When we became companions.
But now, unhappy, you are leaving.
The sky turns to bitter candescence
Unslaked by resignation.
There are times when we have been lucky enough to have companions on our spiritual path, but the time of parting often comes without welcome. When our friends decide to leave, we are often left with doubt, confusion, and sometimes guilt. Anyone may leave the path. They won't suffer damnation; they will only walk a different path.The rule for those who follow Tao is this : Walk the path together as long as you can, and when you must part, never hold your companion back.
Should one seek to have no feelings at all regarding friends? After all, the sages constantly warn against attachment. Yet emotion is part of what makes us human. We may understand philosophically why a companion must leave, but we need not deny our feelings as we walk on alone.
Personal Interpretation
Parting is part of life. We may share our path with friends who, for a multitude of reason, may then choose to pursue a different direction. We should allow them to go, should understand that parting is symbolic of the temporary nature of the world in which we live. We should not try to stifle our emotional responses though. We may be sad. We should allow ourselves to feel sad. We may be angry. We should work to determine the cause of our anger and then work to redirect it. We may feel guilty. For what reasons do we feel guilt? Parting can teach us a great deal about ourselves and our needs, and at the very least, it can speak to the temporary nature of all things.
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