In his book, One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, Joseph Goldstein relates a time of great challenge in his life saying that "weeks, great pain and anguish permeated my experience." His suffering was so intense that he found himself gripped by "hopeless despair." Just when all effort seemed impossible and ineffective to change his situation, the word "courage" came into his mind. It was a word which he began to repeat over and over as a mantra. Here's what transpired for him:
"Each time the word sounded in my mind I could literally feel my heart grow stronger. With some magic of its own, it unhooked that last deep place of aversion and fear about what was happening that was keeping me separate from the experience. It brought forth the courage of simply being. What had been intolerable a moment before became completely acceptable."
Looking back at that difficult time in his life, Goldstein says he discovered that"courage is not about changing anything or grasping for some better state. It’s the valor of truly being present."
"Each time the word sounded in my mind I could literally feel my heart grow stronger. With some magic of its own, it unhooked that last deep place of aversion and fear about what was happening that was keeping me separate from the experience. It brought forth the courage of simply being. What had been intolerable a moment before became completely acceptable."
Looking back at that difficult time in his life, Goldstein says he discovered that"courage is not about changing anything or grasping for some better state. It’s the valor of truly being present."
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