Shit Happens! Coping With Unexpected Difficulty

We are not in charge of things. We can live a peaceful, kind and aware life, and we get an unexpected beating from karma: whether from conflict, disease, relationships, and a host of conditions which can turn against us. We need to develop an internal protection, an internal steadiness, with which to meet uncontrollable life. We do this by a sense of inner freedom to dance with circumstances, like the Taoist image of grasses which are bent by the wind but cannot be broken. We develop a sense of being part of the universe, and a deep letting go into the big picture. We do this by deep meditative stillness and a steadiness that stays with us, whatever the challenges. We do this by love and compassion for whatever arises in this world.