“Tis better to be lowly born, And range with humble livers in content, Than to be perked up in a glistering grief. And wear a golden sorrow.” – William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616), UK, “King Henry VIII”, Act 2 scene 3 (on humility)
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LETTING THE SUNSHINE IN – “This improved perception of humility starts another revolutionary change in our outlook. Our eyes begin to open to the immense values which have come straight out of painful ego-puncturing.” (12 & 12, p. 52)
This is Halloween – Marilyn Manson (4:41)
More Marilyn Manson – Sweet Dreams cover (4:58)
Lucid Dreaming and Sleep Meditation LP (1:05:30)
What’s the scariest thing about your own ego you’ve discovered, lately?
The Arrogant Swans:
In a far away kingdom, there was a river. This river was home to many golden swans. The swans spent most of their time on the banks of the river. Every six months, the swans would leave a golden feather as a fee for using the lake. The soldiers of the kingdom would collect the feathers and deposit them in the royal treasury.
One day, a homeless bird saw the river. “The water in this river seems so cool and soothing. I will make my home here,” thought the bird.
As soon as the bird settled down near the river, the golden swans noticed her. They came shouting. “This river belongs to us. We pay a golden feather to the King to use this river. You can not live here.”
“I am homeless, brothers. I too will pay the rent. Please give me shelter,” the bird pleaded. “How will you pay the rent? You do not have golden feathers,” said the swans laughing. They further added, “Stop dreaming and leave once.” The humble bird pleaded many times. But the arrogant swans drove the bird away.
“I will teach them a lesson!”
decided the humiliated bird.
She went to the King and said, “O King! The swans in your river are impolite and unkind. I begged for shelter but they said that they had purchased the river with golden feathers.”
The King was angry with the arrogant swans for having insulted the homeless bird. He ordered his soldiers to bring the arrogant swans to his court. In no time, all the golden swans were brought to the King’s court.
“Do you think the royal treasury depends upon your golden feathers? You can not decide who lives by the river. Leave the river at once or you all will be beheaded!” shouted the King.
The swans shivered with fear on hearing the King. They flew away never to return. The bird built her home near the river and lived there happily forever. The bird gave shelter to all other birds in the river.
Response: My empathy for people fades when their issue we once shared no longer affects me. When I was suffering from feelings of distorted reality, I felt deeply for others who were suffering like me. I wanted to help them. As I started to get better I still wanted to help and felt so grateful that I had such good people and an environment in which to get better, that I vowed to find ways to help those less fortunate than me. Now a few months after getting right again mentally, I can’t find that same empathy. I still care mentally, but not emotionally in the way I once did and that bothers me. Was my empathy for others really about me? Time will tell but I must not forget my promise to help others who were suffering the way I once was. I must do more than just not forget, I must take actions motivated by the need to help.
FEATURED POST FROM THE ZONR VAULT – “The scariest thing I face is my own best thoughts on how to attack or avoid problems while getting even with others. The place I go to get past scary stuff is the telephone or a meeting.” Margot, 10/31/2011)
Happy Halloween!