We all have been given life. Some argue that it is a gift. A precious gift given by our creator, or our parents. By proxy we have also been given death. One can't exist without the other. An inescapable fact. All who have been given life have also been given the gift of death. "Mom. Dad. Thank you for giving me death."
I bet that sounded weird when you read it. But really, truly, believe it. For without death, life loses most of it's flavor. Imagine if you will that you have just been given a death sentence. Maybe you have been wrongfully convicted of a crime you didn't commit. How does this make you feel? What didn't you do that you would have liked? Or imagine that you just left the doctor's office and he shared with you the news that you have terminal pancreatic cancer. Does your attitude towards your hopes and dreams change? In what way?
If life had a flavor, how does it taste to you? Is it sweet, are you sour about it, or does it leave a bitter taste in your mouth? So many questions, I know, but I have another one for you. Have you ever heard of the Vinegar Tasters?
It's an old painting depicting the three wise men of ancient eastern philosophies; Confucius, Buddha and Lao-Tze. Each man tastes the vinegar which is representative of life. The way they experience the flavor of the vinegar in the vat is akin to the predominant way in which they view the world in which we live.
Confucius tastes the vinegar and he makes a sour face. He sees the world as a place that needs governance with rules and regulations aimed towards righteousness. Doing the right thing was an important aspect in his teachings. I see this philosophy similarly to the way I picture the superego as explained by Freud. He is the officer who plays a critical and moralizing role as our egos construct their crafty solutions.
Confucius is also said to be the author of the "Silver Rule" which is, "Do NOT do to others that which you would NOT want done to you." Simply stated, it is the inverse of the "Golden Rule."
Next we look at the Buddhist philosophy that believes in life there is suffering. Therefore, when Sidartha tastes the vinegar he makes a bitter face. He teaches that our attachments to life and to things are cause for this suffering, and the student is to recognize the suffering in life that arises with our cravings for, and our attachment to things and to others. These, as a matter of course can be overcome by renouncing or letting go, and then meditatively following the Eightfold Path which will lead eventually to enlightenment and Nirvana.
Lao-Tze samples the vinegar and he smiles at the taste of it. His philosophy looks at life and sees it as "perfect when its in the fundamentally natural state." He tastes the vinegar, recognizes it as vinegar and is happy that it is vinegar he is tasting. It shouldn't be any other way and to him, life sure is sweet!
The Taoist aim is to live a life that is in harmony with the Source of everything and to follow The Way or Tao. This is accomplished by becoming one with, or by being in tune with, the "rhythms of the natural world."
Take action, but do so without your self, or egoic mind, getting in the way. This is known as wu wei and is a concept of effortless action that resonates and feels like and is comparable to being in a flow state.
Taoists plug into the Source. They begin each day, each task and each moment, as the uncarved block, or p'u, and go effortlessly where the flow takes them. Ironically, this section has been difficult to write. It is as though I am trying too hard to convey the simplicity of these concepts instead of being at peace with the process of writing and just allowing it to happen. It should be as simple as, "I sat to write. Words are being written. And I am only the conduit for the words that the muse or the Source would have me convey." I likely wasn't plugged all the way in.
And so, life, however it tastes to you, might be seen as the mother of death. For when one is born, we know for sure that they will certainly die. This understanding, this truth, that we will all face death is of great importance to us. Not for the purpose of feeling guilt or shame for what we have done, or feel that we could have done better. Not for the purpose of living in fear of what hell fire and brimstone might be next. Not for the purpose of eventually dining at the great hall of Valhalla. Not to make a life of selling snake oil to others who aim to live forever or who want to hold on to their youth. Not for the Al Bundy's of the world who peaked in highschool and want to be vampires walking the earth as the living dead for eternity to escape the one basic truth that is inescapable; death.
Being timebound, we take a deeper look, if we are willing, at what it is we want our lives to be. It's difficult to go inside and look at what it is we really want out of life when there are myriad distractions. There are a few defense mechanism of our monkey mind too. Our minds believe themselves to be of the utmost importance and they do not go quietly.
One is for us is to get busy, distractedly busy, just running around haphazard like a chicken, while being so consumed with errands and worry that there is no time for quiet meditation. I am too busy! I have so much to do! I can't do that with my life. Goals? What are they. My goal is to get through the day. There's always something to worry about and to do. I haven't any time.
Another way that our mind takes control is to immerse oneself into knowing but not for the sake of learning or study. For the know-it-all, this immersion is a distraction so they can tell others how much they know. It makes them feel useful and good. They are an important person to go to and they "know" the answers. Think of brainy Smurf, or Scuttle who is always like "this is this and that is that."
Other people still are too plugged in to the news or sports, or politics to be plugged into the source. They instead cling to the cheering on of their sports teams, their political heros and enemies, political talking points, and spend their time watching sportscenter, the news or propaganda spewing TV personalities. You hear them complaining about defeat or the prices of gasoline and how hard their struggles in life are.
A different and not completely daoist way of looking at time is that it is also a key factor in our setting of goals. I will be able to do 45 push ups by my 45th birthday. I will travel to all 50 states before I turn 50. You see, having an unlimited amount of time causes us to say "Someday I will" or "One day I would like to" instead of making that day, become today. The "making of time" for the things most important to us happens because we understand that our lives are time bound.
Ah yes, time. That precious gift we have that is represented by the dash on our tombstones. That little speck of being that lasted for a blip on a cosmic timescale that you know as your all important self. What we do with it is our choice. Do we sit home watching the news or our favorite programs night after night? Do we overeat because we struggle with the anxiety we face each day? What demons from your past are you still fighting with today? Are you worried about the future and what could happen, but probably never will? Maybe. I say probably. Today is a gift, so stay present.
How do we do that? I'm glad you asked. We do this by having a meditation practice. Oh no, not that! Don't make me quiet my mind! That's so hard to do. I don't want to focus on or listen to the noise inside my head. Here's a fact jack. You're mind is going to keep going on and on and on until you decide to do something about it. It believes that everything it thinks is important. That voice has kept you alive and has helped you to get through school and work. It has kept you up at night too. It also helped you make your way through a fight in a relationship. And it's also that crafty little sucker that got you in that mess in the first place! And here's the rub, you can't force him to stop chatting you up. He will pop back up and say, see how good you are at this in a sarcastic tone. And then there's the objections. "You don't understand! My childhood was terrible. My parents were always fighting and my uncle molested me. My loved one died and we had so many plans. Life after loss is impossible! You want me to sit down and listen to my streaming mind? No thank you! I'd rather stream Netflix!"
Yes. And no. Yes I want you to sit and I want your thoughts to continue. But no, I don't want you to listen. I want you to step behind the waterfall of thoughts rushing constantly in your head and just recognize it. Bring those thoughts to the present moment and call it what it is. Make a quiet note in the back of your mind. "Thinking." Maybe open your eyes and look at something natural. See the blades of grass, look at a flower, or maybe touch something soft like a leaf. Or pick up a rock or a shell and hold it in your hand. Just feel it without judgement. Make little notes of it. Smooth. Rough. Cool. Feel how it fits in your hand. Nicely. As if it was meant to be picked up. This is the present moment. You're in it.
No judgement. That's the ego talking. "This is stupid" he says. "You need me." No. You don't. Just focus on your breathing. Feel the air rushing in through your nostrils. The air that brings life to your cells. The air, that without it, you would certainly die. Breathe it out. Feel your belly sink and then rise again with your next breath.
Now say this with me as you breathe. "May I be happy." Breathe in. "May I be healthy." Breathe out. "May I be safe." Breathe in. Now repeat... When you are finished, continue on with your day and feel the difference a few minutes can make.
Namaste
