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Guided Meditation
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The Buddha taught that attachment to desires leads to suffering.
While there is no doubt that life can be and often is, filled with
hardship, this isn’t the end. Pain and struggle limit the scope of our
vision and cause us to lose sight of the bigger picture. I have learned
that by accepting the challenges and even the paradoxes of this life in
service of the Divine Mystery, I can find a deeper sense of peace and
live a happy life regardless of the circumstances.
Webster’s defines paradox as, “a statement which is apparently absurd or
self-contradictory but is or may be really true”. This is found when our
spiritual teachers assert that existence is perfect in its
imperfections. Seemingly glaring mistakes and difficulties can be
accepted when one expands ones consciousness to include a larger view
based on the Divine Plan of life which goes beyond our personal desires.
We often do not see how the challenges and trials we are facing today
fit into our soul’s growth on a much larger scale. However, all
apparently meaningless suffering and loss that we experience can be
transmuted into a golden gift is we see it in service to the beauty of
our Highest Self’s vision for us. It may take years to appreciate the
blessings in disguise that were sent through the seeming imperfections
of life.
Another key to unlocking the suffering of life, besides seeing our pain
in a broader view is to accept that contradictions abound and can
peacefully coexist. The mind tends to argue and say “No! I’m right and
you’re wrong” and vice a versa. But when we simply stop resisting and
rest in the place of allowing both perspectives to be valid and true
suddenly the fight is over and peace prevails. To demonstrate this
point, a recent discussion comes to mind in which I was espousing the
benefits of vegetarianism to a friend and they were telling me their
reasons for consuming meat and why it is healthy for them. We both felt
that we were right even though we had opposing views of the subject. The
discussion ended with both of us opening our minds a bit more than
before and accepting one another regardless of our differing viewpoints
and letting go our desire to change the other person’s point of view.
The most frustrating paradox for me personally is the old adage “when
you stop looking for love you will find it”. It is based on the idea
then when we can relax and let go then what we are seeking will come to
us without effort or strain. The part of me that wants to make something
happen simply hates this concept while the other more highly evolved
aspect of my being absolutely, without a doubt knows that this is true.
Trust is the deeper issue that is at stake here. Trust in a larger more
exquisite plan than we can ever imagine. Trust is the relinquishing of
our desire for a particular outcome.
All paradoxes ultimately bring a person to a deeper level of trust in
the universe. An understanding develops that goes beyond the linear way
of thinking about situations and circumstances and encompasses a wider
perspective. Paradoxes help us to begin to see life through the eyes of
our Higher Self instead of through our limited vision of the world. I
invite you to take the time to do some reflection and look for the
paradox or desire that may be presenting itself when you find yourself
resisting or judging some aspect of life. This simple act could be your
path to peace and happiness beyond the confusion and suffering of life.
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