Thinking Thoughts.

This week P. turned me onto the path of the Dalai Lama- Buddhist teachings and principles. For the past few days I've been reading and consciously wrapping my head around the concepts and the way of life. To say the least- fascinating.

For a long time now I've been working on my inner peace, trying to keep the barking dogs at bay and improving my quality of everyday life. no longer waiting for something big to happen, but enjoying the minutiae of life on a daily basis.

One problem I have always had, as with most of us I think, is the acting and basing emotions on the fabrications of your mind. It's so easy to speculate and discombobulate based solely on thoughts, especially ones that have no real basis in reality.

Face value. I've been musing about that term, the "it is what it is" sort of thing... but is anything what it is because... well, what is it? I suppose that is what he is talking about when he mentions the defeat of negative thoughts through the relief of ignorance- ignorance meaning our daily choices to dwell in half truths and remain stuck in assumptions instead of having the courage to ask the questions which will heed the answers we seek.

Having the courage not to be blunt and hurtfully honest, that's not courage that's ego, courage is being able to remain true to who you are even when the ones you love may look at you scornfully. Courage is compassion for the suffering of others, not laughing at the crack head you had to kick out of the bar one night. Courage is acting on your needs while keeping in mind the needs of others, it certainly is not about following your own path and ignoring those of other people. What's that saying... there but for the grace of God goes I. Even if you don't believe in God, that's some powerful wording.

Our paths lead us where they lead us and it's nothing short of awesome that we are still alive this minute, day, second. People are constantly suffering in this world, me included, because they are looking for the next big thing like a dog staring at the door waiting for his owners to return. But to take even a minute of life for granted, to take even a hair on the head of your best friend as a given is sacrilege. There are very few "big things" in life worth waiting for since that sort of happiness is fleeting anyway.

It took me a long time to get to this point where I am able to now realize and recognize "the moment". I was musing in my private journal yesterday and had another profound moment of clarity when out came the thought:

Every moment is a miracle. That all my scattered, painful, seemingly pointless, wonderful, adventurous paths have led me to this very point in life is a miracle.

It's so mind boggling, like a tree falling in the woods and all that, to think that all of your life- fishing in the river down the hill, dressing your dog up in human clothes for pictures, flying over the grand canyon, swimming in the caribbean sea... that all of those terribly different experiences all led up to this moment in time.

Incredible!

Of course, now I face the challenge of keeping my mind in check with my knowledge- not easy, a lifetime of effort ahead- but I have faith that I can do it and so can you.

Pettiness will only lead to suffering and anger. Perfectionist? Nitpicker? Get over it, nothing's perfect or ever will be and you're only perpetuating your own disturbed state. If a message is clear and you get what somebody means, semantics do not matter. They just don't, even if you think they should, they do not. Pointing them out really only serves to upset a conversation, n'est-ce pas?

Anyway...

It's not that I look down on anyone or feel superior, we're all rowing
this boat together, but I see so much anger and frustration around me
all the time now, and I just feel the need to share with others what
I've learned. I am hoping that even if others are not open to it yet,
or laugh at the ideas of daily meditation and conscious dismissal of
negativity, maybe some light might get in through the cracks.