Acceptance of Reality: The Five Remembrances

 Helter Skelter, Come What Made 

RamKrishna

Peace isn't about the expereince we get when the "good" things come our way, or when we avoid  the "bad" things of this life. Peace is what we experience when we are clean and clear and non reactive to whatever Life gives us. Hmm!  Even the hard stuff.  We can and need to accept the hard truths of Life if we truly want to experience peace.  Not so easy.

I have been thinking about the acceptance of these hard things. That brings to mind the Five Remembrances of the nature of Life, that Buddha taught.

1. I am of the nature to grow old.  There is no escaping growing old.

2. I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no escape to having ill health. 

3. I am of the nature to die.  There is no way to escape death.

4. All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change.  There is no way to escape being seperated from them.

5. My actions are my only true belongings.  I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand. 

Can you accept the inevitability and yet the unpredictability of these things?  Or do you still cringe and close up at the mere thought of any of them? 

Once you openly accept all of these with a smile on your face ...than you will know your practice was successful.

This all came to mind when I amswered a question from the jar. Hmm! Go figure.

All is well.