Rain

The rain is pelting down here in Boston today. Torrential rain. This is a new type of rain for New England. We are suddenly subject to downpours more typical of climates south of us. Flooding and emergent home repairs result.

Ignoring the deterioration of the atmosphere, due to fossil fuel usage by too many human beings in this enclosed ecosystem of Earth, this bubble of air, water and life in a dry, cold universe, is doing nothing to reverse this trend. The damage that is already done will plague the inhabitants of Earth of decades ahead, even if we begin drastic measures today to halt the environmental changes.

The apparent flaw in human evolution is the frontal lobe's ability to work against the best interests of the human organism. The destractibility and abstraction of the human brain diverts the focus of existence from the essential to the idealized, the imagined. So, the organ in the human body responsible for the advancement of human age and quality of life in the short term may undermine human prosperity in the long run.

This makes me appreciate the tidal nature of existence. There is balance in a closed system. One positive balanced by one negative. Yin and yang. Light and dark. Every gain brings its corresponding loss.

Control

Being balanced, being healthy, being mindful ... all entail control of behavior by applying awareness. Control is a sharp and double-edged sword. It also must be moderated by the mindful brain. Letting go of control is sometimes more beneficial than attempting it. Learning to use control or release it mindfully and intentionally is a first step to liberation, which is a step to enlightenment.

Time

You cannot place your foot in the same river twice. Like a river, our lives change with each moment. You can choose in each moment whether to paddle with the current of your life or against it. Either choice is yours to make. Neither choice is the right one.

Change

How to embrace change and spontaneity, while mindfully attending to the routine responsibilities which create a basis of health from which One can evolve and share?

This is the challenge of the Middle Path. Shun attachment. Shun aversion. Shun ritual for ritual's sake. Shun mindless impulse. Balance through moderation is the goal and the remedy.

Time

Time is structured by events, and events are structured by time.

I find that practice is very much tied to the mindful use of time. Our time is limited by planetary rotation (days), our own limited lifespans and our human needs for sleep, nutrition, shelter, and socialization. Within these external limitations, the mindful person faces the challenge of using time for personal evolution, as well as the maintenance of health and wellbeing.

The key to mindful use of time, I believe, is the maintenance of daily rituals of self discipline. Proper nutrition, proper exercise, proper intellectual stimulation, proper planning and work for one's material needs. All these elements are necessary to maintain balance, which can be a platform for personal growth and advancement. When a person is balanced and able to advance/evolve, he can then contribute a great deal to the lives of others.

The person who is disorganized, undisciplined and unbalanced has little to offer anyone. His imbalance destabilizes his environment. While a chaotic environment may yield its own form of creativity, its contribution to those involved immediately with it is limited and can be disruptive to their lives. This is not the behavior of a mindful and compassionate being.

Peace comes with the absence of fear. Humans naturally fear the unpredictable and unknown. Mastery of this fear comes with mastery of the distractions of desire and impulse. Establishing a routine of health, learning and compassionate sharing is at the core of my practice.

Balance

Balance is the key to keeping to the path. Balance is achieved by mastering each moment. Mastering each moment requires being in each moment with mind and body as one. Making mind and body one requires practice in each moment.