Devotion.
Everyday we see something that we have not seen before or did not know about. Our reactions can be high wired at first and then well, we may be calm enough to respond with what we know...what we know of the Truth.
It is very limited this concept called Truth...ah...we can count on three fingers what we know to be Truth...we were born, we will die and everything changes. That's it.
Why go any further than that?
In the midst of these three Truths we can decide to use our power to be selfless, to offer devotion, and to accept what comes into our life as our life.
Let us look at change.
This world is constant in one realm; the realm of constant change.
It is a Truth.
Just look at your body. It is in constant change.
What matters is how do you respond to the world that is in constant change?
Do you fight it?
Do you accept it?
Are trying to get, have & keep something of it?
Are you thrown by the tilting, spinning whirl of change?
Do you long for the past? Hope for the future? Despair in the present?
Are you always trying to change it on your side of things?
Are you trying to change things in your favor?
Do you honestly believe that when the bear went over the mountain he made a difference in what he went to see?
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
To see what he could see
To see what he could see
To see what he could see
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
Was all that he could see
Was all that he could see
Was all that he could see
So, a little tidbit to clarify may help.
When you think of moving you most likely think of wherever you decide to move will be better than where you are?
Yes?
Is this the case?
There is something better on the other side of the mountain or you wouldn’t be making the trek. There is something you have conjured up in your mind and you are going to go after it!
Study what that conjuring is!
The reality, however, is never the same as the expectation of wanting something better.
Suffering is everywhere no matter where you want to go. The suffering is in your mind - and it will go with you wherever you decide to go.
The suffering in the mind is fear, greed, hate, confusion, delusion, worry, frantic, hinger, agitated, clinging, selfishness, parsimonious, pride, intoxications, running and on and on.
The mind, your mind is the forerunner of everything…
This is true. You, however, do not need to get captured by your mind. It requires constant work in a world that is constantly changing.
In other words, in order to be free of suffering you have to be willing to purify your mind of all the wild & crazy things that pop-up in the mind.
THAT is just the first step. Willing! You, not your mind, but you must be willing to clean-up and remove all the hindrances that mind comes up with!
Looking at just two parts of this work you:
Start with a recognition that your mind is the forerunner of all your feelings, perceptions, impulses.
Be willing to clean-up the messes in your mind that come as apparent reality!
When you are able to settle the mind, you will not need to go over the mountain to see the other side.
