Sangha of Auspicious Companions

Over the Cliff: a Lesson in Being Alive

Aryae Coopersmith was driving in pouring rain on a narrow two-lane road high above a valley that winds around in hairpin turns when his car went off a cliff. At some point, he let go and prayed. “Suddenly everything is still, strangely silent. I open my eyes. Where am I? Am I alive or dead? I can’t tell.” A little tree had caught the car, and Aryae was able to get out on to the muddy embankment, and climb up to the road. As he got close to the top, he saw about a dozen people looking at him, still not sure if maybe they were angels. They had called the highway patrol, gave him blankets, and offered help. Aryae was amazed. “I look at the world around me. The exquisite beauty of it all — the glistening raindrops, the flying birds calling to each other, the trees dancing in the wind… What a miracle to be alive!” While he wouldn’t recommend it as a spiritual practice, the accident brought him the gift of seeing the world with new eyes.

Be The Change

Don’t wait for an accident! Open your eyes to the exquisite beauty of the world, and say, “Wow!”