The Edge

Roshi Joan Halifax's words about being on the Edge:

"Edges are places where opposites meet. Where fear meets courage and suffering meets freedom. Where solid ground ends in a cliff face. Where we can gain a view that takes in so much more of our world. And where we need to maintain great awareness. ., lest we trip and fall. "

"Edge States are a fickle territory, and things can go in any direction. Freefall or solid ground. Water or sand. Mud or lotus. Being caught in strong wind on a beach or a high ridge, we can try to stand strong and enjoy If we find ourselves in the mud of suffering, we can remember that decayed matter feeds the lotus. If we fall off the edge of our understanding maybe the fall can teach us how important it is to keep our life in balance. We are pulled out While there, we even might discover how to ride the billowing waves of birth and death, alongside the compassionate bodhisattva Avalokites vara. "

"This is the very premise of coming to know intimately the Edge States: How we develop the strength to stand at the edge and have a wider view, a view that includes all sides of the equation of life. How we find life-giving balance Between oppositional forces. How we find freedom at the edge. And how we discover that the alchemy of suffering and compassion brings forth the gold of our character, the gold of our hearts. " 

(From the book Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet)

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