The Glass is Already Broken

What happens when you accept that the worst might happen?

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this teaching from Thai Buddhist master Ajahn Chah, quoted in Mark Epstein’s book Thoughts Without a Thinker:

You see this goblet? For me this glass is already broken. I enjoy it; I drink out of it. It holds my water admirably, sometimes even reflecting the sun in beautiful patterns. If I should tap it, it has a lovely ring to it. But when I put this glass on the shelf and the wind knocks it over or my elbow brushes it off the table and it falls to the ground and shatters, I say, ‘Of course.’ When I understand that the glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious.

There’s a lot in this teaching. It’s sustained me over the past few weeks, especially in the hard times. And so I’d like to share it with you, though since this post will be a little more personal than some others, I’m going to restrict it to paid subscribers.