To live in this world you must be able to do three things:
—Mary Oliver
To love what is mortal;
To hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it;
and when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.
Grief
Reply
To live in this world you must be able to do three things:
—Mary Oliver
To love what is mortal;
To hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it;
and when the time comes to let it go, to let it go.
“When we look at the ocean, we see that each wave has a beginning and an end. A wave can be compared with other waves, and we can call it more or less beautiful, higher or lower, longer lasting or less long lasting. But if we look more deeply, we see that a wave is made of water. While living the life of a wave, the wave also lives the life of water. It would be sad if the wave did not know that it is water. It would think, ‘Some day, I will have to die. This period of time is my life span, and when I arrive at the shore, I will return to nonbeing.’ These notions will cause the wave fear and anguish. We have to help it remove the notions of self, person, living being, and life span if we want the wave to be free and happy.”
Thích Nhất Hạnh, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation