Insights about Life Common to All
Living in the peaceful environment of our Retirement Village — which includes natural settings and gardens — is an ideal environment in which to think more deeply about life’s purpose and the grand cosmos of which we’re all a part.
The following are a number of insights about life that are common to all of us.
Nothing shared is meant to be morbid or depressing.
Rather, the intention is to look at life in a realistic way. This will make us more appreciative, as well as help us to cherish each new day, no matter what it may bring us.
May these insights be helpful reminders for everyone.
Impermanence: How Nothing Stays the Same
Transitoriness
All beings and situations are transitory by nature. Our physical body also is temporary like borrowed property. We are all like temporary residents who come and go. Previous generations have come and gone, passed on — and ours will too. Future generations, likewise, will pass on.
Guests Only
Using another comparison, we live like guests in a hotel – we can enjoy the opportunities before us, but always need to remember that we cannot take anything material with us when we leave.
Only on Loan
Our home, while it may be well-built and comfortable, is like something on loan – as are all our possessions. When we leave, we do not take them with us.
Family and Friends
In life, we are like travellers meeting at some destination. Our family, friends, and companions, although we have met and enjoyed their company, in the end (often all too soon it seems), we must separate and be parted from them.
Possessions and Wealth
Wealth, and the possessions that we may struggle so hard to gather and hoard, are equally not lasting. We amass them, only to find that others will eventually enjoy them.
Time to Go
Life shows us that when it is time for us to go, nothing will prevent it – not medicines, doctors, prayers, wealth, friends or family. We have no power to stay when it is time to move on. As much as we can, we need to make preparations for our future journey now — because death is real. It can come without warning, and it cannot be escaped.
Perception: How We Look at Life
Our Perceptions and Interpretations
“We don’t see the world, but our own ideas about it” (Lama Ole Nydahl). We need to be aware how our ideas, biases, feelings, and assumptions influence the way we view people and situations. Often, reality is remarkably different – and we delude ourselves. Misinterpreting reality is what can make us deeply and needlessly unhappy!
Unrealistic Expectations
Often in life, we expect everything to go our way. For example, we hope for happiness and fear suffering; hope for fame and fear insignificance; hope for praise and fear blame; hope for gain and fear loss. We need to accept that suffering, insignificance, blame, and loss are inevitable aspects of every life.
Living: How to Live Life
No Time to Lose
There is no time to waste in life. These days, it is so easy to be distracted. We can, for example, allow smartphones, tablets, or the media to occupy us all day Higher purposes and deeper meaning to life are often overlooked or neglected, even for years.
A Gift or a Burden?
When facing difficult circumstances, we need to ask ourselves if we are going to view the situation as a gift or a burden. It is easy to make excuses and adopt a victim mentality that will keep us defeated. In the end, the only one holding us back is ourselves.
Appreciation and Acceptance
“There are many strong and healthy people who die young, while many of the old and sick and feeble live on and on. Not knowing when we’ll die, we need to develop an appreciation and acceptance of what we have, while we have it, rather than continuing to find fault with our experience and constantly seeking to fulfill our desires.” (Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche)
Contentment
Those who are content in life are truly the richest. Even if they have little, their minds are filled with happiness. We might be well off, but without contentment, we are poor because our mind will never be satisfied.
Concluding Thoughts . . .
Each life is precious, and can be a blessing to ourselves and others. We need to remember that we have only a short time together, and be grateful for each day we share. Recognizing others’ limitations should inspire compassion instead of frustration and disappointment. This can help us achieve a more harmonious and peaceful life.
May we each bring seeds of happiness into others’ lives! After all, when someone that we knew dies, with them goes a part of us. And, besides all the memories, what they changed in us remains behind in the garden of our mind.
Alexander Peck
Impermanence: nothing stays the same.
Perception: how we look at life.
Living: how to live life