“Vulnerability is being open to the goodness within us and others.” Sakyong Mipham, The Shambala principle.
There is a woman on the street, who I have never seen looking up, who always sits huddled, and often has a frown on her face, I am not scared of her, just not inclined to engage with her, or give her money.
Today I remembered the quote. And as she looked up, I opened my window and gave her a dollar. She started talking to me in a language I didn’t understand, with what I received as an angry look and tone. And then it dawned on me: there is basic goodness in her, and all I need to do is accept her for who she is, embrace whatever comes up and with my smile affirm how beautiful and precious she is, how lucky we are to have her in our world.
And as she walked back to her spot, I felt such gratitude for the wisdom of Sakyong Mipham, and such trust in our basic human goodness.