a story of demons

UMxx

Brick created on 09/08/2008 @ 12:31

Your brick story

This is a reasonably well known Buddhist story - I won't really do the telling justice I fear but I hope I at least get the story correct.

A holy man was seeking wisdom and searched for a cave to live in so that he could remain dry and protected from the harshest of the weather's elements. He found a cave and began to meditate. After a short time his practice was interrupted and he felt fearful and found tha the cave was inhabited by angry and fearsome demons. The man fought the demons but they were too strong and became even more fearsome. He could not meditate as they would haunt him and disrupt his attempts. The man grew tired of fighting and knew it was not helping him.

He considered his lot for a moment and then he spoke to all of the demons and told them that he welcomed their company and that he would no longer fight them but would be their companion.

At this, more than half of the demons disappeared.

The man then blessed the remaining demons with loving kindness and all but one - the biggest demon disappeared.

The man approached the demon and put his head in his mouth and told him that he had no fear from his companion. That great demon disappeared into thin air.

For a long time I understood only the broad thrust of the story - that to conquer our demons we must be prepared to understand that without being able to know them well they will remain with us. To defeat great fears does not succeed with a fight or struggle but by acknowledging and respecting the fears and then by embracing the fear as part of ourselves before it can be overcome.

But for all of this time I was focussed on dealing with all of my demons with one fell swoop - not a series of dealings. And always the one part of the story that I found so very fearful was that I needed to engage with the greatest of fears and demons. What I missed int he story was that I had to stop engaging with my demons in a combative manner and deal with the smallest and easiest demons to remove. I don't need to deal with the biggest and the scariest until I am confident that I am ready.

No combat or struggle, and deal according to confidence. Don't be overwhelmed by the greatest of the challenges - those demons aren't going anywhere!

Fighting and struggling against the demons just seems to make them feel bigger and scarier. Notice that they are there and acknowledge them but don't feed them with the energy of fear.

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Comments

09/08/2008 @ 13:00 Jomo said

Ahhh. Well done, beautiful and wonderful Maid! You are like the Princess of the Dark Cloak, finding your way here out of what no longer fits. Kudos.
Always know that I am here for you - even if I am an odd old bird - always here for you.
Much love
Jo XXXXX
09/08/2008 @ 22:28 UMxx said

What's with odd and old - on the wall we are ageless. And I am so glad that you here - however you describe yourself you are a wonderful generous spirit with a very mischievous sense of humour :)
UM xxx
09/08/2008 @ 22:33 Jomo said

Even with a snail hat? Would ya still luv me then, would ya would ya?
Ekka time here - this foolish odd old bird went on the train on Friday at peak hour - eek! - Peak + Ekka = EEK!!
I don't need to perm my hair, it just sprang into an afro spontaneously with shock and crammed carriages...
I bet you don't miss the Ekka, really...
09/08/2008 @ 22:46 UMxx said

Oh yes I do. I have such a strong love hate relationship with it.
I still love all of the agricultural exhibits - and the animals - especially the sows and their piglets. And I thought the snail hat was very fetching - love doesn't see with eyes does it?
And those demons - so many of them would be at the Ekka - all of those crowd fears , and assault of smells, and heavy farm machinery. Yep it might be a good place to live with some demons. love UM xx
10/08/2008 @ 10:53 ant said

Yes I understand the story UM - I can't say that I have heard it before though. I am not sure I would be brave enough to put my head in the mouth of my biggest demon. :/