Word of the Day: Overcome
Just like not continuing a particular activity for a long period of time, without the presence of continuous and assiduous practice, one loses the uncanny ability to ovcercome the abyss of fear of no longer being able to perform or do something well. Until a certain action accompanied with a strong absolute determination propelled us towards the trajectory of progress. Same goes with my writing – hasn’t written for a long while, and felt as if I’ve lost the mojo. But then again, I learn not to trust on the basis of feelings alone and here I am typing this because I am compelled to do so.
Because, I have something to say – and even if these will take some baby steps to ginourmous efforts, I will start from borrowing words and ideas from others and start to take flight. Something inspires me today, and it’s an article from Greg Johns on how do we consistently believe in our potential when we don’t see any proof in our lives. The many motivating factors in practicing certain way of living or believing in a certain philosophy as our guiding principles in life lies in the fact that we all need proof of practice. An evidence per se, which is able to convince ourselves, and also others around us that – “yup, she must be doing something right and therefore she is getting so-and-so and has such-and-such”. Even when we are not all out to prove to anyone, we sometimes owe ourselves the explanation of why are bad things happening like shit storms when we practice to the best of our abilility, adheres to the what-not-to do, or what-not-to-think, but still problems after problems persist like there is no tomorrow. We struggle with our doubts, our frustration hardballing into perpetual cycle of giving up and picking up again and most of the times – the very basic human tendency is, we forget - too easily. Just like sparks of momentous happiness and stabs of painful episodes, with the passage of times – they lose their grip on our lives and their imprint fades upon the fashionable style of c’est la vie. Life goes on, anyway.
I guess I’m not much of a protagonists for the right or wrong answer in life. There’s too many moral polices around that there is not much value in a person second guessing our next move, predicting the “normal” outcome and dishing out advices which are meant to kept people fearful of failure in their lives. And these characteristics often played upon by religious and secular gurus meant to intimidate their followers often become the binding rules of what we ought to and not to do, otherwise some unforeseen unfavourable circumstances will prevail the lives of those who go against. Against what, though? Against the fact that I shall relinquish my right to live – by reducing my spirituality to a childlike manner so that I can learn to live within the boundary of the agreed perception of righteousness, and be assured that I will be rewarded in the form of material benefit, and the sudden forces of the universe to envelope me under their vast protection?
The late Nichiren Daishonin, a Buddhist monk who propagated the teachings of Lotus Sutra in Japan lead a life where he almost certainly did not have sufficient proof within his lifetime to lasts his practice, if we were to apply the common yardsticks which modern living has supposedly superimposed on us. But, Nichiren went to great lengths, at a time where there is no such proof that such transformation will bring peace and prosperity – but continue to endure his persecutions, perservere in faith and strive for inconspicious benefit. And his dedication to humanity’s happiness despite his extraordinary persecution was proof that there are more important aspects to life than material gain, comfort or things just falling into place. And that most important thing is for us to have the conviction, courage and forbearance to reveal our own potential (or enlightened characteristics), challenge the very walls or deadlocks which is in front of us and prove to others that there is a profound reality and way of living in this very moment, by being undefeated.
I know what inspire me on a daily basis, and it is definitely not someone who lives an amazing life and stories only revolved around his or her good fortune in life. I would be happy for them, but not inspired. A person’s life who is steeped in the reality of the difficulty of transformation in daily life inspires others to do the same. I am sure that there are many other living embodiment of such way of living, but I am only quoting from the Daishonin’s life who has complete conviction in the subsequent and eventual phenomenonal benefit of continuing in faith with hope and compassion while grappling with the reality of living. His purpose for enduring was not to foster people who are reliant on the environment or people who are seeking to enjoy a child-like state in which others and the environment are expected to look after them.
Our responsibility of practice is to face the reality of our own life with faith and courage, challenge and transform our negativity into beauty instead of color categorizing it into shades of white goodness or black evil. And our unspoken duty to ourselves and to people around us, is to inspire them by living our own lives in this manner – and allowing them to see that when we do not accept the winds of daily life and be victim of our circumstances, and when we strive towards who we want to be despite who we currently are with courageous actions – we are earning our rights to live a life of knowing that this would be the starting point of an immense grassroot movement for peace.
The concept of world peace no longer remains abstract when we decide to become an active contributor towards our lives, and others. Do I want to live a life of victimhood, or do I want to challenge myself alongside the footprints of Daishonin’s spirit and have a glimpse of what it means to experience an unlimited joy of existence?
To have this choice, is in itself, unimaginable good fortune.
Note: Some sentences and paragraphs have been quoted at liberty from Greg John’s article (page 32 of February 2010 Indigo magazine)
