Friday, 15 June 2012

Gratitude Day 156 - The Subway

Dear Friends,
I very much dislike taking the subway! Sometimes, there are
loud, rude people; sometimes sneezing, coughing people; and 
sometimes, a few smelly people! 
Yesterday, squished between an ugly man and the ample bosom of a 
very tall woman, I was not feeling very grateful. As I was pressing my 
purse against me - you never know who has roaming fingers in a 
crowded train- I kept urging myself to locate a blessing, a pleasant 
memory, a simple pleasure. I tried to concentrate, holding my breath 
so I don’t inhale the ugly man’s breath! With so little oxygen reaching
my brain cells, I couldn’t think of anything. 
This shall pass too! I kept repeating in my head. Then all
of a sudden, I realised; what else could be more gratifying than 
knowing this train ride will end. “This shall pass too!” I don’t 
know who, when and where has coined the expression, but I find it 
very comforting, in desperate times.


Khoda-ro-shokr (Thank God in Farsi) I walk to work, and only take the 
Subway every so often, and rarely during rush hour! 


Today, with both "free will" and “willpower" being at subzero, 
I’ll say Long Live Impermanence - the first Dharma Seal of 
Buddha’s teaching! 


Have a better weekend everyone!


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