Photo Credit: Ellen M Gregg |
It’s All About Change
There is a saying that ‘change is
the only thing that is constant’ – meaning everything in the cosmos is
constantly changing, churning. Change is the focal point about life. This focus
has a frame, that change is neither where insight begins nor where it ends.
Insight begins with a question that evaluates change in light of the desire for
happiness. It ends with a happiness that lies beyond change.
When this frame is forgotten then
people create their own contexts with reference to change. Two of the most
commonly attributed contexts to the teachings are – insight into change teaches
us to embrace our experiences without clinging on to them and to get the most
out of them in the present moment by fully appreciating their intensity, in the
full knowledge that we will soon have to let them go to embrace whatever comes
next.
Insight into change teaches us
hope. Because change is built into the nature of things, nothing is inherently
fixed, not even our own identity. No matter how bad the situation, anything is
possible. We can do whatever we want to do, create whatever world we want to
live in, and become whatever we want to be.
The difficulty arises in letting
go of pleasurable experiences which you’d rather not change and the second is how
to produce the change when you want it? These are questions which keep coming
up, creating barriers in our acceptance to change. Our ancient cultures suggest
that we should approach change with cautious joy and stoic equanimity –
training ourselves not to get attached to the results of our actions, and
accepting without question the need to keep on producing fleeting pleasures as
best we can, for the alternative would be nothing but inaction and despair!
We are all in search of long-term
well-being, happiness and joy. This desire comes from the heart and is the
motivation behind all conscious action, which is, to attain levels of pleasure
worthy of the effort that goes into them. In this search we realise that life
requires effort, and that if we aren’t careful whole lifetimes can be lived in
vain.
When we sit for meditation and we
start going within, seeking that permanent joy an inner peace, we realise that
we have embarked on a journey of inner transformation. This journey keeps
transforming us, changing us in ways we would never have imagined. The inner
change reflects on our outer being and existence. We become more accepting in
nature, letting go of things which do not provide inner peace and joy.
As we progress, we realise that
it is all about change. Not change in the material world, but change in one’s
inner world. This inner change is life-transforming as you focus more on your
own inner peace, bliss and joy. Once this happens nothing else matters!
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