The Search For Enlightenment

When you find yourself in a situation where there is nothing you can do that will help, what should you do? Well if there really is nothing you can do, even after you have chanted yourself silly trying to find something, you must do nothing.

Now if you are anything like me, that is a very tall order indeed. I have to work very hard on my self discipline and use copious amounts of wisdom, courage and compassion, to just sit on my metaphorical hands and leave things alone.

But Time really is a wondrous element. At times it goes by at the speed of light, at others it moves with all the pace of a growing Oak tree. When I am in a difficult situation, but not allowing myself to try to fix things, I’m in a world of Oak trees, forests of them.

But just as the little acorn grows into the majestic Oak tree, the situation gradually starts to unfold. As it changes, almost imperceptibly at first, different options also become apparent. And like a pot, rotating on a potter’s wheel, I am eventually able to see even the knottiest challenge from all 360 degrees.

And this calm approach does not go un-noticed. The calmer you can remain, the less chance there is that you will inflame the situation. As we mentioned a couple of days ago, because you remain calm, your environment will remain calm too. Now that has to be a beneficial life-state for everyone concerned.

To borrow a quote from today’s SGI-UK Facebook page:

Suffer what there is to suffer, enjoy what there is to enjoy. Regard both suffering and joy as facts of life, and continue chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, no matter what happens. How could this be anything other than the boundless joy of the Law?

-Nichiren