16. Perhaps The Earth Can Teach Us
If you’re feeling overwhelmed about how to help the people of Beirut, this will help.
Happy Sunday.
1. A poem
Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda
If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Listen to the Jewish-Buddhist teacher Sylvia Boorstein read the full poem here.
More of Pablo’s poetry here.
2. It’s not about you
"Life is not about you. It’s about what you do for others. The faster you are able to get over yourself, the more you can do for the people who matter most. Yet external forces keep pulling you toward self-centered pursuits. From books pushing “happiness” to advertisements convincing you that consumption leads to adoration, these messages tempt you to focus inward. That is all a trap (and a load of crap)."
3. Agony Uncle
Nick Cave (remember him?!) writes thoughtful answers to questions from fans + readers on his site The Red Hand Files and they are beautiful.
Here is his heartfelt response to Rose’s question below on loss.
I lost someone in the last year. It’s unknown and unspoken territory to me. I thought it was fine. I thought it was fine. It was a gentle passing. Now shapes and echoes resound. I feel a presence that comes and goes – a comforting presence, gentle and protective.
I don’t understand it. I don’t believe in a god that sits above. I feel a presence in all things – something mysterious and miraculous. Sometimes I gaze gently at birds and trees and am deeply moved by the life that hums in them. For I love birds and trees especially the sparrows and tall trees with wide branches.
It’s strange to feel so connected and yet have a feeling of being so disconnected. At times I’m fine – more than fine as they are here and I forget I lost them and my memories hold the space of all things we shared. My question is I don’t know how to understand the experience of loss. It’s not something I could negotiate with. I hope this makes some sense.
ROSE, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
4. Show me the honey
We just got the cutest new shop in our high street and they sell honey by the London Honey Co.
Yum.
London Honey Co. offer bee-keeping courses too! Just £45 each, book here.
5. Sand Mandalas and Goodbyes
Rose Marcario (CEO of Patagonia) stepped down recently and this was her heart felt goodbye.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about sand mandalas. In the Tibetan ritual, a group of practitioners create an intricate geometric universe of colored sand, a road map to enlightenment, for those developed spiritually enough to read the signposts and symbols. It can take many monks days to create on bended knees with prayerful chants. After two decades of studying Buddhism, I think of my life as a mandala. Who and what I invite into the mandala is always a matter of personal creation. We all create our universes whether intentionally or by default, in either case we are creators.
Speaking of Patagonia, this book by founder Yves Chouinard is one of the best business books I’ve ever read.