Moment of Non Self Construction

 What is being present in its truest sense?

Thinking about the past are memories about YOUR actions, feelings and experiences which have gone by. Thinking about the future are YOUR plans, hopes, anxieties or worries relating to yourself in time to come.

To be really present there is "no room for self construction" as one teacher puts it. I think every moment experienced in the absence of 'self construction' is a moment of freedom gained. In my mind it is like a moment when a prisoner is removed off his head shackle. It is a moment when you fully immerse in the experience without much thinking.

I think in sports psychology they call it being in a 'flow state'. It is when the athlete is fully engaged in the moment focusing completely on their performance with diminished self consciousness and without any distractions. 

That is why our taiji master always tells us "不要东想西想"when practicing.

Co-Creation

 One definition of co-creation is working with nature to help things grow. A nature community in Scotland calls it a collaboration "between human and earth spirits to create a wonderful garden". 

This morning I spotted my cat nibbling at some grass, a special specie which I carefully planted in an enclosure in my garden. After having salad she sat up and pee at the same spot. I was really amused that she was eating the grass that was fertilized by her own output.

I may not work with nature in such direct terms as my cat but I certainly feel the flow when I am working in my garden and talking with the plants. I love the words 'human and earth spirits'. I also like the term 'co-creation'. It certainly is a joy to watch a plant grow slowly  from a seed or cutting to a full bloom plant. I create the conditions for the plant to grow, tapping the spirit of the earth. The plant in turn provides seedlings and tips as well as spur my human spirit to propagate more plants and to further connect with the earth. 

In the business context co-creation is the making of a product where consumers' input plays a vital role. Similarly in a personal context, co-creation is getting input from one's inner voice or soul's input to create something, embark on a project or fulfil some life purpose.

Feeling listless and disturbed by existential angst one night I probed into what actually lifts me up. I think of travel and how delightful it has always been when seeing and experiencing something new. Without doubt it exhilarates my senses. A voice inside me says there is something more in life than momentary delight. With further inward exploration it reaffirms my belief that there is only one path. 

I thank whoever or whatever you called it for the gift to be able to connect with children.

Carl Jung- Your destiny is the result of the collaboration between the conscious and the unconscious

Viewing from space

 

The Sanskrit word for equanimity is 'Upekkha' . The word's literal meaning is 'looking down' or having a bird eye view. It thus implies that having a wider perspective of things will result in a more balanced view and being less affected by emotions, like observing at a distance.

It is not surprising then that Astronauts have expressed a shift in awareness when viewing earth from space. As astronaut Buzz Aldrin described it, "It's the uncanny sense of understanding the "big picture.." Space philosopher, Frank White calls it "the overview effect". From talking with astronauts he found out that their experience of viewing earth from space "have strengthened their resilience when facing problems and existential challenges back on earth".

In a state of equanimity there is space, quiet and connectedness. When we experience emotional turmoil we need to give ourselves space. Someone uses the analogy of giving a wild horse space to run. Giving space to ourselves is to acknowledge our emotions and being aware of their impact on body sensations. We expand the space further by taking in our surroundings and the outside world. Embracing nature is a good way to calm ourselves and see the bigger picture behind any problem. Looking at planet earth inhabited by trillions of living things from space will most certainly transcend one's self preoccupation to a higher perspective beyond self.

So next time when you are emotionally charged over some issues imagine yourself in space looking down on a tiny speck of you on planet earth. It will help you zoom out of an exaggerated view of your personal problems and gain broader perspective of the situation. That is detaching from yourself at a far far distance with a sense of perspective.

You will achieve a semblance of Upekkha.

Danger of Single Vision

 

"May God keeps us from single vision ...."- William Blake.

When Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh broached the possibility of religious bias in top civil servants either now or in the future, he is in my opinion alluding to the above quote from Blake.

When Home Affairs Minister Shanmugam responded by cautioning that Mr. Singh's statement could be misread as saying that top civil servants could be biased....and leaving that impression.. would be seriously wrong...", he is exhibiting clearly a single vision of always being 'attacked' by opposition parties and the need to defend at all costs.

Mr. Singh had cautioned that any dominant religious belief among senior civil servants "if not now, maybe some time in the future?" may put at risk laws and policies being "tilted towards particular religious beliefs". He also raised concerns over discrimination against LGBTQ community

Clearly I do not see this as an attack but truly a caution very well placed. One can imagine if in a situation all our judges belong to the same religious belief would it not be possible that their judgement  is subtly influenced by the same set of values; values which may not be held so strongly in another faith or community. 

Closer to home 'one vision' is a threat to harmony in families. Counselors often try to make their clients see their misbeliefs or one track mind. 

Surely our leaders can do better for the future harmony of our country.