The Characteristics of Life on Earth
Contemplating these characteristics of all things in life on earth helps us to better understand our present situation. For me, taking into consideration these ideas normalized the universal challenges that I saw everyone experiencing.
Consider the difficulties we experience as human beings. All people and things on earth have these characteristics:
Ken McCloud, in his book Wake Up To Your Life speaks about impermanence:
Unsatisfactory situations of pain and suffering, both physical and mental.
The Five Daily Remembrances—The Sufferings of Human Beings
One of the wonderful things I discovered in 12-Step programs was the practice of daily spiritual quiet time and reflection. The programs provide suggestions for achieving a deep personal and spiritual transformation.
By taking time each day to reflect on my life, I learned to be a gardener to my own mind and life. I was able to uproot harmful patterns and nurture skillful ones. You can do the same.
Discover transformative wisdom in the Meditations section. Pay a visit to the Resources 2 area of the Web site for books on meditation, mindfulness, and on spiritual cognitive therapy. These resources give amazing wisdom about how to understand our lives.
Considering these ideas, helps provide the wisdom of perspective about our human journey.
1. I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old. Think about someone you know and the changes you have seen him or her go through as they age. Think about yourself—growing from a baby to a child into a teenager and onto young adulthood to being a mature adult. Just observe that you keep the same body—but it gradually changes all of the time.
2. I am of the nature to have ill-health. There is no way to escape having ill-health. Remember a time when you or a loved one has been sick—colds, flu, allergies, aches, pains, muscle strains, and injuries. Notice that frequently these transform naturally into well-being, and over time, into ill-health.
3. I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death. Bear in mind—through personal experience or watching the news—that everyone, rich or poor, famous or unknown—at all different ages, leaves this earth at some point. This process is natural for all things on earth: “To everything there is a season under heaven.”
4. All that is dear to me, and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them. Everything we encounter—family and friends, careers, beautiful possessions, and even our youthful, strong bodies—everything is of the nature to change.
5. My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand. Consider most important what you GIVE to the world: your love, kindness, support and encouragement to others.
(Adapted from The Heart of The Buddha’s Teachings, by Thich Nhat Hanh, page 124.)
Life can be a dramatic demonstration of these principles of self-awareness and self-change. Even though I felt that my depression, self-hatred, and compulsive nature was unchangeable, it wasn’t.
As I changed my thoughts, attitudes and actions, gradually everything transformed into well-being and health: balanced thinking, freedom from compulsion, self love, and gratitude. This same process can work for you too!
I found if I live ethically, my mind calms down. I can concentrate better. I’m less agitated and guilty. I like others and myself better.
Including the spiritual component in weight management helps my motivation, in that I take a long-term view of emotional growth and physical well-being. I deeply care about others and myself. As I become healthier on all levels, my relationships with others improve. Through the practice of compassionate self-care skills, I achieve my highest spiritual aspirations.
What my spiritual journey showed me was that we are all individuals. What works well for one person may not work for another. I celebrate the fact that so many people’s lives have benefited from so many different faiths.