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The Japanese have an expression that seems to capture the sense of pathos that is at the heart of our all too human dilemma: mono no aware, “the slender sadness”.
Simply by living we take life.
Leather shoes and belts, breathing in and out, a cup of water, a flushing toilet, a stroll in the forest, raising mustard greens, flying here and there, the daily newspaper: in each, a thousand things are dying and being born.
–Thich Nhat Hanh
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...when we finally know we are dying, and all other sentient beings are dying with us, we start to have a burning, almost heartbreaking sense of the fragility and preciousness of each moment and each being, and from this can grow a deep, clear, limitless compassion for all beings.
–Sogyal Rinpoche
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Oh yes!! Love that term, "the slender sadness", and have recently experienced that, as well as the burning, heartbreaking sense of fragility within myself. And yet, coming to the awareness of the dying of all things there is also acceptance, a certain peace and loss of striving, efforting *about* living this fragile life... a letting go, an openness...
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yes, and perhaps an opening to a close examination of what is meant by 'all things' :-)
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