The Buddha taught that even happiness is dukkha - an ancient Pali word meaning “suffering” or “unsatisfactoriness.” This is one of the infinite numbers of pairings represented with the yin and yang symbol; happiness, by its existence, brings an equal amount of unhappiness. This is true with deep personal love and loss. It’s always true with the acquisition of stuff.
We acquire and acquire and consume. It’s what the world has become. The sad part is how much people tie their identity to their stuff. As the most influential spiritual masters have taught us, to separate your identity from the things you acquire is how we find enlightenment. It’s the reason my Uncle Bob, otherwise known as Father Rupert Langenstein, took a vow of poverty as a priest in the Passionist order. He once told me at Christmas, “Jimmy, all of these toys will be gone someday, but you can live forever.” I remember this because I needed clarification from my parents and teachers. I came to learn then the concept of an afterlife, and it started to make sense.
Spiritualism through a religious doctrine and Nihilism are two opposites. A nihilist sees no meaning in life and therefore devalues it. Someone who is deeply spiritual sees great value in life and seeks enlightenment. Enlightenment is the path to eternity and reconnecting with the whole being, or the one, or God, if you prefer.
Many people find enlightenment, or peace of mind, quickly. Some, like the old testament prophet who said, “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind,” must come to the bottom, one step away from despair. As Tolle wrote, “When you reach this point, you are one step away from despair - and one step away from enlightenment. When chasing after the wrong things, we think we find happiness, and it just melts away into just more stuff.
So what to do. Stuff is fine, but not for the sake of more stuff. The woodworker needs their plane; the guitarist needs their guitar; the cook needs their knife. Engaged in our craft, as I am writing this, brings me closer to the whole. These are meditative pursuits. They bring us into the Now and bring us peace of mind.
As I wrote last week, love brings us closer to enlightenment as well. The beautiful thing about this is that every moment of every day is a chance for us to love. It’s accessible all the time.
Over the weekend at a music festival, I met Roy. I sat next to him at a jam session, and I got to know him a bit. I saw him from afar earlier, standing in front of his walker, practicing Tai Chi. An older bearded gentleman in flannel practicing being present. Roy has Multiple Sclerosis and is slowly losing his ability to move. He smiled at me between songs and said, “see the love around this circle of strangers and friends? This is a place of peace.”
We pursue love and growth together and find peace of mind through steady and consistent progress of both.
A couple of weeks ago, my coach Nathan shared a framework called the Ladder of Perception with me. Brendon Burchard gave him this. It’s a great model for getting back to the basics and finding peace in your everyday.
Information: What are you letting into your head? What are you consuming and processing?
Interpretation: Is the information good or bad? Are you making assumptions? Are you taking things personally?
Identity: How is your interpretation align with how you see yourself? What does it say about you?
Intention: What are you going to do about these perceptions? Will you feed the beast or slay it?
Initiative: What action will you take? How will you behave? What is your attitude?
Viktor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose ones attitude in any given set of circumstances, too chose one owns way.
And so we come full circle. Peace of mind is simply a choice. Regardless of whether we are happy or sad, peace of mind is right there.
Be well, dear reader.
