Article Highlights:

• The mind lacks wisdom
• Sadness: Midwife of the new
• Let it go at the right time

Dear ,

So many people, including myself, are reporting feeling deeply and almost inexplicably sad at times. For me, it seems to come and go like a vapor or scent that engulfs me for a while, sometimes quite intensely, before dispersing. Perhaps you are also experiencing this? It’s about rebirth and what we are leaving behind.

I’ve noticed that when it comes upon me, my mind tries to attach to something that explains it. “I am sad about this thing,” my mind will say, “or that.” Often my mind suggests causes I think are long resolved, and this surprises me, causing me to think beyond the simple and easy suggestions of my mind. I’ve learned that in this, the mind is often completely wrong.

Knowing that the mind will always explain the what and why of things – that’s its job after all – we must also be smart enough to question the mind. Because the mind has experience but not necessarily real wisdom.

“No,” I often think, “it is not always as my mind says, that I am sad about this or that familiar thing, frequently not.” Over time I’ve come to understand that sadness is frequently part of something far more wonderful and mysterious happening.

As my understanding grew I began to recognize sadness as a treasure and to wonder how to clarify it, wanting to write down this insight for my myself and to share with others. Then, one happy morning I picked up my copy of a favorite book, one I often return to. Reading, I discovered to my delight that I no longer needed to write about my new view of sadness. Someone else already had done so, masterfully and beautifully and with great illumination. (more…)