From the depths of the ocean of mind,
emptiness may suddenly appear.
Depending on inner and outer conditions
it happens often or rarely;
but in all of us the possibility is there.
At first the view is unbearable and nauseating,
being the very cause of madness and war:
it tells us that existence is unsubstantial.
At all costs we try to hide this fact
by harnessed thinking, feeling, mood, or action.
Looking more closely at its nature,
emptiness suddenly becomes a friend.
Being unbounded and stable,
it is the groundless space of consciousness
freed from the need for protection.
Why this change of view is hard to realize,
impossible sometimes? Says Rilke1:
“Just one step, and my deep misery
would be holiness. But I cannot make this step.”
“Courage is required of us, . . .
to face the most inexplicable experiences,” “courage de luxe.”
Insight developed through right mindfulness,
based on discipline and concentration,
enables powerful surrender!
And surprise, surprise,
the fear was just caused by a misunderstanding.
Two faces of emptiness:
from madness or war
to peace and concentration.
Right attention can bring about the change,
may all beings realize it soon. Next post Table of contents
1
Compiled from Rainer Maria Rilke
The notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge, Ch. 18 & 24,
and Letters to a young poet, 8.
It is a lovely poem!