Stepping Over The Bag Of Gold
Pasar Esquivando La Bolsa De Oro--por Rachel Naomi Remen
Mi paciente, un médico que tiene cáncer, llega a su sesión enormemente satisfecho consigo mismo. Conociendo mi amor por las historias, dice que ha encontrado una historia perfecta y me cuenta la siguiente parábola:
Shiva y Shakti, la Divina Pareja del hinduismo, están en su morada celestial vigilando la tierra. Están conmovidos por los desafíos de la vida humana, la complejidad de las reacciones humanas y el lugar siempre presente del sufrimiento en la experiencia humana. Mientras observan, Shakti espía a un miserable pobre que camina por una carretera. Su ropa está andrajosa y sus sandalias están atadas con una cuerda. El corazón de Shakti está lleno de compasión. Tocada por la bondad y la lucha del hombre, Shakti se vuelve hacia su marido divino y le ruega que le dé algo de oro. Shiva mira al hombre por un largo momento. "Mi querida esposa", dice, "no puedo hacer eso". Shakti está asombrada. "¿Por qué? ¿Qué quieres decir, esposo? Tú eres el Señor del Universo. ¿Por qué no puedes hacer esto tan simple?"
"No puedo darle esto porque él todavía no está listo para recibirlo", responde Shiva. Shakti se enfada. "¿Quieres decir que no puedes dejar caer una bolsa de oro en su camino?"
"Claro que puedo", responde Shiva, "pero eso es otra cosa diferente".
"Por favor, marido", dice Shakti.
Y así Shiva deja caer una bolsa de oro en el camino del hombre.
Mientras tanto, el hombre camina pensando: "Me pregunto si encontraré cena para esta noche, o tendré hambre otra vez" Al girar una curva en la carretera, ve algo en su el camino. "Ajá", dice. "Mira, una roca grande. Qué suerte que la haya visto. Podría haber rasgado mis pobres sandalias aún más". Y pisando con cuidado la bolsa de oro, sigue su camino.
Parece que la vida deja caer muchas bolsas de oro en nuestro camino. Rara vez se parecen a lo que son.
Preguntas semilla para la reflexión: ¿Cómo te relacionas con la noción de estar list@ para recibir los regalos que la vida pone en nuestro camino? ¿Puedes compartir una historia personal de una vez que reconociste el oro que la vida puso en tu camino? ¿Qué te ayuda a ver el oro en cada experiencia?
Kitchen Table Wisdom (libro), del capítulo "Gracia", p88-89.
Kitchen Table Wisdom (book), from "Grace" chapter, p88-89.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion of being ready to receive the gifts life places in our way? Can you share a personal story of a time you recognized the gold that life placed on your path? What helps you see gold in every experience?
Add Your Reflection
29 Past Reflections
On Jun 16, 2024 Laverne wrote :
Over the years, I have come to learn the importance being present each moment. While focusing on what is working in each moment versus what is wrong in each moment. For me, it helps me see the gold in each moment.
Post Your Reply
On Jun 12, 2024 Evelyn Asher wrote :
When I first met a gentle man on the internet he invited me to his home in High Country, NC. Proactive, I applied for jobs at the university but heard nothing back. Five months later when I moved the five hours distance to be with him, I applied using my new address which was just a few miles from the university. The department chair for the position I applied for lived on the same street, albeit at a higher elevation. There were constant opportunities to meet faculty and attend special functions with a partner who appreciated the arts. I contributed to the household, ended up with heavy responsibilities for the community college balancing two locations and having the opportunity to listen to Mozart's Cafe while driving through the clouds. My friend's house though not in turmoil, held challenges with his son leaving incarceration two years later. Thank God for the wonderful writing and poet friends I made that balanced the challenges at home. My house never sold back in GA so the ti... [View Full Comment]
Post Your Reply
On Jun 12, 2024 Sande Hart wrote :
It is the child in us that says, "where am I going, or how do I get this is to miss the crimson rose growing out of the sidewalk." Rev. Lisa Lee
I believe that life lies in the liminal spaces, the in-between. The more we look, the more we find hidden gems, only the looking requires practice. We have been duped to operate in what Dr. Riane Eisler calls The Domination Trance, separated from the nature of who we are, our relations around us, and to dismiss signs left along our path in order to accomplish someone else's goal. We can practice awareness in a multitude of ways, and the rewards are breathtaking.
I believe that life lies in the liminal spaces, the in-between. The more we look, the more we find hidden gems, only the looking requires practice. We have been duped to operate in what Dr. Riane Eisler calls The Domination Trance, separated from the nature of who we are, our relations around us, and to dismiss signs left along our path in order to accomplish someone else's goal. We can practice awareness in a multitude of ways, and the rewards are breathtaking.
Post Your Reply
On Jun 12, 2024 Pauli wrote :
So much wisdom in this - for teacher and learner a like. I have to trust that I will learn the lessons I am ready to learn. And that if I don't learn them the first time around, there will be many opportunities to see and benefit from the bag of gold I stepped over the first 100 times. Similarly, I have to be patient, wise, and intentional to know when to share thoughts, suggest different perspectives, discern when the learner is ready to receive what I have to share.
Post Your Reply
On Jun 12, 2024 Varda wrote :
May your friend be free of suffering. Love the Hindu soft heart shakti and Shiva omnipotent.
non judgment about the bagger not opening the sack, but his heart was with gratitude nevertheless.(m so the divine couple both were right)
I will stay with self forgiveness of the gifts {sack of gold} I was not open/ ready to receive. holding only to if it is mine I will get it. Ty Rachel Naomi Remen
non judgment about the bagger not opening the sack, but his heart was with gratitude nevertheless.(m so the divine couple both were right)
I will stay with self forgiveness of the gifts {sack of gold} I was not open/ ready to receive. holding only to if it is mine I will get it. Ty Rachel Naomi Remen
Post Your Reply
On Jul 12, 2023 Yashio wrote :
I don't understand some spiritual teaching sometimes. That's like stepping over the gold bag. Sadly, I am quite not ready to find gold bags infact. it probably helps to think "Wait what's hidden?." "Let's find a gold"
Post Your Reply
On Jan 5, 2022 wrote :
This is indeed so beautiful story…i think, we all of us can resonate with it.With growing awareness in me,(-which is)teaching me constantly to be aware and grateful for so many things in my life ,I can’t even count those things ..I feel it’s value is fathomless.it’s much more then gold, I would call it DIVINE GIFTS.
1- DIVINE UNIVERSAL ENERGIES has given me gift of breath as soon as I got a birth,every moment.I don’t have to pay to take my breath.I am immensely grateful.
I am born in very pious family and I am extremely fortunate to have parents with beautiful heart and soul.it’s a precious gift,more then gold gift.
I am healthy and hearty by his grace.I am able to do everything independently that’s the gold gift.
I am able attend this beautiful pod ,it’s gold gift.
I am blessed with beautiful family and people around me who are positive,loving and caring ,it’s beautiful gift.
I am able to make friends with all the... [View Full Comment]
1 reply: Yashio | Post Your Reply
On May 30, 2019 Marc wrote :
So good. I think acceptance is so key here. If we are/were hurt/traumatized/grieving, it be so difficult to be receptive, be open, and especially be trusting to the blessings in front of us. This is something that has plagued me in relationships for most of my life. One time I do remember getting past the pain and accepting the new gold was after I broke my arm for the 2nd time in three months in college. My nerve was injured during the surgery and the surgeon said it may never heal again because it may have been severed. This nerve controlled the extension of my entire forearm, wrist and fingers and after the surgery, I had to wear a brace to keep it even in a neutral position. The first month or so was hard. But at some point, I was able to pick up and play my guitar. The gold in front of me was with the arm injury, and not being able to play sports, go to the gym, or do the other things I had been doing, I had lots of time to try to play the guitar, and learn scales and things I had... [View Full Comment]
1 reply: Amy | Post Your Reply
On May 29, 2019 Shyam Gupta wrote :
The nature is always whispering and showering pleasant surprises in our paths. We just need to be open, receptive and empty to receive them.
We are alaways so busy with out thoughts, our preconceived notions and "closed to receiving " surprises that we miss the "gold" in our paths
We are alaways so busy with out thoughts, our preconceived notions and "closed to receiving " surprises that we miss the "gold" in our paths
Post Your Reply
On May 29, 2019 Mira Haresh Pardasani wrote :
Everyone has one or other suffering. It is our attitude towards this sufferings, some times we are so busy in complaining, we forget to observe things around us. If we keep complaints aside and adjust our attitude in a positive way, we can stay cool and calm, and this makes us to observe everything around us, as a result, sometimes we learn something beautiful and sometimes we receive something better from nature.
Post Your Reply
On May 28, 2019 Ruby(Triza Laxmi Aurora) wrote :
These days they advice not to touch any unattended bags because the terrorists may have left a bomb inside it, from the EVIL side of our world. Goddess is not a fool to give when she knows someone is not ready to receive, she has much more intelligence than that. Goddess is beautiful inside to outside! Some are so dumb not to see that. Goddess does not play with her kindness. Goddess does make miracles if somebody is totally helpless but believes in goodness rather than evil. It is the terrorists who always give (a nasty/evil surprise gift) when some are not ready to receive it. That is how dumb, selfish, cruel, ugly, stinking dirty, low lifers terrorists and their believes are. Don't be that fish who explores that bait on the hook and becomes a victim. I see the beauty of my Goddess in every experience, that beauty I behold in me!
1 reply: Ruby | Post Your Reply
On May 28, 2019 Khalil wrote :
For me it's about exploring things you come across, even if they seem ordinary. It can take just a few seconds. The beggar didn't look carefully at the "rock" to see that it was a bag, much less open the bag. Often the bag of gold isn't obvious!
Post Your Reply
On May 28, 2019 Tyler wrote :
This story reminds me of one of my favorite sayings, “We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.” My prayer for each day is this: God, give me the eyes to see beyond my own perception and experience. Peace and Love to All~
2 replies: Annette, Aj | Post Your Reply
On May 28, 2019 Pratibha wrote :
Just sharing a perspective:
Shiv & Shakti are only reflections of our higher creative & logical selves. The passage speaks of the forever debate that goes on in my mind/soul.. to help or not to. When I 'help', am I really being 'compassionate' cause it may not really help the person Im trying to help, as he is not yet ready to receive it. How do I make him/her see it is then the question for the Shiv or the logical higher me.
I do not know what helps me see gold in every experience. I do know that being able to look at things/situations from a distance, taking a pause to look from a distance, trying to get different other perspectives on the same situation are ways which may help see gold (God) in every experience
Personal story sharing.. some other time... or this may become as long as an essay!!!
Shiv & Shakti are only reflections of our higher creative & logical selves. The passage speaks of the forever debate that goes on in my mind/soul.. to help or not to. When I 'help', am I really being 'compassionate' cause it may not really help the person Im trying to help, as he is not yet ready to receive it. How do I make him/her see it is then the question for the Shiv or the logical higher me.
I do not know what helps me see gold in every experience. I do know that being able to look at things/situations from a distance, taking a pause to look from a distance, trying to get different other perspectives on the same situation are ways which may help see gold (God) in every experience
Personal story sharing.. some other time... or this may become as long as an essay!!!
Post Your Reply
On May 28, 2019 Will wrote :
I see this as scarcity vs abundance thinking. Often times survival can keep us from thriving.
Post Your Reply
On May 27, 2019 Kwesi Gaisie wrote :
I think the key to seeing the gifts of gold placed in our paths is gratitude. The whole of life is a gift and it is in being grateful for every bit of it that we see the gold placed in our path. There is so much beauty around us that if we are truly grateful we shall continue living a life of beautiful gifts all the days of our life. When we see what we have around us as gold it continues to multiply. Thank you Mother Nature for the gold strewn on our path.
Post Your Reply
On May 27, 2019 Rajni Gohil wrote :
Sun is there for all of us spreading rays in all directions with vitamin D and solar energy as well. Man going from home to airconditioned office and back home will never get it unless he walks under the sun. How many of us using solar energy to replace electricity?
God's love is for all of us. He blesses us but our perception doesn't notice it. We all know that " First deserve and then desire"
We start receiving grace of God when our good karma balance is there. Even if we get bag of gold in our path that we do not deserve and if we take it, robbers rob us and may harm us as well.
Bag of gold or other riches are not the real things that we need. In place of asking God for Gold, we need to just pray to God to give us whatever He thinks is right for us. No doubt, Our karma affects His decision. Receive gladly whatever we get from Him.
God's love is for all of us. He blesses us but our perception doesn't notice it. We all know that " First deserve and then desire"
We start receiving grace of God when our good karma balance is there. Even if we get bag of gold in our path that we do not deserve and if we take it, robbers rob us and may harm us as well.
Bag of gold or other riches are not the real things that we need. In place of asking God for Gold, we need to just pray to God to give us whatever He thinks is right for us. No doubt, Our karma affects His decision. Receive gladly whatever we get from Him.
Post Your Reply
On May 26, 2019 David Doane wrote :
I totally agree that there are many gifts of gold that life places in our path that we step over if we're not ready to receive them. Gifts are always there and we receive those that we are ready for. It's been said that when the student is ready the teacher will appear, and until then the student won't get it. Rumi said to welcome and be grateful for every experience because each one has been sent as a guide from beyond. I once worked for an employer who I didn't like and didn't respect, making it an unhappy experience, yet I learned some skills and gained some connections from him that have been very beneficial to me during the years since I left him. I don't see gold in every experience -- oftentimes I'm not ready and only see a problem rather than an opportunity. I see the gift of gold in an experience when I am ready, open to learn and grow. It has helped me to have seen gold in various experiences and to remind myself that the gold is there to be had.
Post Your Reply
On May 24, 2019 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
Love this! We see what we are ready to see. Oh my goodness yes in recognizing in my own life. I am currently driving across the US donating and sharing very low-cost workshops for survivors of trauma: "Steer Your Story: how to move beyond the trauma and see the whole and worthy person you are today." The "gold" on the path has been the people who've so kindly agreed to host me in their homes, the people who've connected me to organizations and individuals who may be interested in this workshop, those who've treated me to dinner. My fundraising in "gold", the actual money needed has not yet come in and yet there is so much "gold" in the generosity of connections, housing, and meals. I feel blessed!
1 reply: Kristin | Post Your Reply
On May 24, 2019 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
There are times when life offersa "bag of gold" or golden opportunities to us in our path of life. How come we don't see them? As the saying states, " Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." But how can we see beauty if our eyes are closed? I am keeping my eyes closed because I am holding on to my past negative experiences? And not letting myself be open to the unfolding of new potentially enriching life experiencing experiences? This way I keep my hands tied. I keep my inner door closed when an unkown guest knocks at my door. Life offers me a gift and I deny it!
There have been calls of growth promoting opportunities in my life. One of the most blissful calls was marrying someone out of my caste, born and raised in a different religious family and a different class. I listened to the call and followed it with my whole heart. My life has been deeply and spiritually enriched by following my bliss. Walking on such a less traveled path has yielded many blessings to ... [View Full Comment]
Post Your Reply
On May 24, 2019 Rahul Brown wrote :
In the most perceptive and grounded viewpoint, its not that Life drops many bags of gold in our path. Its actually that there is nothing but gold on our path. What keeps us from seeing it? We're distracted, imbalanced, and unclear. The irony is that its actually the most difficult situations that are most golden, yet these are the ones that challenge our equanimity and clarity the most such that its all too easy to identify with our strongly reactive self, and totally miss the gold. Its a daily practice, as the ordinary mind is more prone to the wish of "please no more 'gold'" i.e. difficult situations!