I have now retuned from the most horrible week I can imagine

[vlyons]

12. I completely understand and empathize

Several years ago, I was in the hospital for 3 weeks for heart disease. While I didn't undergo surgery, my heart was shocked several times because it was racing as tho' I was running a marathon. About half way into my stay, I really started to freak out and cry inconsolably. No one would tell me what was going on. It was at that point that I realized that I needed to calm down. My Buddhist meditation practice kicked in and helped. I imagined myself in a canoe on a c alm still lake on a moonlight night. I watched the bow of the canoe glide gracefully and easily through the water. The waves slipping silently by as the bow of the canoe parted the water. I imagined that was how I would navigate through all obstacles -- like a canoe gliding through the still waters of a calm lake.

And then I remembered that I'm in samsara. We're all in samsara, which is the universal condition of suffering for all sentient beings.
We are of the nature to age and grow old. We cannot prevent growing old.
We are of the nature to become sick and diseased. We cannot prevent our bodies wearing out and becoming diseased.
We are of the nature to die. We cannot prevent our death.
But today I can reaffirm my aspiration to become a completely and perfectly enlightened Buddha for the benefit of all beings.
Today I can reaffirm my aspiration to never speak angry words to anyone for the rest of my life.
Today I can reaffirm my aspiration to pacify disturbed and afflicted minds.

A boddhisattva is someone who works tirelessly for the liberation from suffering for all sentient beings.
One of the perfections of a boddhisattva is enthusiastic perseverance. Obstacles and difficulties don't matter. That there are so many angry, unhappy, stupid people in the world just shows how much we are all locked in the samsara of pain and suffering. The way to change that, to be liberated from suffering is to change our way of habitual thinking. Whenever I encounter something distressing, I ask myself: If the Dalai Lama were here looking at this, what would he see? Whatever that is; that's what I want to see too.

I hope you find this helpful.