In 1997 I put a tattoo on my body that sort of embodies this idea. It is the Ko from the I Ching and its representation is that of a cow hide split open to dry. The understanding is that one can be transformed at any time into something new. I would get this tattoo only a few months before I started practicing Buddhism.
When times are tough and I feel that sense that hope is lost or that I could just lay down everything, I look to that tattoo as a reminder that through all the other times when I felt all was lost, I found some way to get back up and recreate myself. This requires patience and trust. These are hard to learn, but two of the most valuable tools I have ever learned.
No comments:
Post a Comment