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In
The Book of Awakening, Mark Nepo “provides small doses of what really matters, simple truths, and stories for everyday lives, plus inspiration from the great wisdom traditions. Each day’s entry is designed to help us to live the life we want by being present to the life we have.”
The days I remember to pick it up, I always chuckle, feeling as if that message was exactly what I needed to hear.
March 7 - Let Go of the Rice
“So much more can happen with our hands open. In fact, closing and stubbornly maintaining our grip is often what keeps us stuck, though we want to blame everything and everyone else, especially what we’re holding on to.”
“There is an ancient story from China that makes all this very clear. It stems from the way traps were set for monkeys. A coconut was hollowed out through an opening that was cut to the size of a monkey’s open hand. Rice was then placed in the carved-out fruit which was left in the path of the monkeys. Sooner or later, a hungry monkey would smell the rice and reach its hand in. But once fisting the rice, its hand could no longer fit back out through the opening. The monkeys that were caught were those who would not let go of the rice. As long as the monkey maintained its grip on the rice, it was a prisoner of its own making”
This was me, I was the monkey. I’ve been playing a game of tug of war with myself and with life for as long as I can remember. Recently I was asking myself “what am I holding on to and why?”
To let go of the rope is to surrender, to trust and sometimes to admit defeat.
Opening my fist and letting go is walking into the unknown. There were too many ‘what if’s’ I wasn’t prepared for. I don't have any control in the unknown.
And… this is where the beauty lies, in the unknown. To surrender to the unknown can be quite magical and it can also be quite terrifying.
I continue to find reasons to let go, loosen the reins and trust.
The visual of an open palm feels inviting and relaxing, while a clenched fist feels controlling, greedy and angry.
I prefer inviting and relaxed.
This is my goal.
