Thanks for your comment. It’s very true that some people are good at one side, but lousy on the other side. I’m a big fan of balance, aka The Middle Way, aka Buddhism And I’m personally working very hard on trying to reach that, especially with Compassion.

Love your last sentence, that’s a quote if ever I’ve heard one “Say Thank You and get your ego out of the way”.

May we exist in muddy water with purity like a lotus; thus we bow to Buddha.

Gassho,

Wade

@CG Walters, My pleasure, thanks for your comment.

@JuniperBlue, Welcome, thanks for your comments, hope to see you round some more. Glad you enjoyed the article.

@Jerry, wow, thanks for sharing this amazing story. I believe you’d feel lighter after letting go of this burden. I could sense it in reading. I’m sure, where ever he is, that he received the gratitude.

May all beings be blessed by the Dharma.

Gassho,

Wade

Your post reminded me of a similar experience I had about 30 years ago while swimming in California. My pride made it hard to accept help and I felt embarrassed when I finally did. I only comprehended the significance of that lesson just now after reading your post. I have no idea who the lifeguard was but after all these years I sincerely thanked him in my mind and forgave myself for that moment of young & selfish pride. Better late than never.

Thank you for the post.

Jerry

Thankyou for writing.

-JB

This is a great post. Being an only child, I’ve always been self-dependant. I find it particularly hard to accept help from others.

After reading this post I realise, that compassion should work both ways. We cant always be giving, and we must open ourselves to let others help us too.

In reiki and other healing arts, they mention something about channeling. where you open youselves up, to let the life force flow through you. if we dont open ourselves, it’ll never flow.

similarly if we open ourselves to love from others, it’ll help us to be a more loving person.

Thank you for helping me get the point.

regards,
rahul

@Barbara, In the moment, there was no self or no other, just a unity doing what needed to be done, and that only came about through accepting what was being offered. Salisha’s Grandfather was an example of refusing help, and how it turns out.

@Kris, thank you. They’re hard lessons to learn, but rewarding to let go of Gassho

@Cedric, Always with tricky questions To see pride, and to accept it as being there is different to allowing it to ‘rule’ over my life. To work on is to let go of the attachment to pride.

@Mihaela Lica, Thanks for your kind words, I’ve also heard it described as The Dash (between life and death on a tombstone).

@Gregor, Nice to be able to return the favour from time to time, thank you.

Peace to all beings.

Gassho,

Wade

thanks for shining your light!

take care,

Greg