What's in the Way is the Way

Welcome, dear friends, to another enlightening journey through the profound teachings of Pema Chödrön, whose wisdom offers us a path to inner peace and resilience. Today, we delve into the concept encapsulated in the phrase "What's in the Way is the Way." This principle invites us to embrace our challenges as opportunities for growth and transformation. Let us embark on this journey together and explore how the obstacles we face can be our greatest teachers.
Let us start with the inspiring story of Nelson Mandela, a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who became a global symbol of peace, resilience, and forgiveness despite spending 27 years in prison. Mandela endured immense physical and emotional suffering during his incarceration on Robben Island. Yet, instead of succumbing to despair, he embraced his suffering, using it to cultivate inner strength and wisdom. As Mandela famously said, "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but he who conquers that fear."
Mandela's story exemplifies the principle that "What's in the Way is the Way." This simple yet profound statement suggests that our obstacles and challenges are not barriers to overcome but opportunities for growth and spiritual transformation.
Pema Chödrön, a respected Buddhist nun and author, teaches us to face our discomfort and challenges head-on, using them as opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown, Pema's path led her to Tibetan Buddhism, and she became one of the first American women to take full ordination in this tradition.
Chödrön's teachings emphasize the importance of living in the present moment, cultivating compassion, and understanding the interconnectedness of all beings. Her approach offers a beacon of hope and a practical path to finding peace and resilience in a world that can appear to be fraught with stress and uncertainty.
From Pema Chödrön's perspective, the "illusion of escape" refers to our constant attempts to avoid discomfort and seek pleasure. We often believe we can find lasting happiness and peace by escaping difficult emotions or situations. However, this notion is an illusion because the present moment is all we truly have, and trying to escape it only leads to more suffering.
We Suffer Because:
1. We attempt to avoid discomfort and seek pleasure.
2. We attempt to avoid the present moment.
3. We attempt to resist what is.
Our suffering stems from these attempts to avoid discomfort, the present moment, and resistance to what is. By constantly trying to escape, we miss the richness of life, fail to develop resilience, and prolong our suffering.
Fifteen years ago, I faced a challenging situation with our music director in a Unity church in St. Louis. While some congregants adored him, many felt his music choices were outdated. The Board and I realized we needed to let him go to serve our congregation's needs better. This decision was tough, but we turned to self-compassion, treated ourselves with kindness, and saw it as an opportunity for growth. Months later, we knew we made the best decision for our community's well-being.
How can we transform suffering into wisdom? Here are three ways:
1. By Seeing Challenges as Opportunities for Growth. Every struggle can teach us valuable lessons. We can cultivate wisdom, resilience, and a greater capacity to navigate life's challenges by embracing these lessons.
2. By Developing Compassion for Oneself and Others.
It is crucial to express compassion for ourselves and others during challenging times. Treating ourselves with kindness helps us face challenges with a growth mindset.
3. By Finding Meaning and Purpose in Difficult Experiences.
Finding meaning in our challenges can transform our suffering into a source of motivation and wisdom. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, found purpose in his suffering, demonstrating the resilience of the human spirit.
In conclusion, the wisdom of "What's in the Way is the Way" offers a powerful path to inner peace and resilience. We cultivate acceptance, compassion, and understanding by embracing our challenges and transforming our suffering into wisdom.
Main Points Recap:
1. Recognizing the illusion of escape and the futility of avoiding discomfort.
2. Transforming suffering into wisdom by seeing challenges as opportunities, cultivating compassion, and finding meaning.
3. Embracing the present moment with kindness and self-compassion.
Affirmation: I embrace my challenges and positively transform my life.