I haven't quite known where to start for this weeks article.
Life has certainly thrown a few curves balls lately. It has certainly made life interesting, and revealed a lot of secrets that may have gone unrealized.
I remember reading a little while ago that you learn your lessons through suffering and tragedy. At the time I thought to myself 'Wow, what a negative way
at looking at things.' But during this little period this remark was making more sense.
Then as I was traveling on life's journey this morning, I heard one of Buddha's lectures to his disciples; where he said that suffering was boddhi. Meaning you attain enlightenment in this world through suffering.
At this moment; the truth of the teachings made sense.
Isn't it amazing, that unless you experience these things - it is difficult for you to truly understand and learn the true teachings of the past Masters.
You can read the teachings, and try to live your life according to their precepts - but unless you are really living in this world it is harder for you to fully appreciate the truth.
Over my life, I have been particularly blessed to come across a true enlightened Master that has graced our world in this present time. Supreme Master Ching Hai has always preached the importance of living in this world and experiencing all that there is to experience.
Previous to hearing this, I was so happy to live in my little hermit hole and just Love being alone, living in my own Heaven.
One of the hardest aspects in my life; perhaps the hardest of all was to leave solitude and LIVE. I knew the hardships of this world - and I didn't want to experience them anymore. I was done.
But, as this world would have it - it tossed me right in the middle of it all.
Perhaps in positions and situations that are the most depressing and saddening of them all.
Initially, I could not see the happiness in this world. Where ever I turned in this current environment, I could only feel sadness, suffering and darkness. My heart wanted to cry and cry for the people in this world.
But through this darkness, I could see the light; I could see why it is so important to experience Happiness, Love and Peace.
Only through these emotions, only through laughter and smiling can we expel darkness and unhappiness and fill our hearts with the beauty.
Without us taking the lighter path, seeing the fun and beauty of this world - we can not get past the suffering and we can not share Hope with the world.
What good can we do if we let the world get us down.
Through this experience the truth has certainly made me realize that we must get past the suffering; the illusion of this world and gain a higher level of consciousness and look to ourselves as the example for this world.
If we do not like something; there is no point in complaining about it. How about we just do something about it. And do it with a smile.
