An Interesting Observation
6 September, 2010
Zoe Pollock, on Andrew Sullivan’s The Daily Dish, quotes Mark Vernon’s “… lovely rumination on the philosophy of Emily Dickinson’s poetry:
What she realizes is that the truth which is beyond us, which is discerned only indirectly, is the only truth that is truly worth seeking. That which we can readily grasp and manipulate is too easy for us. It’s humdrum. It leaves life too small for us, the creature with an eye for the transcendent. But look further, and what you are offered is what she calls truth’s ‘superb surprise’. That’s why success lies in circuit. Our humanity is spoken to, from a direction – a source – that we had not expected. And our humanity expands as a result.
There is something very profound there, something very Dhammic, but I can’t put my finger on it. If you have the words, please share them in the comments.
6 September, 2010 at 10:31
I have a Qur’an verse to share: (57:20): “Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children. (It is) as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw… the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.”
10 September, 2010 at 17:18
“Our humanity is spoken to, from a direction – a source – that we had not expected. And our humanity expands as a result.”
C.s.Lewis described a similar unexpected phenomena in his experience. He called it “surprised by joy”. In Buddhist practice life goes on in a kind of hum drum sort of fashion most of the time. Practicing the “middle way”, we experience some highs and some lows. But can we cut through to the magical/mystical aspects of our lives? I think so, and they are all around us, every moment if we have the eyes to see, and the ears to hear.
Thank you for posting this inspirational tid bit. It reminded me to keep my mind open and heart ready to surprised by joy, interest, and involvement in my everyday hum drum life.
Chana