Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Poem from the book The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

Autobiography in Five Chapters

1) I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost... I am hopeless. It isn't my fault. It takes forever to find a way out.

2) I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I'm in the same place. But it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

3) I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in... it's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am, It is my fault. I get out immediately.

4) I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

5) I walk down another street.

Sometimes i find myself in a hole, feeling lost and helpless. Sometimes i just walk another street! Depends on the subject i am dealing with, if i am making progress or not.... Being independant or impatiënt.... This text is on the wall of my toilet... many times a day to pause and reflect on which level i am operating...