Gentleness - why not?

Why not be a little more gentle with myself. Particularly with the mind.
When we now we are in the healing phase, why watch or partake in violent conversations? - Arnab, the Noise hour, investigating into the cause of Robin Williams death, Watching stutters Island...quite clearly it is wise to eep such things - much of which do not add any value any way, for another day.

Judgement

Judgement is the eagerness to make an assessment of value of a certain thing, person, action etc. We ignore the fact that what is important is that the assessment be right than quick.  And in order to make a right assessment we need to consider a range of aspects. But we don't. We just go and judge. This is tendency to judge becomes default and compulsive. Its as if the first thing we must do when we witness an incident, happening, event, person etc. This is highly foolish.

Marriage and Death

A young man I know was afflicted with a near fatal illness. The world turned upside down for his dear and near ones. Every one is praying. Its been about a year. I'm grateful to note he is recovering. This too is a miracle. Going by our culture one of the default points of intense worry for parents as they contemplated his future was "how will he get married". And this is no tiny worry for them. It seems - thinking from the parents point of view - a perfectly reasonable cause of worry. And how much pain it causes. And yet at the same time I, standing here, can only laugh at this worry. I see it as an almost foolish thing to worry about. I'm sure there are several people who understand.

As I deal with the myriad thoughts that cause fear, learning from the wise I think about how just because the mind may believe there is a cause of concern, this doesn't have to be true. In fact in most cases the wise would laugh at the cause that we are justified as reasons of concern.  

Learning to be

We have to find our reasons and learn to "just be".
Until one day, we will clearly see.
Our reasons may be god, love, relationships, leadership, faith, trust...just anything...or even nothing.

Recognizing Irrationality

Fear emerges from an imagination that there is something to be afraid of. And usually this is about the future. It is ironical that in the absence of alertness we allow ourselves to paint dark pictures of the future that we may not be able to bear. And yet that future is not anywhere except in the imagination.

The 1008 times Penance

Surely we can look at our own lives and see that we often slip in our attempt to practice the values of integrity, sincerity, kindness, non-judgement etc.,

And the kind Muslims spend about 30 days of fasting a year. When we try it we realize it is no easy task. And several other people practice some or the other kind of abstinence or penance.

So why not, look at our pains as natures way to purify us. Surely we see that patience is needed as we endure.
Therefor I being grateful for this wisdom, seek that my spirit expands with patience and loving kindness to home my confusion without judging anything.

Learning from Fear

What is fear other than the mind judging an experience (internal or external) as "not okay". And thus using its power of creativity/imagination to anticipate dark futures.

Haven't we endured fears of many kinds over the years...in the waking state as well as in dreams.
Is not endurance of fear a way to liberation, to fearlessness?

What we need in times of panic/fear is faith, patience and a gentle kindness with which to see ourselves and our suffering. This faith may be in love - that which several others have offered to us selflessly.

And we have to just be because truly, everything that came, must leave.