The Ring

Imagine you have 'the ring' right in front of you. Your first thought is what if you put it on, but you know that this evil force will swallow you in a heart-beat. Then you wonder whether you should just drop it to the deepest part of the ocean, but you realize that this way you give power to it as well: it will be your darkest fear that the ring may somehow come back to the surface.The hobbits couldn't deal with the power, but perhaps there is something we have learned over the millenia.

Frodo was torn to pieces trying to keep this force at bay, but today we might gain strength, peace and wisdom from it if we see it for what it is and just monitor what is going on inside ourselves as we are exposed to the temptation. Every time your mind makes a connection with this power, you may be mindful enough to realize what this mental link was all about. You may also have the will-power to stop the mind chain reaction just before the train-of-thought leaves the station. In time, you start learning what the masquerade of your desires is really all about. The ring is actually a great learning experience; if you manage to keep its force at bay and realize how it loses its power over time as you figure out the workings of your mind.

Every generation, our choice set is expanding. We work multiple jobs, in different cities, sometimes even countries. We have the sexual freedom to express ourselves, and we have almost unlimited possibilities to get hooked on addictions. This wasn't always the case. In the olden days, kings and the ruling class had the means and opportunities to do all that, the average peasant or artisan had one job, one wife and a small community to interact with. A spiritual path traveler today is someone who has the ability to do whatever he or she pleases, but ends up, after some trial and error, to do the 'right' thing - not because somebody enlightened says so, but because it just feels right.