{"id":39375,"date":"2021-05-14T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nalandabodhi.org\/?p=39375"},"modified":"2026-04-22T09:40:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T16:40:16","slug":"the-joy-in-imagining-what-is-whole-is-broken","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nalandabodhi.org\/nl\/2021\/05\/14\/the-joy-in-imagining-what-is-whole-is-broken\/","title":{"rendered":"The Joy in Imagining What is Whole, is Broken"},"content":{"rendered":"
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He walked around the corner with Cookie Monster\u2019s porcelain head in two parts, a sad look on his face. \u201cDo we have super-glue?\u201d my son asked. \u201cHe just fell apart when I opened him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

The bright blue Cookie Monster cookie jar has been in our family for over 40 years. He has survived countless moves in his travels with our family. Then, without a fall or bump, he just fell apart. Our only heirloom.\u00a0<\/p>

It reminded me of a part of a song that I love: The Sky Dragon\u2019s Profound Roar<\/i>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u201cAll my possessions, all that I enjoy, are like rainbows in the sky
\nEven their smallest parts have no essence \u2014 they don't exist at all
\nSo when I enjoy illusory pleasures, empty-appearing tea and beer
\nIt's time to rest in mind's full moon \u2014 empty awareness, radiant clarity\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2014 Excerpt from: The Sky Dragon's Profound Roar. Composed by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche.\u00a0 Translation \u00a9 1998 Marpa Translation Committee.<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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When I love something, be it an object, a job, or even a person in my life, I try and remember that they are impermanent. All things have a cycle: a beginning and an end. Remembering this doesn\u2019t make me sad or wistful, rather, it helps me to appreciate what I have in that moment. I have found that it also helps me to not be too upset when things take their natural course and change.\u00a0<\/p>

I extend the practice of remembering impermanence to painful experiences, which helps to appreciate even those events that I wish were not happening. I know they, too, will end, and I have found that if I relax in the pain, then I may be able to find the good in the situation and see the transition \u2014 to notice the cycle.\u00a0<\/p>

Cookie Monster has had some surgical super glue, and his now crack-lined face only shows our love for him. Knowing he\u2019s probably coming to the end of his life makes me appreciate and love him even more, and gives me the space to let him go when the time comes.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A joyful practice<\/h2>

This is a contemplation practice. It doesn\u2019t have to be part of a formal sitting practice or even take long. A moment of reflection on a regular basis can do wonders to deepen your love and appreciation for what\u2019s in your life in this very moment.\u00a0<\/p>

  1. As you notice a feeling of attachment to something \u2014 be it an object, situation or person \u2014 take a moment to imagine that it\u2019s gone. The object is broken or lost. The situation changes. The person is no longer in your life.\u00a0<\/li>
  2. Recognize that this will be a reality at some point. It could be tomorrow or many years from now. The object, situation or person is impermanent, like a rainbow in the sky.\u00a0<\/li>
  3. Realize that the moment to appreciate them is right now.\u00a0<\/li>
  4. Rest in gratitude that they are in your life at this moment. Notice the feeling of joy that arises from that gratitude.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\"Rachel\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
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    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRachel Pradhan\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    Rachel Pradhan has been a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche since 1997, working on becoming a more open-hearted and open-minded being. Her career is in marketing, while her at-home life revolves around meditation and family, gardening, hiking, reading, and cooking. She lives in Southern California with her husband and their two sons. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A beloved family treasure breaks, and the author takes the opportunity to develop a practice of remembering impermanence and letting go with gratitude.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":39377,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3009],"tags":[3414,3418,3405,3407],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Joy in Imagining What is Whole, is Broken - Nalandabodhi International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A beloved family treasure breaks, and the author takes the opportunity to develop a practice of remembering impermanence and letting go with gratitude.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nalandabodhi.org\/nl\/2021\/05\/14\/the-joy-in-imagining-what-is-whole-is-broken\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"nl_NL\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Joy in Imagining What is Whole, is Broken - 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