It’s All About Change

 

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!