back to peace
An Examined Life
A work of gratitude to help those suffering from “mental health issues”
Insights Along an Arduous Journey
This beautiful life is only a fleeting experience. But still, we cling to things as if the facts concerning the longevity or our existence were otherwise. This attachment and obsession further distort our capacity to “see clearly” which perpetuates poor judgements, words and actions.
Before long we are in a quagmire of confusion. But we can surely emerge out of it by setting our minds right one step at a time.
For example the interest spent on acquision of property and prestige distorts our view of the longivity of time we have here on earth which intrun affects our relationship with people and things on various levels.
Similarly excessive attachment with our own distorts our ability to honour the suffering of everyone equally. Similarly obsession that something has to be in a certain way, constantly causes us to check on whether our fear, that it is not so, has come true and distortedly see evidences that support it
I started to write
It struck me like a ligtning bolt that the the mind takes its own opinions too seriously despite being highly unreliable. All one needs to do is merely observe, to see that our individual minds are highly unreliable instruments.
It misreads and exaggerates the danger in situations such as in “taking the rope for a snake”. It forgets what it has learnt and bases its assumptions on incomplete details, obsessesses over things it is not sure about and can be gnerally quite impatient.
Patient and honest exploration of the world outside, can lead to the mind expanding and thereby facilitating a more accurate reflection of reality which inturn brings peace and beauty while setting the mind right.
No matter what our petty individual mind says, our commitment is to the whole of which we are merely a part.
Values
Patience
In life, there are seasons when we have to wait – for things to return to normal, to experience freedom, to simply go about our jobs and lives. Having to wait, can lead to feelings of frustration, hopelessness, anger, sadness, and the urge to give up, particularly when no immediate solutions are apparent. In such moments of uncertainty, we see there is an opportuiniy – albeit one involving difficulty, and that opportuhniy is to learn patience.
Right View
“Our happiness and the happiness of those around us depend on our degree of Right View. Touching reality deeply — knowing what is going on inside and outside of ourselves — is the way to liberate ourselves from the suffering that is caused by wrong perceptions. Right View is not an ideology, a system, or even a path. It is the insight we have into the reality of life, a living insight that fills us with understanding, peace, and love.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
Unity Consiousness
What is a more accurate and rational basis for action – Individual centered Society Centered? Remembering our interconnectedness with the whole of nature, while seeking insights into the nature of existence and our place within it, is more likely to result in acts of compassion and mindfulness in our interactions with others and the world around us. This in turn can generate thoughts in our hearts that are harmonious and peaceful
Kindness
We create pain not necessarily by actively involving in its persuit but rather through our insensitiveness and impatience. This occurs with a disbalance in our understanding because of a me-centered veiw. Home and work cultures are saturated wiht this thinking and obviously seeds of mental illness are planted there. Therefore let us learn to be kind in all of our leadership roles particularly those involving leadership and management.