The exploration and cultivation of the inner terrain that is my mind has been an essential aspect of my own healing. I don’t consider healing simply the removal of a symptom. Far more fruitful and empowering to me is the journey and experience of being mindful of the roots of my suffering.
I have learned that all things in this world are connected and in a constant state of transformation which move through the seasons of birth, maturity, transformation and death. The rivers, forests, human lives, relationships and trends are all born, grow and will one day fade away. At first thought the fact of impermanence was morbid and depressing to me because I had accept the fleeting nature of my own body, the people who are dear to me and the things I love to do. Allowing myself to accept and respect the awareness of impermanence has opened the door to gratitude and inner peace by helping me observe my attachments.
I am aware that when I suffer, physically or psychologically, that I become stuck and I cling to something fleeting.. whether it be a habitual way of being, my love for green tea, my career, my daily routine, a relationship, or my possessions. When I suffer I feel tense, I clench my jaw, my mind becomes cloudy, I become unproductive and sometimes experience my heart beating faster and harder.
I am not encouraging anyone to give up all the things they love but to be mindful of the tendency to grasp for things, experiences or statuses to be happy and well. The simple acknowledgement of impermanence allows me to be witness to that which is much larger than my individual self. This in turn allows me to be at ease while observing birth, maturity, transformation and death as they show up in everything. When I recognize this, I suffer less. My mind becomes clear, I am at ease, relaxed, and productive. I become empowered, recognizing that my well being is dependent upon on my own thinking.
Where are you stuck in life?
Is your well being dependent on an external circumstance, object or status?
Are you in acceptance of the temporary nature of things?
Like a bell that calls us to be silent, I am asking you to explore the deeper aspects of what you allow to cause you pain. I say, that if we live with the acceptance of impermanence in our minds, we can be aware of the root of our suffering and begin to live with more ease.