"Would you like to liberate yourself from the lower
realms of life?
Would you like to save the world from the degradation
and destruction it seems destined for?
Then step away from shallow mass movements and
quietly go to work on your own self-awareness.
If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken
all of yourself.
If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world,
then eliminate all that is dark and negative in
yourself.
Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your
own self-transformation.
So find a teacher who is an integral being, a beacon
who extends his light and virtue with equal ease to
those who appreciate him and those who don't.
Shape yourself in his mold, bathe in his nourishing
radiance, and reflect it out to the rest of the world.
You will come to understand an eternal truth: there is
always a peaceful home for a virtuous being."
Lasting change, I think, is never really about elimination, but transformation. One might read this and say, "Well, that's obvious, change = transformation." Not really. Change is easier, or at least faster. People often say about situations, "Things can change in an instant." While that's true, transformation has to do with our response to the change. Shall I stay in the dark, or start a fire to bring light? Does the negativity always have to be bad, or can I be with it long enough to learn how to handle a negative situation differently? These are the questions I am learning to ask myself. While I can say that on one hand it's taken a long time, on the other it refreshes me to think this is only the beginning.
realms of life?
Would you like to save the world from the degradation
and destruction it seems destined for?
Then step away from shallow mass movements and
quietly go to work on your own self-awareness.
If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken
all of yourself.
If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world,
then eliminate all that is dark and negative in
yourself.
Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your
own self-transformation.
So find a teacher who is an integral being, a beacon
who extends his light and virtue with equal ease to
those who appreciate him and those who don't.
Shape yourself in his mold, bathe in his nourishing
radiance, and reflect it out to the rest of the world.
You will come to understand an eternal truth: there is
always a peaceful home for a virtuous being."
Lasting change, I think, is never really about elimination, but transformation. One might read this and say, "Well, that's obvious, change = transformation." Not really. Change is easier, or at least faster. People often say about situations, "Things can change in an instant." While that's true, transformation has to do with our response to the change. Shall I stay in the dark, or start a fire to bring light? Does the negativity always have to be bad, or can I be with it long enough to learn how to handle a negative situation differently? These are the questions I am learning to ask myself. While I can say that on one hand it's taken a long time, on the other it refreshes me to think this is only the beginning.
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