice. I needed that calm. I needed that reminder. It is so very true sitting back and letting things come to us....but also sitting back and fully embracing the "smooth flow of things towards us."
Hello Ann, it is good to see you again, thanks for dropping in. x
How true how true.. my experience too.
Hi Michaela, good to see you, thanks for visiting. :-)
A true and necessary reminder that "busy work" really works against us :) I've found it's often a symptom of impatience in my life...
Tamara, that is SO true about the impatience! Great point. :-)
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