Face the wind with equinimity. Strong wind comes, weak wind comes. Recovery comes with the wind. Recovery goes with the wind. Equinimity (balance) supports recovery.
The universe contracts and expands. We breath in and out. All the contractions and expansions are done with less suffering if done with balance or equanimity, rating none better or worse. This balance brings recovery like the wind. All are lessons to be learned in the once-happening participation in being. The funding comes, the funding goes. The weather comes, the weather goes. Life comes, life goes. “Mental illness” symptoms come and go. Mental health recovery comes and goes and and comes again.
Equanimity comes with meditation and mindfulness practice. These practices bring recovery.
The universe itself is of such a nature that it balances, that it has equanimity.
“The rain falls on the good and evil alike.” as Jesus said in the Sermon from The Mount. Rain gives not a whit whether the person on whom it falls is good or bad. Whether it is a “flower” or a “weed”. It just falls. And a few lines later Jesus suggest be like the rain, be like Abba, The Father. The word in Greek Jesus used for mental illnesses was not “demon possessed” but “moon stuck” because of the coming and going as the moon does. That is all moon struck meant, all lunacy means. It comes and goes. Mental health recovery is supported by this realization. Clinging to passing good moods brings on suffering.
Jesus was a non-dualist. These passages show that clearly. Fr. Thomas Keating especially his Daily readings for contemplative life helped me realize that. This book was essential to the Christian view of my recovery. To stop the guilt tripping. The self indulgence of guilt tripping hinders equinimity. ( Here is a link to that book).
It is also a thing to remember. When we are doing well, the rain falls on us. When we are doing poorly, the rain falls on us. The great Christian Meister Eckhart of the 13th century pointed out that the door of love swings on a hinge of indifference. The rain and the hinge are alike in this quality. Eckhart taught a form of silent prayer similar to mindfulness meditation. Link to Meister Eckhart:
Selected Writings (Penguin Classics)
If one is overly involved one suffers. if one is not involved at all one suffers. And we like the rain fall on all. We are happy recovery comes. We are sad, recovery comes.
We need not be controlled by the tyranny of mood. Then like the hinge, we swing the door of love open.
Meditation on the breath, connecting with the breath and letting go of thoughts, concepts, images, judgements, justifications brings balance. It is the letting go. The balance in the face of suffering or happiness comes from the non-labeling. It is in the labeling that the pain or suffering resides. So as the universe expands and contracts let us breath in and out. And let go.
Extreme mind body states (symptoms) quite down with letting go.
This kind of balance support mental health recovery. Mental health recovery is possible for all. Do not forsake the course because moods, or symptoms, or “mental illnesses” or mental health recovery come and go. Persevere in equanimity and recovery will be there. Persevere in mindfulness meditation and recovery will come. Breathe and let go!!! Breathing brings recovery. Breathing brings equinimity.See also Healing Objectifying Self
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