Will you suffer or will you be at peace? Will you be frustrated or happy? Will you see your world as grey or will you see it as vibrant?
Hard as may be to hear, but the choice is yours. Yes, the challenge is huge. But it is a fact that the choice is yours.
The reason why this is so is that nothing that befalls us, no experience, is received by us directly. It is first filtered by our mind. And it is the state of our mind that determines whether we suffer, are frustrated or depressed because of the experience, or whether we are unaffected by it, know that it's just the way it is and it's all ok, and are aware of all that we have to be grateful for and have faith.
In short it depends on whether we are in the control of our ego-mind or whether we are in touch with the Buddha nature inside us/the divinity within us/the child of the universe within us. In this way, we control our reality. (See my post, "4. The Choice Is Yours.")
But be aware, this is not a once and done thing. You can be very deep in your spiritual practice and for the most part be in touch with the divinity with you, turning your will and your life over to its care, saying your will not my mind's, and yet still have moments when you feel that your life is grey, blah.
I truly don't get upset any more; nothing pushes my buttons. I'm aware that things may not be right, but I don't get upset. It's just the way it is right now. But if my thoughts/words focus on the blah aspects of the here and now—and those aspects are always present—that how I will feel at that moment, regardless my connection to the divinity within me. Until I realize that my ego-mind is in momentary control and divert my focus to all that I am grateful for, etc.
Life is indeed a challenge, making it through life with a positive outlook is a challenge. Thankfully, my practice has provided me with lots of tools with which to retain a positive outlook and a feeling of joy. Here is just a short list:
*The Heart's Embrace (see posts of that name)
*The words of an ancient Chinese poem: "When faith and mind are not separate and not separate are mind and faith" (see posts on "Faith and Mind")
*The Serenity Prayer: "Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change: which is the way my life is right now at this moment, and the serenity to just be. And the courage to change the things I can: which is how I relate to myself, others, and you, the thoughts I think, the words I speak, and the actions I take." (see post on "The Serenity Prayer")
*It's just the way it is; it's meant to be and it's all ok. (see the post of that title)
*My true self is the child of the universe within me, the person I was when I was born. My ego-mind is my false self.(see posts on "Self Re-examined" and "Buddhism and the Divine")
*I can erect a forcefield around me by sending out love and positive energy rather than absorbing negative energy. (see post on "Changing the Direction of Your Energy Flow")
These are just a few of the posts on this website that will help guide you to experiencing peace and happiness. See my Coming Home series videos as well.
Hard as may be to hear, but the choice is yours. Yes, the challenge is huge. But it is a fact that the choice is yours.
The reason why this is so is that nothing that befalls us, no experience, is received by us directly. It is first filtered by our mind. And it is the state of our mind that determines whether we suffer, are frustrated or depressed because of the experience, or whether we are unaffected by it, know that it's just the way it is and it's all ok, and are aware of all that we have to be grateful for and have faith.
In short it depends on whether we are in the control of our ego-mind or whether we are in touch with the Buddha nature inside us/the divinity within us/the child of the universe within us. In this way, we control our reality. (See my post, "4. The Choice Is Yours.")
But be aware, this is not a once and done thing. You can be very deep in your spiritual practice and for the most part be in touch with the divinity with you, turning your will and your life over to its care, saying your will not my mind's, and yet still have moments when you feel that your life is grey, blah.
I truly don't get upset any more; nothing pushes my buttons. I'm aware that things may not be right, but I don't get upset. It's just the way it is right now. But if my thoughts/words focus on the blah aspects of the here and now—and those aspects are always present—that how I will feel at that moment, regardless my connection to the divinity within me. Until I realize that my ego-mind is in momentary control and divert my focus to all that I am grateful for, etc.
Life is indeed a challenge, making it through life with a positive outlook is a challenge. Thankfully, my practice has provided me with lots of tools with which to retain a positive outlook and a feeling of joy. Here is just a short list:
*The Heart's Embrace (see posts of that name)
*The words of an ancient Chinese poem: "When faith and mind are not separate and not separate are mind and faith" (see posts on "Faith and Mind")
*The Serenity Prayer: "Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change: which is the way my life is right now at this moment, and the serenity to just be. And the courage to change the things I can: which is how I relate to myself, others, and you, the thoughts I think, the words I speak, and the actions I take." (see post on "The Serenity Prayer")
*It's just the way it is; it's meant to be and it's all ok. (see the post of that title)
*My true self is the child of the universe within me, the person I was when I was born. My ego-mind is my false self.(see posts on "Self Re-examined" and "Buddhism and the Divine")
*I can erect a forcefield around me by sending out love and positive energy rather than absorbing negative energy. (see post on "Changing the Direction of Your Energy Flow")
These are just a few of the posts on this website that will help guide you to experiencing peace and happiness. See my Coming Home series videos as well.
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