Do not permit the events
Of your daily lives to bind you,
But never withdraw yourselves from them.
Only by acting thus can you earn the title of
A Liberated One.
                 -Huang Po courtesy of dailyzen.com

I warn my clients about the consequences of using “but” to connect different feelings or experiences. “ I had a great day but my energy level was pretty low.” A significantly different way of expressing this perception is: “ I had a great day and my energy level was pretty low.”
The ability to experience all different aspects of ourselves with equal importance and concern is a fundament part of a mindful life. Then this poem comes along and encourages non attachment but stay connected.
This poem demands a deeper understanding of how the Awakened Way benefits everyone, not just myself. So many of my clients have found a great benefit from helping others. Interpersonal learning is a very powerful curative factor in group therapy. Being able to reflect on the experience of helping without attention to personal gain is to transcend any attachments and experience liberation.

Living in the world,
Yet not clinging to or forming
Attachments for the dust of the world,
Is the way of a true Zen student.
Witnessing the good actions of another person
Encourage yourself to follow their example.
Hearing of the mistaken action of another person,
Advise yourself not to emulate it.
Even though you are alone in a dark room
Conduct yourself as though you were facing a noble guest.
                                                                          - Zen-Getsu  courtesy of dailyzen.com
The essence of mindfulness is the open acknowledgement of all our feelings and experiences. When we can sift through all the judgements we impose upon ourselves we discover our capacity for compassion. When we act in compassionate ways we strengthen that part of us. Encouraging and advising ourselves is not as simple as this poem suggests. Behind both of them is self doubt and resentment.
Many of my clients struggle with the tasks of meditation and express frustration with themselves for not being able to stay focused on their breathing. A tougher experience is the reports of anger and impatience with others who are not as mindful. “They just don't get it” becomes a banner of self righteous mindfulness. It is easy to contaminate our refuge with pride and unworthiness.
Humility is a cornerstone for 12 step programs. A humble approach to life allows us to learn from experience and forgive ourselves for our mistakes. When we face a noble guest we can open our hearts to our compassion and loving-kindness. Our return to the breath becomes the essence of our meditation; when others are engaging in mistaken actions we can deal with it and not have the added burden of resentment; and we can relax into the peace and joy of the present moment.

I went deep in the mountains to gather firewood.

In the mountains' depths were stream after stream.

Where a bridge had fallen,

A recumbent log was clasped,

Where the road dropped sheer, 

Hanging vines were held.

By sunset companions had grown fewer,

And a mountain wind brushed my burlap robes.

A long song, my light staff over my shoulder,

I gazed into mist of wild plains and went home. 

-Meng Hao-jan courtesy of dailyzen.com

In many ways psychotherapy is about going deep in the mountains to gather firewood. They are my client's mountains, I do not provide a path rather I serve as a traveling companion. We journey through the damage in his or her  life and make the discoveries that are so beautifully articulated in this poem. The fallen bridges of failed relationships or endeavors in our life are explored from the natural supports; if the road falls away breath us we utilize the hanging vines to continue in our journey. When we are sitting in my office the subtle riches of the present moment are discovered within the painful emotional experiences. They accumulate over time and become the precious light needed to explore the dark. At the end of the day I return to my home having gazed into the mist of wild plains with courageous people seeking some enlightenment.