Nearly thirty years ago, a wise teacher told me that meditation's purpose was to practice relaxing the mind. If I could master that, I would soon realize a profound truth: I was never born, and I never die. This paradox haunts my meditations, a riddle that remains unsolved. Perhaps it is itself a form of meditation, an exercise in contemplating the unfathomable. We are eternal beings, they say, tethered to our physical forms. Many believe that when the body perishes, the spirit endures, transitioning seamlessly to another vessel. Time only moves forward, and the universe ages with us, each event intertwined with every other in an intricate cosmic dance. The universe, a grand factory, churns out conscious life. Philosophers ponder the nature of consciousness, but the answer is plain: consciousness and life are one, birthing each other in a simultaneous act of creation. They exist together, just as every force has its counterbalance in the universe.
To elevate our minds and lives, we must read these words and reflect on the principles of nonviolence and healing. Contemplate the surrender of childhood wounds, the path to recovery, and the urgency of action over stagnation. Connect with the Earth: feel the mud and sand underfoot, embrace a tree, immerse your face in pure water. Look up at the blue sky, sense the radiant power of the sun that binds us in its orbit. The sun’s light, a miraculous source of energy, travels 93 million miles to reach us, triggering the chain of life on our tiny planet.
From plankton to plants, from plants to flesh, life evolved, each step feeding into the next. Even hunters, taking a shortcut by consuming creatures that feed on plants, face the complexities of this dietary choice. For the rest of my life, I will observe the endless debates on diet without argument, focusing instead on my personal experiment. Diet, like meditation, requires understanding both the food itself and the psychological patterns influencing our eating. We must breathe deeply, eat mindfully, and listen to our food, discerning its essence.
Despite our knowledge, temptation often leads us astray, especially those burdened by trauma and anxiety. Addictive behaviors emerge as coping mechanisms. Long ago, prayer and meditation were discovered, spawning countless philosophies. Meditation, by various names, has been a cornerstone of human existence, practiced by ancient cultures living in harmony with compassionate principles. True innocence of mind, maintained breath, and present awareness lead to enlightenment—a state of union with the land, oneself, and the divine.
Such enlightened beings embody a spectrum of qualities: relaxed, playful, direct, helpful, protective, intuitive, comedic, intellectual, philosophical, superstitious, innocent, and courageous. Yet, they also face fragility due to innocence or genetic predispositions, susceptible to passion, terror, greed, lust, rejection, envy, hatred, shame, and insanity. Humans uniquely possess dual faces, unlike other creatures that act purely on instinct. Freed from instinct, a creature might perish or go mad, unable to regulate complex emotions. Humans, with their intricate feelings, face similar challenges. Misunderstood emotions can terrify us, leading to desperate searches for safety in the shelter of our minds.
Traumatic thoughts can scar a young, impressionable mind, causing deep pain. Feelings of anger towards parents, stemming from abandonment, breed confusion and anxiety. Understanding our character defenses—responses to perceived threats—is crucial. For instance, a woman abandoned by her father might struggle with intimacy, her anxiety escalating as she grows closer to others. Similarly, a man abandoned by his mother might experience fear and disconnect from lovers. Recognizing these defenses is a sign of progress, a step towards healing and self-awareness.