It was the last pose in yoga this morning, as always: Savasana (or Corpse Pose).
Our teacher said aloud “rest in peace,” and I started to cry.
We say this for the dead but how often for the living? As the exterior world continues to show us ourselves, is there a possibility for inner peace?
No.
There is too much hurt, abuse, anger, resentment, abandonment, disappointment, and fear in our hearts to believe we can be peaceful in our current state. Anyone who thinks so is delusional, unless you are a practicing monk. And I’m pretty sure most of my readership does not fit into that category.
I am a positive person who normally doesn’t dwell or get sucked into the mainstream scream to pick a side—but not just any side, you better pick the right side. Enough of the those vs. them fights have happened in the last four years for most of the population to wake up to the manipulation.
But even being that positive person, I can’t ignore the suffering on the planet: people suffering, animals suffering, the earth suffering. It’s everywhere. Pick any side—they are all suffering.
It is overwhelming, so it seems the best coping mechanism is to disconnect. Connection is too hard. Disconnection means you don’t have to feel, and that is easier. A closed heart is easier. An open, vulnerable heart is impossible in this climate. But then I wonder, will it ever get better?
In the last few years, the exterior world has not gotten better, and most can argue it’s gotten worse. So I ask you, if it never gets better, will you remain closed forever? Disconnected for the rest of your days on this planet?
We block ourselves from pain but that also blocks out the beauty. We can’t only have the good times. We’ve all tried, and somehow it bites us in the ass along our timeline. You know what I mean. One of the best things we can do for ourselves is cultivate our resiliency. When things get hard, we need to know we are strong enough to get through and strong enough to extend a hand to those who are falling down around us—even if they’ve picked the other side.
Visualize that for a moment: could you help someone who was laying face down on the ground next to you if you knew they picked the other side?
Of course you could. There is way too much energy wasted on arguing sides when it doesn’t matter.
It’s all a distraction from the real issue: closed hearts and disconnection from love and forgiveness and compassion for life.
Reverence for all life.
I leave a little bit of my soul behind every time I write. I see no other way to do it. So I’ve been avoiding it because it hurts too much. But I am a strong person, and I can connect to my compassion, forgiveness, and love and give my encouragement to someone who may need it more than me today.
And I offer you the sentiment “rest in peace.” I feel the living need it now, more than ever.
~
This account does not have permission to comment on Elephant Journal.
Contact support with questions.