As I try to live my life consciously, many questions come into my mind. Questions like:
Why don't we have enough appreciation for each day of our life, knowing that the day was never guaranteed?
Why do we take our bodies for granted knowing its the only place we have to live?
Why do we think twice before complimenting or appreciating someone knowing it will brighten their day?
Why don't we think twice before saying something that might hurt others?
Why do we push people who care for us & run after people who don't?
Why do we try to fit in when we can shine brighter by standing apart?
Why do we blame circumstances & people for our own failings?
Why do we miss opportunities to lift others, knowing that in lifting others we lift ourselves?
Why do we see people through the eyes of their accomplishments instead of seeing them for who they are, deep down as a human?
Why do we ignore people who we clearly know need help, like that little girl trying to sell a rose or that little boy trying to sell a balloon to feed his stomach? Why do we pretend like he doesn't exist or like we cannot help?
Why do we care so less?
I suspect the answer to these questions is because it is ‘easy’. It is easy to blame others than to take responsibility for our own life, it is easy to keep protecting our own little selves - our space, our time, our needs, over sharing them with those in need, it is easy to keep doing what we have been doing, without questioning our ways or having the courage to break free from constricting patterns of functioning that limit our growth and our capacity to be better humans.
What conscious living entails?
🌸 Conscious living is being aware of how our actions impact us & those around us.
🌸 It is about cultivating discrimination so we can choose actions that benefit us and the world, at large.
🌸 In the realm of 'health, fitness & personal well being', it implies making choices that are evidence based & rooted in science (and not hearsay/prejudice).
The challenge before us:
The challenge is to commit to a path of conscious living. Start paying attention and you will realize that very few people walk this path. For obvious reasons.
But if we truly want to heal ourselves and the world, then we should be ready to do whatever is in our capacity, to live with greater awareness and consciousness.
Even a small step in this direction can make a huge difference.
And you already know that in your heart.
What we need, to stay on this path:
A. Intention:
Every single day just intend to pause often, and be mindful of the choices you make - choices that impact you & others.
B. Practice:
Intention alone is not enough, we must take action & do practices that strengthen our intention to live a conscious life. For me these are the practices of mindfulness, meditation, reading, journaling and reflection. You pick what your practice is going to be. Your practice need not necessarily be identical to mine. But you need to sincerely do them.
C. Community/ group/ support:
Find people as interested in you about living consciously and associate with them, so that when you slip, they pick you up. And if you don't have these people in your life yet, don't be disheartened. Just start walking on this path, and you will find others on the way.
Talk openly about the importance of living a conscious life & be an example of what you wish to see in the world.
I will leave you with the teachings of Buddha shared recently by one of my favorite meditation teachers, Jack Kornfield & one of his quotes, for further reflection.
Instructions of Buddha:
“Others will kill. We shall not kill. Thus we should direct our hearts.”
“Others will be cruel. We shall not be cruel. Thus we should direct our hearts.”
“Others will speak falsely. We will speak what is true. Thus we should direct our hearts.”
“Others will be fraudulent. We shall not be fraudulent. Thus we should direct our hearts.”
“Others will be hateful. We shall become loving. Thus we should direct our hearts.”
“Others will be unwise. We shall become wise. Thus we should direct our hearts.”
Nice. Though, the intent and desire to work for betterment for larger good, depends on situation to situation. A right and simple step towards it, makes a ocean of difference.
Consciousness is like switch. example selfishness is a switch, if you off then you can think of any person as subject,
some people practice religion by switch off self and follow what the leader is guiding. Luckiest will have good Godly leader,
some may on-switch which will show them negative pattern person...the path goes.
Yet a person should have basic education of consciousness how to practice.
Dr. David R Hawkins- explains map of consciousness its one of the book which made me to think, think, .....