Can the Grass be Greener?
posted by Alex | May 12, 2009
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IcerocketYesterday I was blessed in many ways to be in the presence of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche at a group discussion and blessing at the Shambhala Center of Atlanta. Not only was the energy fantastic, but so was the presence of such a strong and peaceful spirit. As with many spiritual leaders, it seemed as if the strength of immanent amounts of confident energy were radiating off of him, which I am lucky enough to have picked up some of this energy and have it teeming off me at the moment.
He spoke of compassion and strengthening the mind and the heart, and what he said made perfect sense (of course!). When we begin our day, we saturate our surrounding environment with all kinds of manipulative energy, it is in our mind and heart how we decide to think throughout our day, which emotions we choose, and how we decide to perceive others and their actions. Thus, within ourselves, if we choose to be negative or have negative thoughts ourselves, it will bounce off of our peers and therefore, interdependently change their opinions of us and their environment.
The relationship of energy and thought got me thinking… this particular energy, can become the catalyst for all that surrounds us. So let’s play with the idea that a human makes the decision to be negative, judgmental, and all of the above that coincides with this thought process. If these actions of the mind are practiced everyday, then the ball starts to roll, building and building on itself, creating years and years of resentment and negativity. How does one, actually choose to live like this after years and years? It seems like the never-ending questions seems to always lead back to a particular kind of answer: cycles.
A said person, let’s say one in America. Who has been deceptive and negative for the majority of their life can fill the voids of not living consciously with let’s call them, “fillers of existence”. These said caps of existence can be put into outlets such as drug addiction, irresponsible promiscuity, and the lavish showering of material items (among an ENDLESS list of others). The idea of denial can be fueled by temporarily bringing happiness with happiness in the physical realm, while the spiritual realm is thirsty for attention and compassion. So, it only makes sense that if the spirit is not nurtured, it becomes depleted.
Considering the western culture with the eastern-Buddhist culture, it seems like there are certain parts of life that one community takes for granted, while the other is lacking. Of course, Westerners are given material possessions, all kinds of stuff to make instant gratification possible, meanwhile, distracting the people from the ever important care of the spirit and the mind. While in Eastern cultures (mainly in this example those in Nepal in the Buddhist culture) practice constantly for discipline of the mind—which in turn becomes discipline of the spirit and body. But even the Monks seem to have a feeling of loss in their hearts. The Sakyong mentioned how he was starting to see monks in Nepal riding motorcycles and falling into the never-ending human need to have more luxurious things. It seems that two polar opposites are overindulging in one aspect, while another is lacking on a great scale.
Can it be possible to give up on something we are so accustomed to for the greater good of ALL societies? Or are we doomed to be following the thought-process: The grass is always greener on the other side?
Comments
Energy***
— May 12, 2009
As most of us know, energy is a very powerful force in all living things. The direction of positive or negative influence on that energy is just as powerful, but necessary for the ebb and flow. You can not have one without the other, that's the basic concept of magnetism. Without both the energy is unstable, like an atom. It's all in how we as individuals utilize the energy in our lives to create a balance. As for the grass is always greener?... It is simply perception. Yes, of course for some, it may become a simple thought process, but for others it's belief. I am confident that more people are coming to understand how to get out of the cycle, and begin to open up to new beliefs, etc.(the awakening) It's slow for some, fast for others, and may be impossible for a few. But that too is part of the greater energy.
So, in response to your question:
Can it be possible to give up on something we are so accustomed to for the greater good of ALL societies? Yes, for some....No for others, and both for many.
Or are we doomed to be following the thought-process: The grass is always greener on the other side? Again, Yes, for some....No for others, and both for many.
My point here is that we are all on a spiritual journey (whether we realize it or not), and will awaken when the time is right. This will be at various times for everybody. Some may never reach that state. But that too is part of the ebb and flow.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Hi Alex, It's good to read
— May 13, 2009
Hi Alex,
It's good to read your thoughts about the teaching you received from Sakyong. I saw him too! He was at the Baltimore the Shambala Center on Saturday. I think the most amazing thing that we can receive from a teacher is what we are then able to see grow and reflected in ourselves, recognizing our Buddha nature in the presence of a guide. The questions you ask are wonderful and deserve due asking- part of your spiritual journey no doubt. So amazing- Thank you.
I hope you don't mind, but I have some thoughts to share on meeting Sakyong that I've been thinking about. I liked Sakyong a lot. He was laid back, gentle, magnanimous, and kind, and he's this incredible bridge between the East and West. I'm used to straining to understand teachings through heavy Tibetan accents. His teaching was direct and accessible. And maybe, strangely, (I hope this doesn't offend) I saw where he was very human too. I was a little surprised to learn that he had given teachings to Goldman Sachs CEOs; this was spoken of in admiration by the director of our center. My initial thought was that this was both a spiritual and political act; I thought it was awesome. Then during the question and answer session, my friend asked Sakyong why he gave these teachings to Goldman Sachs. And Sakyong said that it was to help them create more material wealth. I know some people would tell me that this a case of my Western mind over analyzing this, but I don't think these CEOs need help accumulating wealth. I actually ended up asking him a question of my own about inward peace and outward action, a space that I've really sitting with in my life right now, a space his father helped create at Naropa. Sakyong was able to tell me about the active engagement one must bring to his or her mediation mat. I knew this was one part of my question, and I really welcomed this valuable part, as I continue to ask questions about how to go out and engage in the world. But he also mentioned the Tibetan saying about being the change you wish to see in the world. Yay, here we are, and the Hopi said it too. I was happy to see the thread of engagement leading back to Evolver.
Exactly!
— May 13, 2009
Meeting the Sakyong was especially refreshing because he wasn't just a respected being towering over us "commoners". It was clear that he was just as human as us, and what was even more amazing, was his clear discipline and care for teaching and sharing his attained wisdom. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Integration
— May 15, 2009
I'm reminded of an old story the Hopi (or was it the Lakota?) used to tell, about the division of humanity into four families at the beginning of time: red, black, white and yellow. One for each of the elements, and not coincidentally either. The red family were to learn the secrets of the earth (these would be the Native Americans.) The black family were to learn the secrets of water. The white family was to learn all they could of fire (ie, technology), and finally the yellow family was to study in the school of the air (ie, the spirit.) The plan was for all of them to come together at the end, sharing what they knew for the greater benefit of all but ... as you might imagine ... not all of the families remembered the overall plan and some amongst them got it into their head that one or the other of the elements was all there was worth knowing.
Anyhow, is the grass greener? Well, maybe not on the other side of the fence, not really, but it could be on your own side, if you tend it properly.
I guess what I'm trying to say here is that we all have things we can teach the other. Western materialism must be re-infused with spirit, otherwise it will grow cold and dark, and eventually die. But Eastern spiritualism must be reunited with matter, otherwise it will become thin and tenuous, and blow away with the wind. It's an integral age we live in, where monks drive motorcycles and bikers meditate....
The Revolution is Within
