Working with Afflictive Emotions

 

Several days ago I hiked up to one of my wintertime meditation spots on a ledge located on the south-facing slope of a large rock formation. While there, I noticed that dozens of red Wild Geranium leaves were still healthy and thriving despite the fact that we recently had a full week of nightly sub-zero temperatures. The presence of these leaves reminded me of the fact that many winter plants contain a natural antifreeze that converts needles of ice - which normally would puncture the cell walls and kill the plant - into round crystals which have little chance of harming the plant. This amazing adaptation led me to reflect in turn on the process of transforming afflictive emotions into virtues, a practice I learned from Buddhist spirituality. For example, unfulfilled longing can be converted into a realization that all desire - however distorted - is actually simply a participation in the Divine longing for us. Here, the longing - like the damaging ice crystal - is not taken away. Rather, it is transformed into something useful and even fulfilling! Such is the power of contemplative practice.

Photo: Wild Geranium leaves on the south-facing side of Arthur's Rock; Lory State Park, CO; December 19, 2013

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