Overview
share some sort of meaningful philosopher’s work, poem, writing, teaching, understanding from somewhere that has had an influence on your life and has helped you make it through some days (this could also be a song, art, etc.). Cut and paste the piece, post a weblink to a song, or a piece of artwork you are sharing, into your Discussion Post. Craft a paragraph or two about how/why this piece has had an influence on you.
I would like to offer the following Buddhist Poem by Senri Yena: (This poem was written by a person who survived the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima during World War 2). I came across this poem courtesy of a Zen Master I had been studying under roughly 25 years ago. To this day I still have this poem accessible whenever days are feeling challenging, rough, or just as a reminder to remember the bigger picture in life. It goes like this:
Thanks to lamenting over the pain in the world,
I am able to become laughter when my life is happy.
Due to being struck and trampled upon and biting
my lips to control my temper, I fully realize how
precious it is to be born. Even if I am intentionally
tired of an ugly world.
Even if one laughs scornfully at my penniless life,
there is something much more beautiful,
true and worthy that everyone knows.
I don't care so much about anything else,
except love and sincerity, the sun,
and a little amount of rain from time to time.
if I have a healthy body and a little piece of bread,
I want to walk with a smile in great spirits.
I will do my best to work without complaining
about anything at all.
I always consider things by putting myself in another's
place without flinching, no matter how hard and
heartrending it is to live.
If there is someone unfortunate, I will help
them out with anything.
If I can forget myself to help out,
that will surely delight me.
In the morning the sun rises. I greet it.
I will do my best to live today.
In the evening, the sun sets.
Starting at the evening glow, I want to sit still.
With a little dream in my heart, I sleep
as quietly as a little bird.
If I have my own time, I want to spend it
reading an old collection of poems, meditating
on them alone, quietly.
Let's find happiness by ourselves.
Within silver tears like pearls and laughter like the sun,
let's keep walking ahead each day.
Certainly some day, as I look back over my past,
I will quietly see my life with a smile.