Found at Last

Chapter I

I walk down the street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 

I fall in. 

I am lost... I am hopeless. 

It isn't my fault. 

It takes forever to find a way out. 

 

Chapter 2

I walk down the same street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 

I pretend I don't see it. 

I fall in again. 

I can't believe I'm in the same place. 

But it isn't my fault. 

It still takes a long time to get out. 

 

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 

I see it is there. 

I still fall in... it's a habit. 

My eyes are open. 

I know where I am. 

It is my fault. 

I get out immediately. 

 

Chapter 4

I walk down the same street. 

There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. 

I walk around it. 

 

Chapter 5

I walk down another street. 

 

~

Sogual Rinpoche - Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

 

I was in a yoga class taught by Nadia Narain at triyoga  - probably circa 2005 - when I heard this.  Nadia read it out, either at the beginning or the end of the class.  It really made an impact.  So much so that for about the last year I have been trying to find it.  Googling half remembered lines and coming up nowhere.  And today I found it.  Funnily enough, I read an article in a magazine about Nadia, and googled her instead.  In the magazine article there were a few books she was recommending and, she really was, is, probably even more so now, a brilliant yoga teacher.  Heartfelt without being heavy or preachy.  And there's the quote.  Perhaps I should have googled Nadia before.  I am so glad to have found it.  Thank you Nadia.  I have read other things in my classes, inspired by your reading of this.  I am teaching on Saturday.  I will be reading this.  Namaste.