From the Daniloff Tarot, the Six of Coins; from the Kuan Yin Poems, Verse 37:
There is a loftier ambition than merely to stand high in the world. It is to stoop down and lift mankind a little higher. —Henry Van Dyke
Asking for help puts people in a place of vulnerability; it requires trust, humility and acceptance of what is offered. Pema Chodron said that compassion was a relationship between equals and was only real when we recognized our shared humanity. In other words, we realize that if our life had taken some unexpected turns, we could be in a similar boat. The Kuan Yin verse reads:
A lighted candle flickers precariously in the wind.
Do not expose yourself to danger.
Our ethics and morals tell us to let our light shine by lifting others up. Yet some of us get overwhelmed with all the suffering in the world as we attempt to help. If we are to stay sane and healthy (and continue to be of service), we must grasp this truth: We can't do something about everything.
That last sentence sure hits home today, and over the last few months as well. -Kate
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