The Poisoned Tree
Apr-29-2019Der vergiftete Baum
--von Jack Kornfield
Die Reife, die wir entwickeln können, wenn wir uns unseren Schwierigkeiten nähern, zeigt die traditionelle Geschichte eines vergifteten Baumes. Wenn man einen vergifteten Baum entdeckt, sehen manche Leute nur seine Gefahr. Ihre unmittelbare Reaktion ist: "Lasst uns das reduzieren, bevor wir verletzt werden. Fällen wir ihn, bevor jemand die vergiftete Frucht isst." Dies ähnelt unserer ersten Reaktion auf die Schwierigkeiten, die in unserem Leben auftreten, wenn wir Aggression, Depression oder Trauer in uns selbst und anderen begegnen. Unsere erste Antwort ist, sie zu vermeiden und zu sagen: "Diese Gifte belasten uns. Lasst sie uns entwurzeln, lasst sie uns loswerden. Schneiden wir sie ab."
Andere Menschen, die den spirituellen Weg weiter gegangen sind, entdecken diesen vergifteten Baum und begegnen ihm nicht mit Abneigung. Sie haben erkannt, dass die Öffnung zum Leben ein tiefes und aufrichtiges Mitgefühl für alles, was um uns herum ist, erfordert. Wissend, dass der vergiftete Baum irgendwie ein Teil von uns ist, sagen sie: "Fällen wir ihn nicht. Haben wir lieber Mitgefühl für den Baum." So bauen sie aus Güte einen Zaun um den Baum, damit andere nicht vergiftet werden und der Baum auch sein Leben behalten kann. Dieser zweite Ansatz zeigt eine tiefgreifende Verschiebung der Beziehung von Urteil und Angst zu Mitgefühl.
Ein dritter Typus von Personen, die im spirituellen Leben noch weiter gegangen sind, sieht denselben Baum. Diese Person, die viel gesehen hat, schaut und sagt: "Oh, ein vergifteter Baum. Perfekt! Genau das, wonach ich gesucht habe." Diese Person pflückt die vergiftete Frucht, untersucht ihre Eigenschaften, mischt sie mit anderen Zutaten und verwendet das Gift als große Medizin, um die Kranken zu heilen und die Krankheiten der Welt zu transformieren. Durch Respekt und Verständnis sieht diese Person in entgegengesetzter Weise als die meisten Menschen und findet etwas Wertvolles in den schwierigsten Situationen.
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In jedem einzelnen Aspekt des Lebens ist die Chance, das Stroh, das wir finden, in Gold zu verwandeln, in unseren Herzen vorhanden. Gefragt ist nur unsere respektvolle Aufmerksamkeit, unsere Bereitschaft, aus Schwierigkeiten zu lernen. Anstatt zu kämpfen, wenn wir mit den Augen der Weisheit sehen, können Schwierigkeiten zu unserem Glück werden.
Wenn unser Körper krank ist, können wir, anstatt die Krankheit zu bekämpfen, auf die Informationen hören, die er uns sagen muss, und sie zur Heilung nutzen. Wenn unsere Kinder jammern oder sich beschweren, können wir uns anhören, was ihre tieferen Bedürfnisse sind, anstatt sie auszugrenzen. Wenn wir Schwierigkeiten mit einem Aspekt unseres Liebhabers oder Partners haben, fragen wir uns vielleicht, wie wir diesen Teil in uns selbst behandeln können. Schwierigkeiten oder Schwächen führen uns oft zu genau dem, was wir lernen müssen.
Kernfragen zum Nachdenken: Wie geht es dir damit, in schwierigsten Umständen durch Respekt und Verständnis einen Wert zu finden? Kannst du eine persönliche Geschichte über eine Zeit erzählen, in der du den Strohhalm, den du gefunden hast, in Gold verwandeln konntest? Was hilft dir, aus Schwierigkeiten zu lernen?
Auszug aus A Path with Heart von Jack Kornfield.
Excerpted from A Path with Heart by Jack Kornfield.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to finding value in the most difficult circumstances through respect and understanding? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to turn the straw you found into gold? What helps you learn from difficulties?
Add Your Reflection
18 Past Reflections
On May 2, 2019 Deepak wrote :
There are times in one's life , to become aware of this poison and reflect for it is a wake up call for bringing about a transformation about the self . That is my own experience in life and it led to believing in my own self and bringing about the necessary changes in my own life . In my own context I am grateful to that wake up call till today .
Post Your Reply
On Apr 30, 2019 Merv Martin wrote :
The tree is not poison, it's strong medicine, not to be used as food. It tells us this quite plainly. Listen...
1 reply: Liz | Post Your Reply
On Apr 30, 2019 Komal Desai wrote :
I would like to share a very personal story about difficulty and growth. My father was an alcoholic and as expected I grew up in a household where every night we did not know what we would encounter . Luckily my grandparents were like guardian angels for my mother, brother and myself trying their best to shield us from the chaos and dysfunction. My only thoughts while going through this difficult times were number one what I could do to make all my grandparent’s efforts worthwhile and secondly how I could become capable of not only supporting myself independently but also helping others. I put all my energy into studying which was the only thing that was in my control at that vulnerable age and by God’s Grace got into Medical College which became the turning point of my life .
My childhood was full of fear, anger, shame, worry, sadness due to the incessant havoc alcohol and my father created in our lives but looking back I don’t have any bitterness or complaints about... [View Full Comment]
3 replies: Liz, Deepak, Frank | Post Your Reply
On Apr 30, 2019 Jacqueline wrote :
I had to undergo a total hip replacement , walking had become painful. Iwas grounded during that time and feeling sorry for myself. I got out some art materials and was able to produce a dozen paintings . The paintings are being sold to benefit those who lost their homes in the California fires and some have been made into greeting cards to support orphans in Nepal.
So my suffering turned out to be a chance to connect with my own creativity and be of service to others in the end.
i am so gratefulto be able to walk without pain.
So my suffering turned out to be a chance to connect with my own creativity and be of service to others in the end.
i am so gratefulto be able to walk without pain.
2 replies: Liz, Sophia | Post Your Reply
On Apr 30, 2019 Simon wrote :
I think the reason why it is difficult for me to relate to difficulties for ex. in my relationship is that these issues are unresolved in myself and hurt too
much in my inner system. it‘s just too much to deal with it. and this too-much-ness pushes away and creates more pain in the person ‚having difficulties‘.
step back, reflect, take back the projection and slowly deepen my understanding of my own painful parts, thats healing.
love
simon
much in my inner system. it‘s just too much to deal with it. and this too-much-ness pushes away and creates more pain in the person ‚having difficulties‘.
step back, reflect, take back the projection and slowly deepen my understanding of my own painful parts, thats healing.
love
simon
1 reply: Liz | Post Your Reply
On Apr 26, 2019 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
It is not easy to accept difficultchanges and adverse circumstances happening in life. Instead of grumbling and complaining or avoiding and averting or denying I need to understand them and accept them. I have learned to look at such changes with clear eyes, open mind and open heart. Such circumstances do cause pain. They can cause fear or despair. The pain may turn into suffering. It is up to me how to relate to them. I have learned not to react to them but tokindly and compassionately pay attention to them, understand them and take constructive steps to work through them.
As I am getting old I run into many kinds of difficult changes such as increasing pain in certain parts of my body, decreasing energy and not being able to have restful sleep and people whom I love passing away. These are big changes. I relate to them by accepting them gracefully.
Difficulties are teachers. I have learned many lessons by keeping my mind curious and my heart open. It is how I relate to them make a bi... [View Full Comment]
1 reply: Liz | Post Your Reply
On Apr 26, 2019 David Doane wrote :
We have too much of a get rid of difficulties mentality and would benefit from having more of an attitude of what's this difficult circumstance about and what can I learn from it. In our druggized society, we drug feelings we don't want out of existence rather than listen to them -- they are the result of a way of being and are signaling us to examine our way of being and be different. The times I have listened to my anxiety and depression rather than drugging them into oblivion, I've learned to increase accepting and being myself. What helps me learn from difficulties is knowing that difficulties are also lessons to learn from and problems are opportunities. Those are cliches that are true. Nietszche said that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger. It helps me to know that if difficulties don't kill me or I don't kill myself, I can learn and grow from them.