Enlightened Happiness

TODAY'S QUOTE:
"Try to be reasonable in the way you grow, and don't ever think it is too late. It is never too late. Even if you are going to die tomorrow, keep yourself straight and clear and be a happy human being today. If you keep your situation happy day by day, you will eventually reach the greatest happiness of enlightenment.".... Lama Thubten Yeshe, The Bliss of Inner Fire

The greatest happiness of enlightenment! WOW! Reasonable growth? Exactly!!!! That makes perfect sense; controlled expansion factors in the time needed to adjust to each new measure of fullness before continuing on to the next level. It affords the space necessary to assimilate knowledge into action. It allows difficult lessons to sink in soul-deep before any brutal testing of cognitive content.

We humans waste so much time and energy craving things of little or no real importance. If people only realized what peace and contentment comes from self knowledge they'd hunt there for real answers. And they'd find them too, I certainly discovered much more than I ever dreamed possible.

I was astonished by all the things I didn't know about myself until I took the time to really get acquainted. I knew what others wanted from me. I was hyper-aware of what they felt and why, but I was totally clueless inside myself. I attempted to live up to certain expectations and tried hard to live down others, but I never got it just right. I didn't realize that by using this recipe there was never any hope for success. I just kept trying harder.

I believed the problem was some sort of lack on my part. The effort I put into fashioning myself from someone else's pattern was viscous punishment for my heart, mind, and soul. It almost did me in, leaving me standing at the brutal crossroads of really live or be satisfied to die. My awakening happened in the blink of an eye, and I haven't done much nappin' since this journey began.

Well, I suppose it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which fork in the road I chose to travel.The rebirth began long ago, (10-30-93)... but it's far from over. As long as I breathe I'll continue to grow with measured steps whenever possible. And when growth is on a pause I'll use that time for reflection of lessons learned and goals yet to master. Any roots will be encouraged to form, by design, inside my soul and not under my feet or in my mind. A pause is never an invitation to settle there and build a monument to a job well-done. This job is never done, whatever the results so far.

Just when you think you really know all there is to know about yourself something will happen that alters the landscape enough to change you without warning. Your hands on the wheel will control the direction of the alterations and pumping the brakes will control your speed enough for a full recovery from any skid. Just factor in the inevitable and realize that no matter what happens around you that you remain in total control of what goes on inside of you.

I highly recommend the trip. A hunger for knowledge should include all available subject matter. What better course of study could be more worthwhile to be an honor student of than the workings of self? Travel at your own speed. You won't need baggage, you'll find plenty of that without carrying more. Unpack as you go and repack with whatever will further your footsteps. And as always.... think about it.... let it ride.... then decide!!!!