Observer 238

The Buddha says free yourself of desire and you free yourself of suffering. Indeed, have you ever noticed how wanting things invariably leads to stress? This arises from the mind’s tautological insistence on adhering unwittingly to the bogus belief that whenever you seek to ameliorate your present circumstances in any way, you are therefore necessarily discontent with the way things are Finding yourself daydreaming about something you want, will then inevitably be followed by feeling dissatisfaction with the present moment on account of your perceived lack, which in turn produces stress, both mentally and physically. However, this is not an either-or universe. You can conceivably and plausibly be both perfectly content and at ease in the moment, while simultaneously being in a state of desire. It’s simply a matter of acknowledging the desire and making a commitment there and then to do whatever necessary to manifest it in the fullness of time, without succumbing to the tendency to punish yourself for not already having done so by becoming impatient and hence stressed. To experiment with this different approach, every time you find yourself desiring something else, more or better, first tell yourself you’re happy with the way things are and yet just happen, for the sake of creative expression, in terms of your life being a living art installation, to also want to manifest something new. Keep breathing freely without holding your breath, desist from holding any or all parts of your body unnecessarily tense and allow yourself the simple contentment of being alive in the present moment, for now, relaxed and at peace with the world around you. If in this relaxed state, you also desire to augment things by tweaking this or that aspect – build an extension, buy a different car, change career or relationship, for instance – do so as one who exists in the midst of an abundant universe where everything is possible and yet everything, in this moment at least, is also absolutely fine as it is. Never try to quell an urge to improve your conditions, to want something else, more or better – it’s this very drive that propels the human race and which is what, if anything, will save us (from ourselves). By the same token, never for one moment stop yourself fully appreciating the utter miracle of being here, alive on the planet at this time (in human form). (396 words) TimesThe Buddha says free yourself of desire and you free yourself of suffering. Indeed, have you ever noticed how wanting things invariably leads to stress? This arises from the mind’s tautological insistence on adhering unwittingly to the bogus belief that whenever you seek to ameliorate your present circumstances in any way, you are therefore necessarily discontent with the way things are Finding yourself daydreaming about something you want, will then inevitably be followed by feeling dissatisfaction with the present moment on account of your perceived lack, which in turn produces stress, both mentally and physically. However, this is not an either-or universe. You can conceivably and plausibly be both perfectly content and at ease in the moment, while simultaneously being in a state of desire. It’s simply a matter of acknowledging the desire and making a commitment there and then to do whatever necessary to manifest it in the fullness of time, without succumbing to the tendency to punish yourself for not already having done so by becoming impatient and hence stressed. To experiment with this different approach, every time you find yourself desiring something else, more or better, first tell yourself you’re happy with the way things are and yet just happen, for the sake of creative expression, in terms of your life being a living art installation, to also want to manifest something new. Keep breathing freely without holding your breath, desist from holding any or all parts of your body unnecessarily tense and allow yourself the simple contentment of being alive in the present moment, for now, relaxed and at peace with the world around you. If in this relaxed state, you also desire to augment things by tweaking this or that aspect – build an extension, buy a different car, change career or relationship, for instance – do so as one who exists in the midst of an abundant universe where everything is possible and yet everything, in this moment at least, is also absolutely fine as it is. Never try to quell an urge to improve your conditions, to want something else, more or better – it’s this very drive that propels the human race and which is what, if anything, will save us (from ourselves). By the same token, never for one moment stop yourself fully appreciating the utter miracle of being here, alive on the planet at this time (in human form)

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