Daily Life

Another day brings another gift from the heavens.  The skies are clearing but not altogether clear.  The temperature sits at 60 degrees fahrenheit.  Today is Thursday

The talk that surfaced this morning is about daily living.  Having apparently taken questions from an audience gathered to hear the speaker, there was silence at the start.  Nothing said for about a minute - just a gaze into the audience faces.  It began with an inquiry about why all the questions submitted were about theoretical subjects related to theology, psychology, human behavior on a level of speculation.  There were apparently no questions about daily life.

So of course, the conversation went to this topic, not a part of any question submitted for consideration.  Daily life includes asking questions that have nothing to do with living.  The point was made.

What was fascinating was the immediate focus on suffering, on the potential held by a single person to change the world (think Hitler, think the Buddha, think Jesus).  Was their presence truly able to impact the world in which we live?  There really are no direct teachings from sources such as Jesus or the Buddha – rather, there were interpretations by other human beings.  Did those interpretations somehow prevent humans from reducing the suffering in the world?  No matter the number of priests and teachers - has the intensity of suffering changed?

In looking at the world today - we must admit that there is little evidence of having reversed the problems that were so clearly highlighted and created by the likes of Hitler. Ending such problems have been attempted via political, economic, social change - but the reorganization efforts have not led to world peace, compassion, caring. Rather, there have been careers, jobs, and reputations built with little impact on the causes of suffering and conditions in which people live.  

To be able to get to clarity and wholeness, the moments of awareness have to be sustained beyond the time one dedicates to a contemplative or meditation practice. How is it possible to do this?  What meant by the "wholeness of being" in this world?  This is the question that each must answer in their lifetime.  The tendency is to look for someone else to find the answer - a teacher, a guru, a minister, a priest, a parent, another source who might hold "answers".  The pursuit and the seeking can be endless.  

So the question and answer is the same:  Knowing when one has reached clarity belongs to each person.  The paths to getting there are infinite in number and sometimes, there is help along the way.  When fear and anxiety dissolve, clarity comes.  And each person in their own lived experience, knows when that place has been reached.  The way to get there is via a journey that goes inward - deeply and consistently.  Once having arrived, another desire arises – that is the desire to get back to that place because the clarity brings security, stability, and a sense of wholeness.   Then a realization is possible:  seeking boils down to a desire for permanence. Of course, nothing is permanent.  Interesting in relation to daily life. Think about that!