Sadness and Heartbreak

November 7, 2007   |   1 Comment

I posted an essay some weeks (months?) back called, “Once I Had a Broken Heart.” I’ve received a tremendous amount of feedback, mostly from people who are struggling with this extraordinarily painful situation. The pain of a relationship ending is so real and cuts so deep, but we think we should just snap out of it after awhile. It’s not so easy to do. There are many Buddhist teachings on how to work with a broken heart (one might say that is what the whole entire thing is about) like this, this, and this. But much of it was summed up by this statement I read from Gloria Steinem, who was discussing her grief after her husband died:

“In depression, nothing matters.” In sadness and grief, “everything matters.”

I found this to be such a moving expression of warriorship. It makes me remember that in sadness are the gifts of deepened insight and powerful compassion. When your heart is broken, it is also broken open and from it can flow enormous tenderness.

categorized in: ,

1 Comment

  • Posted by:  Ming

    had a great conversation last night – part of the theme being how Milirepa made loneliness his bride and then was able to experience aloneness. the idea being that loneliness is our storylines and aloneness is that broken heart that opens us to the world. thought that was pretty excellent.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


We have so much to share with you

Get a new meditation from me every Monday morning

We have so much to share with you.

Get a free meditation from Susan every Monday morning