Take a look at this link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29841454/?gt1=43001
Is this what our world has really become? A competition of money vs. everything else..??
The Dalai Lama is an advocate of peace and follows the buddhist path. And HE was barred from a peace conference? Are you serious? I don't know whether to shake my head or laugh at the irony..
I don't care much for politics, and do not wish to get involved in any political matters, but you bring in something pure and innocent and turn it into a hypocrite action - I object! Hypocricy has definitely taken precedence as my biggest problem with the world we live in and our society. A man who is well known for his peace related talks and his simple advice is being told not to attend an event because of the country who doesn't accept his views. Dalai Lama had to leave China because his views didn't go with the norm.. now that country still won't leave him alone. A peace conference is being held in South Africa, and just to save the economic tie with China, South Africa has said the Dalai Lama cannot attend.
Why is it money dictates everything? Why can't an individual, an idea, a concept take prevalence? The whole point of a peace conference is "peace".. and yet that has propelled South Africa to stop a peaceful man. Somehow this doesn't make sense to me. Human value, what we stand for, the things we try to talk about and celebrate (like peace) are all depreciated when all of a sudden money or the economy is involved!
I wonder sometimes, is that what everything really comes down to for people? The economy - how much money is circulating, which country is trading with which other, if someone doesn't like someone they will get their "friends" to not like them - I mean come on, did the world never leave high school?! Whatever has happened to the spirit of people.. have they forgotten that we created the economy. Economics and business is a man-made, technically hypothetical, entity. We made it, and now we are being consumed by it.
Somehow I feel that the followers, believers, or simply good-wishers of the Dalai Lama will be in an uproar. But the Dalai Lama will probably accept it quietly as is the way of a truly peaceful buddhist. The path he follows is a difficult one, and in the world we live in - an almost impossible one. If one man can adhere to his path, why have the rest of us forgotten it? Yes we all have different goals, yes it is entirely foolish to never think about finances in this world, but no our lives cannot revolve around money - no matter what our goal, no matter what our path. Money is superficial - it will come and it will go. I think most of us want something more permanent in our lives. Don't we?
I certainly do. Peace is permanent in one's mind. We may feel that there might be outside factors that drag us back from our peace - or things that prevent us from feeling it. Some of us start out to find peace, claim we do, and the minute something goes wrong, fall right back to where we were before "peace" found us.. that is not really peace - that is a manifestation. I read somewhere once that it is very easy to be a peaceful person amongst a group of monks in a secluded forest.. but the true test is being a peaceful person amongst the bustling world all around us. That is the task the Dalai Lama is being put to.. that is the test we are all put through. Obtaining and maintaining a peaceful mind, a pure heart.. in a world run by the "economy." I wonder.. how many will pull through?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Why Worry?
Everyone worries. I know that, it's obvious, but reading this article and the comments left by people brought it to the forefront: http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/omag_200708_worry/1
So, everyone worries. I worry. About anything to everything. Sometimes we worry about things that need worrying, and sometimes about things that we know we shouldn't worry about, and yet can't help but worry. Where has peace gone from society? Up in smokes I would say. It's no longer about society or community, it's about the individual. I don't think our world will ever find its way to a harmonious way to live - and that's not cynisism, just plain truth - however, the silver lining lies in the individual and finding an individualistic way to to not worry. Now by not worry, I don't mean never have another doubt in your life - I seriously doubt that's possible, we all have some problem, no matter what. I believe it has to do more with how we handle the worries that come our way. Let's look at an example of a mistake I made, and how I'm finding my way to the surface and realizing, it was all in my head:
For a long time now I have had aspirations to become a doctor. It wasn't one of those instant decisions, and took a lot of thinking, sorting, and changing to get to the conclusion that this is what I want to do. Forever. I have a difficulty accepting things long-term. At the same time I'm afraid of change - complex isn't it? Well, apparently when it comes to people and situations it is difficult to deal with change; when it comes to something I'm involved in that goes not as planned, I have a difficulty accepting it - so the solution: I quit.
I quit karate lessons, playing the saxaphone, flute, volleyball team, track team, even my beloved Kathak dance classes. And now after five years, I've quit the one thing I felt I had stuck to the longest: EMS. Well, I'm still an EMT, and I think that one blows it out of proportion slightly because I am still a part of it, just not actively. Anyway - the point: I've always quit and run away when things get tough - even if I am good at what I do. Now, those were all minor hurdles, what about this big one looking at me in the eye?? Med School.
I'm 5 months away - and quite frankly, scared. So scared that upon the first real hurdle in the reality of things I got majorly cold feet. Just like that I thought I would change my major and run away from this, just like all those minor things way back when. It took me a week to realize what a mistake that would be. I haven't invested all this time and energy into this profession for no reason. I had forgotten the real reason for starting - and that kept me going. I'm good at this stuff. And I let one bad grade, on one bad day, get in the way of my confidence. It's been a while since I've been able to see results that show me I'm good at what I do. Yes that might be a bit self-centered - but it keeps my confidence level up and allows me to keep going. I got that reminder today! A good grade! I didn't know I could feel like a little kid again - so hopeful and full of energy because of a grade! I haven't felt like this in years, since childhood when I used to love school, and love learning, and love excelling! I had forgotten all these years, and it feels refreshing to be awakened to that sense again.
Why worry? I can't give you any good reasons. Heck, I can't give you any reasons at all. I know I won't stop worrying. I don't think anyone can really stop worrying. But I'm handling my worry - by facing it, making a list, and getting it done. I feel happy. A strange happiness - not the calm sort, or the joyful sort, but a "I can do it!" sort. I wonder how long this new confidence can last, but I plan on using every last bit of it, because it makes me happy. This is who I am, school and learning happen to be my hobby, and I can't believe I forgot that! Fears are natural, worry is too, but I feel ready to tackle those fears, to ward off the worries. It won't be easy - as much as family and friends and society exist - we live in an individualistic world. I know I have a support system, but today is special - Today, I have joined my own support system.
... And that is how I'm handling Worry :)
So, everyone worries. I worry. About anything to everything. Sometimes we worry about things that need worrying, and sometimes about things that we know we shouldn't worry about, and yet can't help but worry. Where has peace gone from society? Up in smokes I would say. It's no longer about society or community, it's about the individual. I don't think our world will ever find its way to a harmonious way to live - and that's not cynisism, just plain truth - however, the silver lining lies in the individual and finding an individualistic way to to not worry. Now by not worry, I don't mean never have another doubt in your life - I seriously doubt that's possible, we all have some problem, no matter what. I believe it has to do more with how we handle the worries that come our way. Let's look at an example of a mistake I made, and how I'm finding my way to the surface and realizing, it was all in my head:
For a long time now I have had aspirations to become a doctor. It wasn't one of those instant decisions, and took a lot of thinking, sorting, and changing to get to the conclusion that this is what I want to do. Forever. I have a difficulty accepting things long-term. At the same time I'm afraid of change - complex isn't it? Well, apparently when it comes to people and situations it is difficult to deal with change; when it comes to something I'm involved in that goes not as planned, I have a difficulty accepting it - so the solution: I quit.
I quit karate lessons, playing the saxaphone, flute, volleyball team, track team, even my beloved Kathak dance classes. And now after five years, I've quit the one thing I felt I had stuck to the longest: EMS. Well, I'm still an EMT, and I think that one blows it out of proportion slightly because I am still a part of it, just not actively. Anyway - the point: I've always quit and run away when things get tough - even if I am good at what I do. Now, those were all minor hurdles, what about this big one looking at me in the eye?? Med School.
I'm 5 months away - and quite frankly, scared. So scared that upon the first real hurdle in the reality of things I got majorly cold feet. Just like that I thought I would change my major and run away from this, just like all those minor things way back when. It took me a week to realize what a mistake that would be. I haven't invested all this time and energy into this profession for no reason. I had forgotten the real reason for starting - and that kept me going. I'm good at this stuff. And I let one bad grade, on one bad day, get in the way of my confidence. It's been a while since I've been able to see results that show me I'm good at what I do. Yes that might be a bit self-centered - but it keeps my confidence level up and allows me to keep going. I got that reminder today! A good grade! I didn't know I could feel like a little kid again - so hopeful and full of energy because of a grade! I haven't felt like this in years, since childhood when I used to love school, and love learning, and love excelling! I had forgotten all these years, and it feels refreshing to be awakened to that sense again.
Why worry? I can't give you any good reasons. Heck, I can't give you any reasons at all. I know I won't stop worrying. I don't think anyone can really stop worrying. But I'm handling my worry - by facing it, making a list, and getting it done. I feel happy. A strange happiness - not the calm sort, or the joyful sort, but a "I can do it!" sort. I wonder how long this new confidence can last, but I plan on using every last bit of it, because it makes me happy. This is who I am, school and learning happen to be my hobby, and I can't believe I forgot that! Fears are natural, worry is too, but I feel ready to tackle those fears, to ward off the worries. It won't be easy - as much as family and friends and society exist - we live in an individualistic world. I know I have a support system, but today is special - Today, I have joined my own support system.
... And that is how I'm handling Worry :)
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