[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: The Power of an Autumn Leaf

[Carolyn Gimian]

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

August 30, 2008

THE POWER OF AN AUTUMN LEAF

In working with the setting sun or confused world, the attitude of 
the warrior is like an autumn leaf floating down a river. It doesn't 
change its color, and it doesn't struggle with the river. It goes 
along with it. This has a natural effect, because the brook or the 
river has never carried such an autumn leaf before. The setting sun 
world will be uncertain what to do with this leaf. So by simply being 
there, you make people think twice, automatically.
         It puts people on the spot when you don't react to them. You 
don't fight back when they attack you, but you just remain as an 
autumn leaf, whatever they do. This is the gentle way of working. If 
there are hundreds of thousands of autumn leaves coming down a small 
brook, then the appearance of the brook will be changed by them 
altogether. The joke is on the setting sun people, and they have to 
think twice. They might smile and pretend to laugh, but really they 
will be crying, weeping. So you see, an autumn leaf has a great deal 
of power over the world of the setting sun. Such little leaves could 
stop the flow of water altogether. If there are enough powerful 
autumn leaves, that is possible. It has been done in the past.

 From CONQUERING FEAR: THE HEART OF WARRIORSHIP, forthcoming from 
Shambhala Publications in 2009.

All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used 
by permission.

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Carolyn Rose Gimian

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
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