Yesterday we took a rather excruciating walk up to the World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara, Nepal. After a few kilometers of wondering whether we're going the right direction, the view of the hill with the stupa on top finally opened in front of our eyes.
We reached the head of the trail and started hiking up. The road was extremely dusty and soon not only our shoes were covered with a layer of fine yellow powder. I felt it in my throat and my eyes. The sun was strong and we often took rest in a shadow spot with cool breeze. We emerged from each curve only to find out there were more ahead, each step a little steeper.
It is easy to forget where you are going once you're on the road. It is easy to only see your struggles and forget the greater picture. Even when you're walking the path towards peace, sometimes there's none in your eyesight.
So we finally reached the top. There was no more walking left. We reached the World Peace Stupa with smiles and then...the kids started screaming and running around in mad circles. And the Peace? It peaced out...
I see the walk as a great metaphor for my own practice. There are many struggles and obstacles we come across along the way. Sometimes it's hard to see the purpose altogether. And when we finally feel like we came closer, the kids start screaming. So we start again. But with each time we surrender to such obstacles and work through them, our practice becomes stronger.
And maybe next time we reach the top, the kids will still be screaming, but it won't matter. It will only be a friendly reminder that there is still some more work for us to do.
We reached the head of the trail and started hiking up. The road was extremely dusty and soon not only our shoes were covered with a layer of fine yellow powder. I felt it in my throat and my eyes. The sun was strong and we often took rest in a shadow spot with cool breeze. We emerged from each curve only to find out there were more ahead, each step a little steeper.
It is easy to forget where you are going once you're on the road. It is easy to only see your struggles and forget the greater picture. Even when you're walking the path towards peace, sometimes there's none in your eyesight.
So we finally reached the top. There was no more walking left. We reached the World Peace Stupa with smiles and then...the kids started screaming and running around in mad circles. And the Peace? It peaced out...
I see the walk as a great metaphor for my own practice. There are many struggles and obstacles we come across along the way. Sometimes it's hard to see the purpose altogether. And when we finally feel like we came closer, the kids start screaming. So we start again. But with each time we surrender to such obstacles and work through them, our practice becomes stronger.
And maybe next time we reach the top, the kids will still be screaming, but it won't matter. It will only be a friendly reminder that there is still some more work for us to do.
