Pain & Suffering

Egoic Mind: “Pain and suffering are not a two-for-one deal. ”  I wrote that in my blog today and on my facebook profile.  But in this moment … it seems like total bullshit.  As I sit here with a hot pack and the annoyance of a mooncycle that I had hoped would be a distant memory by this time in my life … with the aches in my body and the fatigue weighing down upon me as if I had not slept since before September … in this moment it seems like pain and suffering are conjoined at the hip.

Gnani: Perhaps at the head in any event.

Egoic Mind: Yes, yes.  Mind stuff.   I understand that of course.  Yet . . .

Gnani: Yet you are not only a vivid story teller, but an avid audience.  Small wonder you get sucked in to your own fable of flaws.

Egoic Mind: That’s true.  *deep breath*.  I am both.

Gnani: Once you see the story teller begin to stoke the fire you can bet the ghost tale won’t be far behind.  But as you reach for the marshmallow think about the empty calories if it is consumed.

Egoic Mind: How do I put a bucket on the bon fire?

Gnani: Why bother?  There is no need to fan the flames or smoother the glowing embers.  Once you see it is simply story-time at the Not-So-OK-Corall, you are free to gaze upon the fire-pit or turn your eye up and enjoy the starry night.

Egoic Mind: Pain and suffering.  Stories and Stars.  *deep breath*  There is some space here for me to sit . . . in peace.