Grounded in Acceptance

July 19, 2015 — #1000Speak, 1000 Voices Speak for Compassion, acceptance, peace

Yoga and meditation are designed to focus the mind and keep it focused when distraction happens.  The very nature of being alive involves change and the unknown.  We may have habits and patterns, but we have no way to predict what is just around the next bend.  Our futures collide with destiny and fortune to become our realities.  Much unnecessary stress is created by attempting to control too much.  We can educate and improve our minds, train and feed our bodies with the best nutrition, and stay within strict guidelines for safety and still meet with disaster.  It may also be true that through no real effort of our own we may be lucky, blessed, and well loved.  If we ascribe good and bad labels to each of our experiences we may find that what seemed the best at the time was a prelude to downfall, and vice versa.  We are not 100% in charge of our fates.

Dependent arising is the awareness that desire and fear are driving forces in human evolution. These strong emotional forces dominate our thinking, leading to suffering.  The Buddha became enlightened while sitting under a tree eating sweets. His realization liberated him from all his previous desires and fears.  He taught his followers saying:

“Whoever sees Dependent Arising sees the Dhamma.

Whoever sees Dhamma sees Dependent Arising”

This essential teaching of the Buddha explains how one thing leads to another when the untamed mind is permitted to ramble.  Dependent arising is cause and effect.  Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  I think it also explains how we create suffering for ourselves and others by refusing to accept things as they are.  If we start by accepting ourselves as we are we can extend that good feeling to others.  Once we can stay grounded in a practice of acceptance we develop the power to change.  Certain traits are present in a soul still striving to control rather than accept:

• Perfectionist and hyper-critical demeanor
• Either too demanding or unable to stand up for one’s self
• Codependence in relationships and with substances
• Self doubt
• Inability to complete plans

To live happy free lives we must find acceptance for ourselves as well as others.  We must see that we are dependent on all of our ancestors and everyone alive who contributes to our well being.  Nobody exists without a great deal of help from others, many who will remain anonymous.  The worldwide supply chain now means we depend on folks in distant lands to make our goods and provide our services.  When Amazon delivers a package to your door hundreds, and maybe thousands, of people have been involved in making and delivering what you want.  To create a world with more compassion and less violence and terror each of us can start where we are to accept ourselves the way we are.  By reaching a state of self compassion we can light the way for others still struggling to find acceptance.

rose

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