Exploring the poem of a German psychotherapist

Synopsis

We explored and interpreted a poem written by a German psychotherapist Bert Helllinger, using it as a lens to reflect on different approaches to self-improvement. Together, we compared the poem’s message—of letting thoughts and emotions arise without judgment and accepting others as they are—with traditional spiritual cultivation and the teachings of Wang Yangming. As a group, we examined how this passive acceptance differs from the more active, compassionate path emphasized in spiritual practice, which encourages both inner refinement and service to others.

We questioned whether the poem’s approach truly fosters healing or if it only provides temporary comfort. Our discussion also touched on the difficulties of inspiring others toward deeper spiritual growth, especially when their initial motivations are rooted in materialism or personal gain. Through this exchange, we illuminated the contrast between secular psychological methods and spiritual traditions in the pursuit of genuine, lasting transformation.

The Poem

I allow

I allow anything to happen,
I allow it, things start like this,
develop like this, and end like this
because I know that
all things are caused by the combination of fate
and everything happens,
if I think it should be another way
May hurt, but myself
the only thing I can do
is allow

I allow someone to be who he is
and I allow him to think this way and judge
me and treat me this way
because I know
he is who
he is and he is right
if I think he should be otherwise
A look that hurts, just myself
the only thing I can do
is allow

I allow my thoughts like this
I allow each thought to exist,
let it exist, let it disappear
because I know that
the thought itself is meaningless
and has nothing to do with me
It should come and go,
if I think it should not
The only thing I can do is allow
myself to be hurt by such thoughts

I allow my emotions to arise
I allow each emotion to happen
and let it go,
because I know that
emotions are just physical sensations that are
neither good nor bad
The more I resist, the stronger I feel
Emotional hurt like this shouldn’t happen, just myself
the only thing I can do
is allow

I allow it to be what
I am I allow it
to be what I do I do what I do
because I know
what it looks like on the outside,
it’s just a build up of me
The real me, I’m smart enough
If I think it should be something else
Hurt, just myself
the only thing I can do
is allow

I know that
I am here for the experience of life
in the present moment
and the only thing I have to do in each present moment is
to fully allow
to fully experience fully
to enjoy seeing, just watching