Meditations For Difficult Times
What do you do when the world has gone insane? Well, you stay calm, and keep working for justice, peace, democracy, ecological balance, and freedom. You also have to stay well. That does not mean unthinkingly obeying irrational fascist orders. It does mean managing stress, eating well, getting exercise, sunshine and fresh air, and time in nature, as much as possible under the circumstances. Yoga, pranayama, tai chi, chi gong, saunas and meditation are extremely helpful, too.
And sometimes, to me at least, you need to sit in a comfortable chair, preferably in a quiet place, with a cup of tea, and read a good book on philosophy or history (or both, such as Toulmin’s Cosmopolis, which I am reading now).
Then watch Terminator III.
If we can confront our mortality, and the mortality of the world, if we can meditate on death so as to fully realize it is a reality, and not just a vicious rumour or an urban legend – and something that happens to us all, and not just to other people – then we can live without fear, and we can act without fear; we can therefore be far more clear of mind; we can be far more empowered, and far more effective; and moreover, we can more fully and truly live.
You confront your fear. Then your fear has less and less power. Then you can act from calm, clear, confidence; from peace, and not from panic, anger, or anxiety. Then the world, and our lives, become better. Not before.
In fear mode, we are pawns in a game, easily manipulated, easily deceived. In fear mode, it is the blind leading the blind, and they will all fall in a ditch, or worse.
First, face your fear. The root fear is death. Face that, and you conquer all fear. Then you can act with clarity, confidence, and peace – and act sensibly, and not foolishly.
Not before. Not before.
JTR,
April 4, 2020
Writings of J. Todd Ring 
April 4, 2020 at 9:46 pm
Post-Script:
Faith, Hope & Love, During Difficult Times
Now is a time for faith. Or if you prefer, and perhaps more important yet: for perseverance, for patience, for forbearance, for resolve, for courage, for confidence, for sheer determination, for resiliency, or sisu (that beautiful Finnish word), or chutzpah – and for a long term perspective, as the Dalai Lama has advised.
Remember, life is change, and this too shall pass. All is change – and everything is transmutable, as Trungpa said.
That does not mean we should be passive spectators only. Far from it.
Another thing the Dalai Lama said comes to mind now. He said, “When I talk about patience, I mean long term patience. I want a person of action. I want someone who gets things done.”
Exactly.
Always, the work to be done is to live with compassion, and to help others, and other living beings, human or otherwise, as much as we can.
Compassion dictates that we do not surrender to despair, under any circumstances. People need help, so we help them. The Earth needs our help – as humble, yet confident stewards who acknowledge they do not, nor should they ever, attempt to be the masters of nature, yet must always be her protector, as she is ours.
So we act. We nourish ourselves, in body, spirit and mind, so that we can act with compassion, and bring healing to this troubled world. That is what must be done, in this time or any other. Now is no different, essentially, than any other time.
But the people are waking up to our inseparable interconnectedness and interdependence. We truly are all one family. And that awakening is a good thing.
Remember also, as Thoreau said,
“There is more day yet to dawn.”
JTR,
April 4, 2020
LikeLike