Finding Inspiration
December 9, 2008 – 10:14 am
Elephant Jug by Jeri Burdick
What inspires you? That’s the question of the day.
Last weekend I attended an art sale where I purchased this Elephant jug. It made me laugh so I decided I had to have it. Every time I look at it, I think about something new. Sometimes it’s a children’s story percolating in my head. Sometimes it makes me think of my mother or niece who each love elephants. When I’m stressed and I look at it, I think about the lesson of the blind men and the elephant. It goes on and on.
This morning as I opened the Dhammapada I turned to a chapter on Elephants and found this verse.
Be delighters in awareness;
Keep watch over your mind.
Lift yourself up from the difficult road,
Like a tusker, sunk in mire. (23.8)
This verse will carry me forward today. As I tend to my work and interact with others, it will play in the back of my mind. Perhaps you too will think of elephants today. But the elephant is irrelevant. It’s the awareness of inspiration that matters.
Whatever goodness inspires you will spread via a vehicle of representation. Like the elephant, go forth and inspire others with your goodness. Staying sunk in the mire is a choice. Lifting yourself out is another choice. Choose wisely and well. Happy Day.
