Letter # 66: "This Too Shall Pass"

In times of trouble, a friend of mine soothes himself and others with his favourite phrase, “This too shall pass.”
The saying “This too shall pass”, which originates from the Hebrew: גם זה יעבור‎, is commonly used to offer condolences or sympathy to someone in pain or suffering.
Wikipedia informs us that while various persons have been given credit for it, including Abraham Lincoln, the saying has ancient sources. One such source is the anonymous merchant in a story of King Solomon. As you will see on reading this story, wisdom can come unexpectedly, and from any person, as everyone has a store of it. Here’s the story as it relates to the merchant in King Solomon:
Solomon wanted to humble Benaiah, his most trusted minister. So he gave Benaiah six months to find a magic ring, that Solomon knew didn’t exist. Solomon told Benaiah that he wanted to wear the ring on Sukkot, a Jewish holiday, which was due in six months' time. Benaiah said that if such a ring did indeed exist, he would certainly find it, but first he was curious about why Solomon wanted it. Solomon explained that the ring had special powers – a happy man would become sad on looking at it, and vice versa. Benaiah went on the search. Two seasons passed, and Benaiah was unsuccesful. On the actual day of Sukkot, while walking in a poor quarter of Jerusalem, he asked a merchant if he knew of such a ring. The merchant, who had his wares laid out on an old carpet, took a plain gold ring from the wares, engraved it with some letters, and handed it to Benaiah. Benaiah smiled when he read the words on the ring. He bought the ring. That night the entire city celebrated Sukkot. Solomon smiled as he mockingly asked Benaiah if he had found the magic ring. To Solomon's great surprise, Benaiah handed over the ring. Solomon’s smile dropped as he read the inscription on the ring: three Hebrew letters: _gimel, zayin, yud_, which began the words "_Gam zeh ya'avor_" , which means: "This too shall pass." Solomon realized immediately that all his wisdom, wealth, and power were but fleeting things. He saw that one day he would also be nothing but dust.
Indeed, bad things and good things, all things will pass.
In the book “I Am That”, Sri Nisargadatta explains: “All experience is necessarily transient. But the ground of all experience is immovable. Nothing that may be called an event will last. But some events purify the mind and some stain it. Moments of deep insight and all-embracing love purify the mind, while desires and fears, envies and anger, blind beliefs, and intellectual arrogance pollute and dull the psyche.”
There you have it; and you know it already from experience. Moments move on. Things will change. "This too will pass." However, the Ultimate State, that of Being, or God, whatever word you might wish to use, remains constant.
Guru Nanak sings: “Mithia tan dhan kutanb sabia; mithia haumai mamta maia,” which means: “Perishable are body, wealth and the entire family; Perishable are pride, egoism and worldly love.” Guru Nanak also sings of the true antidote to the perishable: “Asthir bhagat sadh ki saran; Nanak jap jap jivai Har ke charan,” which means: “Only devotion to God, under the guidance of a Teacher is imperishable; One can only live a true life by meditating at God’s feet.” [SS Asht 5].

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
Copyright© 2008
References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.