Daily Life

The skies are grey, the temperature has risen to 77 degrees fahrenheit, and the humidity is at 70% at 8 a.m. on the east coast.  Today is Sunday.

The talk that surfaced this morning is about daily living.  Having apparently taken questions from an audience gathered to hear the speaker, there was silence at the start.  Nothing said for about a minute - just a gaze into the audience faces.  It began with an inquiry about why all the questions submitted were about theoretical subjects related to theology, psychology, human behavior on a level of speculation.  There were apparently no questions about daily life.

So of course, the conversation went to this topic, not a part of any question submitted for consideration.

What was fascinating was the immediate focus on suffering, on the potential held by a single person to change the world (think Hitler, think the Buddha, think Jesus).  Was their presence truly able to impact the world in which we live?  There really are no direct teachings from sources such as Jesus or the Buddha – rather, there were interpretations by other human beings.  Did those interpretations somehow prevent humans from reducing the suffering in the world?  No matter the number of priests and teachers - has the intensity to prevent suffering changed?

In looking at the world today - we must admit that there is little evidence of having reversed the problems that were so clearly highlighted and created by the likes of Hitler. Ending such problems have been attempted via political, economic, social change - but the re-organization efforts have not given the world peace, compassion, caring. Rather, there have been careers, jobs, and reputations built with little impact on the causes of suffering and conditions in which people live.  

To be able to get to clarity and wholeness, the moments of awareness have be sustained.  How is this possible?  What is wholeness of being in this world?  This is the question that each may want to answer in their lifetime.  The tendency is to look for someone else to answer - a teacher, a guru, a minister, a priest, a parent, another source who might hold "answers".  The pursuit and the seeking can be endless.  

So the question and answer is the same:  Clarity belongs to each person.  This means the fear and anxiety are removed.  This also means that the only way to know when this has been accomplished resides with each person in their own lived experiences.  The way to clarity is within each one.  The way to get to it, is via a journey that goes inward - deeply and consistently.  Once the experience of having reached such clarity, there is a desire to get back to that place because the clarity brings security, stability, and a sense of wholeness.  The desire to get back to that state is the driver of the pursuit.  Seeking boils down to a desire for permanence. Of course, nothing is permanent.  Interesting in relation to daily life. Think about that.