On Tuesday evening this week, just after supper, Koala - my wife - called me urgently to the kitchen. “There’s a weird noise coming from in here!” We have an open-plan kitchen and living area. From the sofa she’d heard a loud ‘pop’ followed by a hissing sound. Within moments we’d opened a cupboard door under the sink. Hot water was spraying vigorously from a plumbing fixture. It had already soaked the contents of the top shelf and was streaming through a gap to the bottom one.
Obstacle Blessings come in so many shapes and sizes and ways... It is also important to understand in situations where catastrophe has struck and you were not involved because you encountered an "obstacle blessing" you should Not Feel Guilty. I have a friend who was running late for work because of a sick child who she had been up with all night. She missed the train she normally caught into the City, and then a flat tire on her car in the garage made it impossible for her to drive. She tried calling her boss but something was wrong with the phones. The Morning was 9/11/2001. She worked in the World Trade Center. She lost almost everyone she worked with. Had she been on time she would have been there. For years she suffered from Survivor's Guilt. It's real. She had a very hard time for many years. She now understands and accepts that the obstacle blessing she experienced with her sick daughter made it possible for her and others to go on and do some great things to help others affected by the tragedy, and personally, to be available for her aging parents, their transition, the marriage of her daughter and the birth of her grandchildren. Life goes on and we must chose the story line we wish to follow. She chose peace and happiness despite her losses 🙏🏽💜 xoxo
Thank you so much, David, for giving a name to what I seem to be deeply learning in this past year. It has brought not one but two cancer diagnoses (I am a slow learner) but both were caught early and are curable. My body's wisdom raised strange signals long before I or my doctors would have gone looking. I anticipated that this clearing of my karma would have been dreary payback for years of abundance in my life, but instead it has been--even amidst the pain of radiation and chemo--very often a time of joy and happiness and an ongoing shower of blessings. I am learning so very much about myself, my body, friendship, love, and the Divine Mystery. As I face my final surgery this week I look forward to having all this "done and dusted" and eager for the new and unknown life for which it has been preparing me--which will include a Mindful Safari!
Cancer was an obstacle blessing for me as well. I like your 'dusted and done' explanation. I literally came out of the anesthetic thinking Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life, and knowing that there would be major changes coming. I appreciate the ways you are able to share these thoughts and ideas. Duchess Fluffybutt, a Turkish Angora who showed up at my door one day, enjoys laptme while I read. I had said that my next cat would choose me.....and she did!
This was a lovely read and a great reminder, thanks David. This is one of the many things I feel like I "know", yet seem to forget on a regular basis. I have observed time and again that the things in my life that seems to be disasterous, had almost always turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I hadn't thought so much about the smaller scale, daily obstacles though.
I'm having a giggle remembering the 16 year old me who decided on a whim (on the morning we had to submit our university preferences) to become a psychologist because I liked telling people what to do and I figured I could buy a red MGB :) So grateful for my debilitating injury that took me on a different path.
I love the term "obstacle blessing" but as in so many Buddhist beliefs, they mirror those in Christianity. As Christians, we are exhorted to give thanks in all things and trust in our God (paraphrasing from 1 Thessalonians) and in doing so, we can follow similar trains of thought as you and your wife did with your water line mishap. Corrie ten Boom, who was a Dutch woman who, along with her family, hid Jews from the Nazis, and saved many lives only to be imprisoned in a concentration camp for their bravery. She later wrote that while in the camp, she was thankful for the awful fleas that plagued all the women in her barracks. Why? Because the fleas were so bad, the Nazi guards wouldn't search their quarters which allowed their clandestine Bibles to remain hidden. If the Bibles had been found, the women would have paid terrible prices. Who would ever think that fleas would be such an "obstacle blessing?" I do love all your books about HHC and learning so much about Buddhism. What a charming way to teach it.
We are very lucky to clean water even if it does go wrong from time to time. Let’s remember the billions who don’t have this privilege. Water is the stuff of life.
David, thank you for telling all of us about BEYOND, and then sharing with us the article you wrote for that substack. I too, can recall events in my Life that could aptly be called “obstacle blessings”. I think probably we all can. Your article provided the invitation to re-visit some of them , and this time , from a much wider and deeper perspective what with the passage of time between the original event and the present moment. . . . . .Another comment I wish to share is that your last installment of the story of Rob and that precious little (figuratively speaking!) Kidiki, almost brought tears to my eyes. The way you described her holding on to Rob’s leg as they walked to the garden - I could just SEE it! That little elephant baby was thinking, “By golly, he’s not going to get away from ME again!” Oh dear! Please get busy and send us more….🙏
Dearest David, thanks for sharing your knowledge, experience and wisdom! I think this email arrived to me as much needed, because I am facing hard times and to get the chance to see them from other point of view is helping me to go through.
Wow! This is a place where I have been going to, and it has helped me to let go and experience the silver lining. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes it takes longer, years. It’s wonderful to have it explained in a way which somehow makes it easier to understand. It had me pause, look back over my life and realize with great wonder and gratitude, that most of the things I saw as obstacles, always lead me to a place of growth inner strength, and inspiration. I continue with more conscious clarity look at obstacles as opportunities for growth. I have a few rare genetic illnesses, which are difficult to treat and painful. I am grateful to you, David for your wisdom, which I have found so supportive and helpful. Through your books, and here in this platform, I find refuge and guidance. It also opened me to explore and experience other teachings, to study and open my heart to other cultures. The article about you was inspiring.
Everything has a cause and effect, coincidences in existence is just a way of denoting the laws of cause and effect we don't understand. Nothing happens without reason, good and bad is to embraced.
Obstacle Blessings come in so many shapes and sizes and ways... It is also important to understand in situations where catastrophe has struck and you were not involved because you encountered an "obstacle blessing" you should Not Feel Guilty. I have a friend who was running late for work because of a sick child who she had been up with all night. She missed the train she normally caught into the City, and then a flat tire on her car in the garage made it impossible for her to drive. She tried calling her boss but something was wrong with the phones. The Morning was 9/11/2001. She worked in the World Trade Center. She lost almost everyone she worked with. Had she been on time she would have been there. For years she suffered from Survivor's Guilt. It's real. She had a very hard time for many years. She now understands and accepts that the obstacle blessing she experienced with her sick daughter made it possible for her and others to go on and do some great things to help others affected by the tragedy, and personally, to be available for her aging parents, their transition, the marriage of her daughter and the birth of her grandchildren. Life goes on and we must chose the story line we wish to follow. She chose peace and happiness despite her losses 🙏🏽💜 xoxo
Thank you so much, David, for giving a name to what I seem to be deeply learning in this past year. It has brought not one but two cancer diagnoses (I am a slow learner) but both were caught early and are curable. My body's wisdom raised strange signals long before I or my doctors would have gone looking. I anticipated that this clearing of my karma would have been dreary payback for years of abundance in my life, but instead it has been--even amidst the pain of radiation and chemo--very often a time of joy and happiness and an ongoing shower of blessings. I am learning so very much about myself, my body, friendship, love, and the Divine Mystery. As I face my final surgery this week I look forward to having all this "done and dusted" and eager for the new and unknown life for which it has been preparing me--which will include a Mindful Safari!
Cancer was an obstacle blessing for me as well. I like your 'dusted and done' explanation. I literally came out of the anesthetic thinking Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life, and knowing that there would be major changes coming. I appreciate the ways you are able to share these thoughts and ideas. Duchess Fluffybutt, a Turkish Angora who showed up at my door one day, enjoys laptme while I read. I had said that my next cat would choose me.....and she did!
Beautiful. I like having a term for that silver lining, "obstacle blessing." ❣️
This was a lovely read and a great reminder, thanks David. This is one of the many things I feel like I "know", yet seem to forget on a regular basis. I have observed time and again that the things in my life that seems to be disasterous, had almost always turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I hadn't thought so much about the smaller scale, daily obstacles though.
I'm having a giggle remembering the 16 year old me who decided on a whim (on the morning we had to submit our university preferences) to become a psychologist because I liked telling people what to do and I figured I could buy a red MGB :) So grateful for my debilitating injury that took me on a different path.
I love the term "obstacle blessing" but as in so many Buddhist beliefs, they mirror those in Christianity. As Christians, we are exhorted to give thanks in all things and trust in our God (paraphrasing from 1 Thessalonians) and in doing so, we can follow similar trains of thought as you and your wife did with your water line mishap. Corrie ten Boom, who was a Dutch woman who, along with her family, hid Jews from the Nazis, and saved many lives only to be imprisoned in a concentration camp for their bravery. She later wrote that while in the camp, she was thankful for the awful fleas that plagued all the women in her barracks. Why? Because the fleas were so bad, the Nazi guards wouldn't search their quarters which allowed their clandestine Bibles to remain hidden. If the Bibles had been found, the women would have paid terrible prices. Who would ever think that fleas would be such an "obstacle blessing?" I do love all your books about HHC and learning so much about Buddhism. What a charming way to teach it.
We are very lucky to clean water even if it does go wrong from time to time. Let’s remember the billions who don’t have this privilege. Water is the stuff of life.
David, thank you for telling all of us about BEYOND, and then sharing with us the article you wrote for that substack. I too, can recall events in my Life that could aptly be called “obstacle blessings”. I think probably we all can. Your article provided the invitation to re-visit some of them , and this time , from a much wider and deeper perspective what with the passage of time between the original event and the present moment. . . . . .Another comment I wish to share is that your last installment of the story of Rob and that precious little (figuratively speaking!) Kidiki, almost brought tears to my eyes. The way you described her holding on to Rob’s leg as they walked to the garden - I could just SEE it! That little elephant baby was thinking, “By golly, he’s not going to get away from ME again!” Oh dear! Please get busy and send us more….🙏
Thank you for your story. Our things break, too. Isn't it grand?
Dearest David, thanks for sharing your knowledge, experience and wisdom! I think this email arrived to me as much needed, because I am facing hard times and to get the chance to see them from other point of view is helping me to go through.
Rossy Cortes
Mexico
Wow! This is a place where I have been going to, and it has helped me to let go and experience the silver lining. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes it takes longer, years. It’s wonderful to have it explained in a way which somehow makes it easier to understand. It had me pause, look back over my life and realize with great wonder and gratitude, that most of the things I saw as obstacles, always lead me to a place of growth inner strength, and inspiration. I continue with more conscious clarity look at obstacles as opportunities for growth. I have a few rare genetic illnesses, which are difficult to treat and painful. I am grateful to you, David for your wisdom, which I have found so supportive and helpful. Through your books, and here in this platform, I find refuge and guidance. It also opened me to explore and experience other teachings, to study and open my heart to other cultures. The article about you was inspiring.
With loving awareness for all beings. 💕
I love the term “obstacle blessing”! 🙏
Such a helpful and uplifting teaching. Thank you very much, David. 💖🙏🏼
Thank you, David. What a beautiful message to read this morning. I’m visiting family for a funeral and well… this message is clear as day. 🩷
Everything has a cause and effect, coincidences in existence is just a way of denoting the laws of cause and effect we don't understand. Nothing happens without reason, good and bad is to embraced.