Topic: Life
We get frustrated when things go wrong because we believe it is our actions that make things happen, that if we do xyz, then abc will inevitably take place. Because we put so much faith in this, we are inevitably frustrated or disappointed when things do not happen as planned. We believe this most strongly in our constant pursuit of machines, technology. We are under an illusion that we can control things. But I'm more and more convinced that things work because of intention, or because life in general works, not because we make them work. If Life didn't work in general, we just wouldn't be here. With all the mistakes people make, all our careless actions, by rights a lot more should be falling apart all over the place. Life in general goes right despite our actions and mistakes. Why is that? What is keeping that balance?
I can only believe it is the power of Life, the Universe ( God, All That Is, Spirit, Life force, Nature, call it what you will). Our actions are the expressions of our intentions and desires. The results of our actions are like tracks in the sands of matter showing where we were. We run after our machines and whatnot because we think doing so will make our lives better, safer, or whatever. And the irony is that the reason technology works, despite all the things we do wrong with it, is because the very thing which we think we don't have, a benevolent universe or spirit running through everything, is what is keeping everything working (most of the time).
We don't need the machines (and all the stuff), but right now they are the story we are in the middle of. If we could view them as no different than the words (language) with which we speak, the dishes we cook, the songs we sing, the rhythms we dance, that they are the ocean we swim in right now, we might find that our happiness comes from deciding to be happy and act in this play joyfully and meaningfully, rather than from whether or not we can get things to turn out the way we think they should. The fun, the life, is in the trying. A desired result happening is icing on the cake. I suppose though, there are some of us who only like icing. (I wonder if the real reason one likes icing is because it means cake, and cake means special occasions, ie. its you're birthday, you're special?)
I've probably mangled writing the above. Hope someone can make sense out of it, or find resonance in it. Maybe I'll manage to say it better another time.
Posted by Catinka Knoth
at 2:47 PM EDT
Updated: Saturday, 10 September 2005 3:20 PM EDT
