Awakened by the Moment

I was shopping in the grocery store yesterday and suddenly found myself on camera in one of the security cameras. It only caught my face for a micro second, but it was long enough for me to notice that I didn't look happy. I must have been caught in some train of thought, but used the precious opportunity to wake up from it, least for a moment or two.

We are all robots most of the time, riding train of thoughts that we think express our being, when in fact we are just participants in a movie that is beyond our conscious control. Have you ever seen how unhappy old people look most of the time? Dark thoughts indeed they must have based on their grim facial expressions.

But then, you don't have to end up that way at all. You can be as happy and flexible as children, and today you have a perfect opportunity to turn your ship around. Think of everything that happens in your life - failures as much as successes, pleasant surprises as well as unpleasant ones, applause as much as criticism - as a way to be rescued from your auto-pilot. Welcome everything that comes your way, no matter what. Never aspire to be elsewhere other than the situation you are in and the company you have right now. Life is your guarantee to be awakened at that holy moment.

Your mind attempts to shield you from life. You certainly can't stop these thoughts from popping up, but you can do your best to allow life to redirect your energy. My philosophy is to say yes to everything that comes my way, no matter how painful or joyful it appears on the outset. The alternative is dreadful - me having fun with my thoughts. I think that it is fun for sure, but my facial expression suggest otherwise. In contrast, when I have to engage with people in the situations life throws at me, I may dread them in advance, but when the camera catches me engaging with the now, there is suddenly liveliness in my facial expression. The Tao keeps you in the now.

There is no difference between the spiritual folks and many other folks at all. Everyone has the same shot at happiness, everyone has the same right to be blessed by the moment. Show up for life and engage completely with consideration and love for others and you are as spiritual as they come. They say 'be here now or be nowhere'; yup, that is the Tao in action - life is as simple as that.