“One Lump, Or Two?”

finding your zen

[Offered for our gracious host, and any of us who’ve had a challenging week. Wisdom from the Christian East.]

“Stand at the brink of the abyss of despair, and when you see that you cannot bear anymore, draw back a little, and have a cup of tea.”

– Abbot Sophrony of Essex [1896-1993]

Shall I pour?

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Published by D’Nanda Panda

Retired hospital chaplain, Theo-Geek, Honorary Marine, bookworm, crossword addict, and lover of intelligent conversation, well-brewed tea and/or occasional distilled spirits - as appropriate.

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17 thoughts on ““One Lump, Or Two?””

  1. I don’t get it.:) Maybe it’s because I am not a tea drinker? The quote makes it sound like being at the brink of despair is a choice that one can voluntarily make or not make, which now that I think of it, might be true, But. No, it isn’t true: the despair we feel after being dumped, after the death of a loved one, after any number of losses we incur through life, is not a voluntary choice. Over the long term, in the weeks months and years afterward we do have many choices about how to deal with it, but the agony we feel, which in some cases will never go away, is not something we can choose or not choose. This Abbot Sophrony of Essex guy sounds like a callous dude, almost like he is making light of other people’s pain. Or maybe I am just shallow, and not getting it at all 🙂

    Could you explain this quote, Nanda? 🙂 Because I am not getting it 🙂

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    1. Not at all, JaC…The abbot is advising us, when we’re in despair so deep that we can’t go any nearer to it without falling into it, we should step back from it, turn away from it and – in very British fashion – have a cup of tea/take a breath….Fugeddaboudit. He’s not making light of anything. Imagine C. S. lewis saying it, instead. -smile-

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      1. Ok, but my issue is that when we are in despair so deep that we can’t go any nearer to it without falling into it, “stepping back” and “turning away” from it won’t necessarily be possible. I am pretty sure that I have experienced that kind of despair: for me, it is never a permanent state, the feelings of despair always go away, but in the moment, while it is happening, I really don’t think I am capable of just stepping back and turning away from those feelings. I do have a great deal of power over how to deal with those feelings, but turning away from them isn’t really an option-if despair is something that you can just step back and turn away from, then is it really despair?

        For me, that kind of emotional pain is more like a tornado that rips through: you can’t escape it. You can’t just step back and turn away from it. All you can do is weather the storm, knowing that it won’t last forever.

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  2. I think he’s dealing with something that could incubate *into* a tornado; and, yes, in the sense that vowed folks might think of it: unworthiness in respect to forgiveness/receiving God’s love. He’s wanting the rest of us to back away from erroneous thoughts/feelings that *we* create (neurosis/anxiety of modern life) not existential crises, methinks….

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  5. I recently bought 100 grams of chamomile loose packed tea for ~$5.00 USD. Have not had the opportunity to enjoy it yet. May throw in some ganja stems into the pot to see if that doesn’t enhance my mellow.

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    2. Curious, amigo, did you enjoy your enhanced chamomile tea? Or did the enhancement alter the taste of the tea unpleasantly? (Have reached Salt Lake City with Mr. Clemens, btw.)

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    1. It does indeed: a pot of tea, a loaf of bread, a book by Samuel C., and….Enhancements that may end in enchantment (one hopes). I was actually asking if you currently keep bees, above, hermano -grin-

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      1. I do not. The only place would have been on Eve’s garden but my interest in that whole project is waning due to her finding a ‘replacement’ for me. I prefer not to keep bees in town/ the city. Call me crazy!

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  7. Of course you are (un poco loco), amigo mio, that’s what I enjoy most about you. Sorry to hear about “Eve’s Garden”; it brought peace and pleasure, yes? (What would flavor the honey from your local bees, if you had them?)

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