Dinky Bird (1904) by Maxfield Parrish
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"I am reminded of a story today about letting go.
In a certain zen monastery, the monks would occasionally hit the new students with a bamboo reed at random intervals throughout the week.
They would hit them hard enough to cause pain but not enough to cause any lasting damage.
Because the students never knew when the next bamboo whack would come, it would make them anxious. They would worry and worry and worry that they might be suddenly hit at any moment.
They would eventually figure out that the only way to be free of all of this anxiety, would be to let go of fearing the next hit.
And this was the purpose of the exercise - to teach letting go, to teach openness to the present moment. I cannot be open to this moment if I am holding on to my mental image of another moment.
The coronavirus is the same. It is constantly reminding us that sickness and possible death could come at any moment and the only way to be able to live freely, is to let go of our attachment to survival.
It's challenging and uncomfortable. But it's gift is that it is teaching is how to be free."
Source: wanderingabouthere.tumblr
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