Please don't misunderstand me, I am deeply sorry for the poverty and sickness, the injustices and the catastrophes near and far but I will not dwell therein. There is much too widespread depression, sadness and anger already to dump another pitiable lot on the heap.
My childhood memories contain heroes and protectors that "used their powers for good instead of evil". I believed that leaders gained their position through virtue and excellence. We respected our elders. Reality may not have been so glowing through their adult eyes but now it seems more genuine than the weird behaviour of society portrayed today by the media.
I choose to abide in a space of goodness, abundance, health and happiness and I am not alone. Many great and esteemed thinkers, such as Jesus Christ, Socrates and Albert Einstein, espoused the merit for being aware of our focus and to have gratitude for our blessings. Regardless that these ideas are not new, with help from the current and timely, large-scale promotion of the book and DVD, "The Secret", this mindset is rapidly spreading.
The fastest growing religion is Buddhism, I read recently in a news and current affairs magazine. It is obvious why when the philosophy is explored, understood and put into practice. It commands credibility on examination of the life of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, His Holiness The Dalai Lama, the living embodiment and honoured example of the teachings. Although he describes himself as a simple monk, he is truly regarded as a preeminent Buddhist scholar. What appeals to many is his down to earth, warm, humorous approach and humble manner despite his prominent status.
In his book, "The Art of Happiness, A Handbook for Living", he declared; "....even when thinking about those Communist Chinese who inflicted great harm on some of the Tibetan people- as a result of my Buddhist training I feel a certain compassion towards even the torturer, because I understand that the torturer was in fact compelled by other negative forces....even if a person committed atrocities, I simply cannot feel or think that because of their atrocities they should experience negative things or not experience a moment of happiness." The Dalai Lama and many others have followed the Buddha's teachings to rise above the pain and suffering that exists in life.
The few paragon codes for reference that I have adopted I interpret this way; that we are all fundamentally pure and compassionate at heart, that we should give help and always avoid harm to others, that everything originates from a cause and creates an effect (karma), and the way things appear or are perceived is not necessarily the way they actually are.
Everyone wants to be happy - an achievable state when acquired through the discipline and transformation of attitude and outlook, and by gradually eliminating the elements that cause us to suffer and encouraging those that lead to happiness. A valuable quote from the medical missionary, Wilfred Grenfell, illustrated and expanded on this concept when he expressed;
"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of others, but from doing something worthwhile."
Some may consider the goal of happiness as selfish and unworthy but not so when seen from the perspective that to help yourself to be more harmonious and peaceful, you are less of a bother to others and the world around you suffers less negative impact.
A compassionate stance may well be the most effective response to the violent actions and criminal activities that plague society. Retribution and revenge only perpetuates a cycle of ongoing retribution and revenge with no progression towards resolution. What ever happened to "the pen being mightier than the sword" and why in this supposedly advanced era of civilisation is war and military presence the only rebuttal?
To shift, even slightly, in attitude and to scrutinise the true priorities of value and importance may profoundly alter the course of one's life. To be thankful for the good in life knowing that there are many with much worse conditions. Developing a positive solution rather than negative reaction, inspiring health as opposed to treating disease, creating abundance instead of overcoming lack is the productive process aligned with the benevolent, natural laws and patterns of nature. The physical body's intrinsic mechanism and healing systems demonstrate perfectly the universal flow toward renewal and evolutionary growth.
Deliberately cultivating the essential core of compassion, love and sharing within individuals and throughout society and with our leaders representing and manifesting those qualities a new enlightened era will flourish. My rosy view and happiness will be commonplace and the stories will always end with " and they all lived happily ever after".
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