In my latest Eckhart Tolle session, he shared a story of a Zen master who taught a simple statement to anyone who came for direction: “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.”
One particular student came to the master and said he was seeking enlightenment. He was directed to go away for one year and to repeat the phrase several times a day and in front of any circumstances, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever”. He came back after a year and told the master that he did not find enlightenment. The master looked at him and said, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.” At that moment, the student understood the simplicity ob being and became enlightened.
I repeated this mantra several times to myself. I was sitting outside in the sun, enjoying the warm rays and I had a thought about confinement, getting an income, finding an apartment, all in the flash of an instant. In that moment rather than following the thought down the rabbit hole, I repeated the phrase, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.”
I saw the Zen student in his realization. The circumstances are what they are and him being disappointed, frustrated, let down or contrarily, perfectly happy and content, didn’t change the way things were. The light turned on.
Being in that space of tension has not helped me in my life in any way. It hasn’t changed the circumstances or the people. It hasn’t been effective in making something else happen, as if I could force things to change by being increasingly disagreeable with them. That’s insanity.
As I sat in the sun with, “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.” I felt the release of inner tension. That part of me that was caught in resisting is now available and open to the flow of new energy, love and light.
Imagine the peace that comes into the body when we stop fighting. Imagine the inner relaxation that that body experiences when we stop being in reaction or rejecting anything that is in us. It implies total acceptance. And why not, resisting our life hasn’t changed anything and it’s not about to work differently any time soon.
And truthfully, it just feels good to let go of the self-created struggle. With such a simple act, the body comes into alignment. If we let life flow, it will take us where it takes us. We are well to find peace in the moment and have appreciation for what is. Chances are, it’s exactly what is needed, we just have to have faith and recognize that we may not have all of the information yet.
We aren’t here to be comfortable, complacent or to stagnate in any one space. We are here to evolve, to grow in light and to lift ourselves and the planet to a higher level of consciousness. So let’s accept ourselves, our outer situation and get on with the plan of our soul. With that in mind, I agree, and “Thank you for everything. I have no complaint whatsoever.”
It is said that things can change in an instant…
The Oracle of Gaia card accompanying this text:
22 Sacred Journey – Life Cycles, Family, Transformation
Life is a physical journey through time and space, yet it is also a spiritual journey that transcends both time and space. Physically, we are born of the earth and to the earth we shall return. Yet spiritually, we are never born and we never die, we never come and we never leave. This card reminds you that we are each so much more than our physical realities. If faced, from our soul’s perspective, this current life is just one page in a never-ending book which is the eternal story of life. We are all characters in a play and we have each chosen different roles. Your family is a central part of this journey; each member plays their respective roles, each member your co-star and partner. Each play is designed for maximum dramatic effect, otherwise it would all get very boring. In effect we are all actors and we are each required to play our roles well. It is through our human drama we expand our understanding of love. The different roles we play and the people we encounter help us to grow. Through drama we come to understand just how sacred life is. Thank your soul for the journey.
Perhaps a hope or dream you had now seems destined to fail, or perhaps someone you love moves away, or a partnership seems likely to end. Yet this card also signifies resurrection which means that the perceived loss will either not eventuate or what you lose will be returned to you in a new way or form. Gaia, the Earth Mother, oversees this whole event; feel her loving guidance this very moment. She is here for you and will never leave you, for Gaia and you are one eternally. The wheels of life keep turning – life is never still; yet every transformation turns the wheel a little closer to the starting point and once this point is reached, a new cycle begins and the journey continues. There is no end without a new beginning.
Affirmation:
The role I play in this life is transient
I am in essence a being of light
My family members are some of my greatest teachers
All human drama helps me to expand my awareness of love
My soul is not confined by time and space
Kathy Maloney Mathieu 