Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame.
-Buddha Dhammapada VI:81
Praise or blame…the same. A teacher of mine once said something along those lines, and it got me thinking about this wonderful quote from the Buddha. When we can hear our praise or our blame and feel the same (no shift in our inner state), then we have achieved…well…I’m not sure what we’ve achieved, but it sure sounds nice! Why? Well, just as the rock that stays calm and solid even in the worst storms, when we can find our place of neutrality, then we can stay still and rooted, even when the storms of life rage on. We don’t sway around and get pulled in a thousand directions.
Part of living Nobody Life is learning to access that part of us that isn’t only about labels that flap about in the breeze, but that is about clear space – that part of us that remains open, calm, and peaceful even when the tides of life swell and crash around us. Yes, it’s idealistic, but it’s the search for that part of who we are that matters. When we meditate, practice mindfulness, learn to let people be who they are without needing to fix them, learn to discern the right time to act or speak, and work on finding that calm place within us, we grow. We tap into hidden power. We access the true joy of being Nobody, right here, right now, right in this everyday life of seasons and storms.
How do you stay rooted, grounded, and centered?
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