When
we touch the center of our sorrow,
when we sit with discomfort
without trying to fix it, when we
stay present to the pain of
disapproval or betrayal and let it
soften us, these are the times
we connect with bodhichitta.
Tapping
into that shaky and tender place has
a transformative effect.
Being in this place may feel
uncertain and edgy, but its also
a big relief. Just to stay there,
even for a moment, feels like
a genuine act of kindness to
ourselves. Being compassionate enough
to accommodate our own fears takes
courage, of course, and it
definitely feels counterintuitive.
But it's what we need
to do.
Sometimes
the completely open heart and mind
of bodhichitta is called the
soft spot, a place as vulnerable and
tender as an open wound.
It is equated, in part, with our
ability to love.

Pema
Chodron