Discipline

Sunset near Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand

There are three things necessary to become self-realized: desire, technique and discipline. If we do not have a very strong desire to become integrated, we will never overcome the present and historic pull of our compulsive thinking. The material world is designed to keep us from realizing who we really are. Our desire must be strong, sincere and consistent.

Once we have the desire, we need to utilize the simple tools to achieve oneness. When we become aware that our attention is lost in thought, we can bring our attention back to the present. Awareness is simply our attention without judgment. Actions such as meditation, yoga, being in nature can help us remain present.

Because the pull of compulsive thinking is so strong, we need discipline to continuously utilize the tools that we have every day.

Let's be present.

Peace

Sunset over Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand

It is easier to feel peaceful in nature. However, if we are lost in thought and not aware of the silence within us we will not experience peace. If our attention is on the present moment, we will feel peaceful in the middle of a crowded, noisy city.

Peace is not something to be sought in the outside world. We need to recognize it within ourselves.

Our addiction to compulsive thinking keeps us from being peaceful. By constantly drawing our attention away from our thoughts and towards being present, we will be one with our true nature.

Let's embody peace.

Joy

Joy is our natural state.

We experience happiness, and we experience sadness and frustration. We are addicted to the highs and lows of the conditioned life. We are not in control of our lives.

We unconsciously bounce from elation to depression because we have no awareness of what we are doing. We constantly look for something outside of ourselves to save us from unsatisfying lives. We believe that our lives would be enhanced if we only had something that we want, a new job, an article of clothing, a lover. The hole that we feel cannot be filled from obtaining any object or knowledge.

We are afraid to behave differently than we have been conditioned to behave because there is safety in belonging to the group.

If we have the courage to surrender our judgments, thoughts and beliefs, we will discover that we will not be lost. On the contrary, we will find ourselves in the unmanifested freedom of the void. By giving up our stale beliefs, we come home to our natural state, which transcends the ups and downs of our physical existence.

Let's surrender to joy.

Being

If there was an activity which, by doing it a few minutes a day, would lower our blood pressure and make us healthier, would we do it? If there was an activity which would improve our relationships, would we find time to do it? What if this activity would make us happy and peaceful, and rid us of our depression, frustration and neuroses?

Unfortunately, there is no such activity which can achieve these results. However, there is a non-activity that will accomplish these things and more.

If we take only a few minutes a day to sit in stillness, all of these things will occur in our lives. Becoming aware of our breath, our thoughts and our emotions, without judgment, takes courage and discipline.

Numerous studies have proven that meditation lowers blood pressure, enhances health, and increases well-being.

Is it worth a few minutes out of our busy day to benefit every aspect of our lives and indeed change the world?

Let's allow ourselves the gift of stillness.