I have a friend who made promises to me, and did not deliver.
The first time, there was a phone call.
The second, an sms.
The third, nothing at all.
After the third deception, I was sad, hurt and disappointed.
I watched as my disappointment grew to upset to anger ......
Which led to my suffering.
" * 1st Noble Truth ... There is Suffering"
As I kept watching and reflecting.
I realised that my friend is just as my friend is.
It was my expectation and perception of my friend that led to my suffering.
With the understanding, I became at peace.
How often was it that we want to control and/or change things, people, events, and even our bodies, to suit our liking.
" * 2nd Noble Truth ... The Cause of Suffering"
And more often than not, we can't.
And so we get frustrated, become angry etc and therefore, we suffer.
The truth is, we can't control and/or change things, people, events that happen in our lives, or even our bodies.
But what we can control and change is our mindset, attitude, thoughts, feelings, response to it.
" *3rd Noble Truth ... The Cessation of Suffering"
We can choose to suffer;
Or, we can choose to be happy and peaceful.
" * 4th Noble Truth ... The Path to the Cessation of Suffering - Happiness"
For whatever reason my friend chose the path of deception on the 3 occasions, my friend did it out of Ignorance.
And all that I feel for my friend is Compassion, Forgiveness and Loving-Kindness.
To me, my friend will always be a friend.
"To be free is to love;
To love is to let go;
To let go is to forgive;
To forgive is to know it does not matter."
"Evil doers are not wicked by nature; They do evil because they're ignorant."
- The Buddha
"The more evil that comes to me, the more good will radiate from me."
- The Buddha
