Today's Meditation - All Structure and Orientation Is Essentially Arbitrary.

Something to think about.

Domiance

"Sun shines in the centre of the sky. All things turn their faces toward the light."

"All things in this life depend on direction. In our world, all is oriented toward the sun? The planets revolve around it, the seasons depend upon it, and out very own concept of night and day is tied to the sun's rise and setting. The sun is the dominant element of our lives.

In all othe areas of our actions, we cannot avoid making arrangement that have a centre or orientation. Our lives require composition, just as the solar system has a relationship and structure. Yet all structure and orientation is essentially arbitrary.

We take the sun as the centre of our world because of our vantage point. To someone standing in another galaxy, our sun is nothing more than another point in limitless space. There is no absolute standard by which to truly call something the centre. Therefore, all arrangements and all compositions, all determinations of a dominant element are relative, subjective and provisional. 

There is no center except for that in our own consciousness. Wen we look at the sun and the arrangement of the planets, we must also include ourselves as observers. How else is there determination of what is being seen?  Consciousness is part of the phenomenon. We are the centre, and there is no absolute measure."

Commitment

I have a friend who is triathlete. And very accomplished one. He has been training for more than twenty years: running, cycling, swimming. Every day. No matter what. Unless he is sick. Every day, no matter what he trains. Rain or shine he trains. Happy or unhappy he trains. He is committed. 

He is also fully committed to believing that he can. Two years ago he has started his business. He resigned from a comfy position in a bank and decided to embark on an uncertain self-employment journey. It's been though. It's been rough. It's been frustrating. But he does not complain. For all this time, I have not heard a tiny complaint from him. Instead, each day he gets up with more hope and a wholehearted decision that he will face the obstacles and make the most of whatever hand has been dealt for him. He is committed.

I read:

"Spiritual success is gained by daily cultivation. If you practiced for the day, then you have won. If you were lazy for the day, then you have lost.

Self-cultivation is the heart of spiritual attainment. Gaining insight and ability is not a matter of grand statements, dramatic initiations, or sporadic moments of enlightenment. Those things are only highlights in a life of consistent activity.

Whatever system of spirituality you practice, do it every day. If it is prayer, then pray every day. If it is meditation, then mediate every day. If it is exercise, then exercise every day. only then will you be able to say that you are truly practicing spirituality. 

This methodological approach is reassuring in several ways. First, it provides you with a process and a means to maintain progress even if that particular day is not inspiring of significant. Just to practice is already good. Secondly, it gives you a certain faith. If you practice every day, it is inevitable that you will gain from it. Thirdly, constant practice gives you a certain satisfaction. how can you say to yourself that you have truly entered a spiritual path unless you can look back on years of rail practice and take comfort in the momentum that it has given you?" (from Den Ming-Dao's 'Tao. Daily Mediations)

I read this and I though of my triathlete friend. 

His commitment is a daily spiritual practice. It is a daily exercise of mind and body. It is a daily exercise in faith that what he does make sense and will bring benefits. It's a daily exercise in believing into something that he has no guarantees will work out. He still is committed.

I think of my triathlete friend every time I plunge into the pool and practice my own commitment.

From 365 Tao Daily Meditations by Deng Ming-Dao

Usually when I read these daily meditations I open the book on a random page. Today I've chosen to check the meditation for the 5th of December. It's simple, it's beautiful and so true.

"Learning is the fountain of youth.
No matter how old you are, you mustn't stop growing.

Don't think that creativity is only for artists, writers, and musicians. Creativity is essential element for everyone. Unlike the outer-directed creativity of making art, solving problems, or writing, the creativity that everyone can engage in is learning.

As long as we continue to learn, welcome new ideas and ways of doing things, and continually expand our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, then we are engaging in the ultimate creativity of the self.

If one looks carefully of those seniors who are ongoing and vital participant of life, one will see that a common habit is continuous learning and interest. These seniors are not the same as they were in their youth. They have found new ways of learning and acting.

As we enter each new phase of our lives, the parameters change. If we are sixty, we cannot do the same activities that we did as teenagers. Therefore, we need to revamp ourselves according to our situation. That continuing act of creativity keeps us young".

Any comments?