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Nondual Highlights Issue #2495, Saturday,
June 10, 2006, Editor: Mark
...the source of true happiness lies in our mind and heart, not
in
possessions, others' actions, praise, reputation, and so forth.
But
we must examine this for ourselves, so the Buddha asked us to
observe our own experiences to see what causes happiness and what
causes misery.
For example, we have all had the experience of waking up on the
wrong side of the bed. Nothing in particular happened to cause us
to
be in a bad mood; we simply feel lousy. But, interestingly, just
on
those days we feel grumpy, we encounter so many uncooperative and
rude people.
Just on the day we want to be left alone, so many obnoxious
people
descend upon us! Suddenly, the way our spouse smiles appears
sarcastic, and our colleague's "Good morning" seems
manipulative.
Even our pet dog no longer seems to love us! When our boss
remarks
on our work, we take offense. When our friend reminds us to do
something, we accuse him of being controlling. When someone turns
in
front of us on the road, it feels they are deliberately provoking
us.
On the other hand, when we are in a good mood, even if our
colleague
gives us some negative criticism on a project, we can put it in
perspective. When our professor asks us to redo a paper, we
understand her reasons. When a friend tells us that he was
offended
by our words, we calmly explain ourselves and clear up the
misunderstanding.
That our interpretations of events and responses to them change
according to our mood says something important, doesn't it? It
indicates that we are not innocent people experiencing an
objectively real external world.
Rather, our moods, perspectives, and views play a role in our
experiences. The environment and the people in it aren't
objective
entities that exist from their own side as this or that. Instead,
together with them, our mind co-creates our experiences.
Thus, if we want to be happy and to avoid suffering, we need to
subdue our unrealistic and non-beneficial emotions and
perspectives
and enhance our positive ones.
- Venerable Thubten Chodron, posted to DailyDharma
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Virtuous...
Where, and when,
did mankind
adopt
the absurd belief,
that is valorous
or, virtuous,
to endure pain...?
That same belief,
is the very one,
that keeps
the experience
of ecstasy
and joy,
just out of our reach...
In Ecstacy and Joy...
ARIAL, posted to Poetic_Mysticism
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Drumsound rises on the air,
its throb, my heart.
A voice inside the beat
says, "I know you're tired,
but come. This is the way.
- Rumi
, version by Coleman Barks, Birdsong
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The purpose of life is not to arrive at the grave
a beautiful corpse, pretty and well-preserved, but
to slide in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally
worn out, proclaiming, "Wow! What a ride!"
- posted to meditationsocietyofamerica
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Like the little stream
Making its way
Through the mossy crevices
I, too, quietly
Turn clear and transparent
The wind has settled,
The blossoms have fallen;
Birds sing,
The mountains grow dark -
This is the wondrous Power of Spirit
- Ryokan, posted to Poetic_Mysticism