Although everyone has a responsibility to help the world, we can create chaos if we try to impose our ideas or help on others. Many people have theories about the world needs, i.e. democracy, socialism, more or less technology, etc. The premise of the Shambhala vision is that in order to establish an enlightened society, we need to discover what each individual has to offer the world. So to begin we should examine our own experience, in order to see what it contains that is of value in helping ourselves and others.
If we are willing to take an unbiased look at ourselves, we will find that in spite of all our problems, confusion, and emotional ups and downs, there is something basically good about our existence and our lives. Unless we discover that ground of goodness in our own lives we cannot hope to improve our lives or the lives of others .
Discovering real goodness in our lives comes from appreciating the very simple experiences in our daily existence. I’m not talking about making your first million or buying a new house, but the real basic goodness of being alive – which does not depend upon our accomplishments or fulfilling desires. No, I am talking about the basic goodness each of us has that is undiluted and unconfused.
That goodness comes from gentleness and appreciation of the life that is around us. We can appreciate the stroke of a gentle touch or the kiss from someone with gentle understanding. We appreciate beauty in all shapes and forms, and the best of the world. When we have sunshine or a gentle snowfall, can we really reject its effect on us? We actually can cure ourselves of depression if we recognize that the world we have is good.
It is not just an arbitrary idea or concept that the world is good, but it is good because we actually experience its goodness. The human potential for intelligence and dignity is attuned to the experiencing the brilliance of the bright blue sky, the freshness of green fields, and the beauty of trees and mountains. It is merely up to us to tune in our innate ability to wake up and recognize that goodness can happen to us. In fact, it is already happening.
To be continued………..
Dear Webb,
Thank you for these two posts… so very well said! And coming at a time when we are experiencing such dissension and finger pointing among perspectives, between candidates, and in confrontative TV ads, moving our perspectives away to a kinder, gentler place like Shambhala is so needed!
Your friend
Tom