The Poisoned Tree
El arbol envenenado--por Jack Kornfield
La madurez que podemos desarrollar al abordar nuestras dificultades se ilustra en la historia tradicional de un árbol envenenado. Al descubrir por primera vez un árbol envenenado, algunas personas solo ven su peligro. Su reacción inmediata es: "Vamos a cortar esto antes de que nos haga daño. Vamos a cortarlo antes de que alguien más coma la fruta envenenada". Esto se asemeja a nuestra respuesta inicial a las dificultades que surgen en nuestras vidas, cuando nos encontramos con agresión, depresión o tristeza en nosotros mismos y en los demás. Nuestra respuesta inicial es evitarlos diciendo: "Estos venenos nos afligen. Vamos a desarraigarlos; deshagámonos de ellos. Vamos a cortarlos".
Otras personas, que han viajado más lejos por el camino espiritual, descubren este árbol envenenado y no sienten aversión. Se han dado cuenta de que abrirse a la vida requiere una compasión profunda y sincera por todo lo que nos rodea. Sabiendo que el árbol envenenado es de alguna manera parte de nosotros, dicen: "No lo cortemos. En vez de eso, tengamos compasión por el árbol, también". Así que por bondad construyen una cerca alrededor del árbol para que otros no se envenenen y el árbol también tenga su vida. Este segundo enfoque muestra un cambio profundo de la relación, pasando del juicio y el miedo a la compasión.
Un tercer tipo de persona, que ha viajado aún más profundamente en la vida espiritual, ve este mismo árbol. Esta persona, que ha ganado mucha visión, mira y dice: "Oh, un árbol envenenado. ¡Perfecto! Justo lo que estaba buscando". Este individuo recoge la fruta envenenada, investiga sus propiedades, la mezcla con otros ingredientes y utiliza el veneno como una gran medicina para curar a los enfermos y transformar los males del mundo. A través del respeto y la comprensión, esta persona ve de manera opuesta a la mayoría de las personas y encuentra valor en las circunstancias más difíciles.
[...]
En todos y cada uno de los aspectos de la vida, la oportunidad de convertir la paja que encontramos en oro está ahí en nuestros corazones. Todo lo que se pide es nuestra atención respetuosa, nuestra disposición a aprender de la dificultad. En lugar de luchar, cuando vemos con ojos de sabiduría, las dificultades pueden convertirse en nuestra buena fortuna.
Cuando nuestro cuerpo está enfermo, en lugar de combatir la enfermedad, podemos escuchar la información que tiene que decirnos y usarla para curarnos. Cuando nuestros hijos lloriquean o se quejan, en lugar de no hacerles caso, podemos escuchar cuáles son sus necesidades más profundas. Cuando tenemos dificultades con algún aspecto de nuestro amante o pareja, podemos preguntarnos cómo tratamos esa parte en nosotros mismos. Las dificultades o debilidades a menudo nos llevan a lo que necesitamos aprender.
Preguntas semilla para la reflexión: ¿Cómo te relacionas con encontrar valor en las circunstancias más difíciles a través del respeto y la comprensión? ¿Puedes compartir una historia personal de una ocasión en la que pudiste convertir la paja que encontraste en oro? ¿Qué te ayuda a aprender de las dificultades?
Extraído de Un camino con corazón de 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?
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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 .
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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.