Life Is Giving Its Greatest Gift Every Moment — Are You Available to It?
Life is blessing you with million ways to connect deeply with your true self, don't miss the valuable opportunity. Here is a gentle reminder to kick start your every day.
What if you could feel every moment of day intensely? The air that you breathe, the touch of your hands, each step you take, every gulp of water and chew.
It could be overwhelming for many. Rarely, anybody gives attention to these so-called usual chores.
Once, someone asked the great Mahavira, "What is a pious act, and what is sinful?"
After a brief silence, he replied, "The actions performed with an unconscious mind are sinful acts. The conscious actions performed are always pious."
Difference Between a Conscious and Unconscious Action
Suppose you woke up this morning, grabbed a cup of coffee while strolling on the balcony. Bright colors lit the sky, but the upcoming schedules of meetings already occupy your mind. This act is unconscious.
You are not aware of the coffee cup holding in your hands. You walk with great unawareness while sipping your coffee. You are absent at the moment.
Not that it is sinful, per se.
But the unawareness of your actions leads to the endless cycle of karmic bondage.
Actions should free you, liberate you to live life completely. But this array of thoughts, emotions, and actions sinks you more into the cycle of karma.
The Endless Cycle of Karma and How to Be Free From It
Every action, intention, and thought bind you in a karmic cycle. As most don't know how to act in awareness, they get more stuck. The only solution to be free from this cycle is to become aware.
Awareness leads to detachment and grace!
Imagine you helped your colleague with a minor task. It made you happy, but it also planted a seed of expectation inside your mind.
'If I helped him, maybe he would help me too when I need him."
The unconscious built-up expectation will end in 2 ways. Either it will make you happy when he'd help, or it will make you frustrated when he would not.
This is the endless karmic cycle.
But if you helped someone with no expectation. You helped because you wanted to, as it will give you joy — then that action happens at the moment.
You rejoiced in helping them and moved forward with no hope. The moment came, and it went away, giving you and the other joy.
If that person helps you in the future, you become more grateful as you didn't anticipate it.
But life works mysteriously. Most times, it is not always the same person. But help comes when you need it.
It happens when you become available to grace.
When your heart opens, every being on the planet becomes part of your family. In this oneness, the universe blesses you with immense grace.
'Now' Is the Time to Move Ahead to Experience The Bliss
The next obvious question arises, "From where should I start? What should I do to experience this life?"
The perfect time to start is 'Now.'
Take a pause right now as you read this.
- Become aware of the breath flowing through your nose.
- The movement of your belly as it moves up and down.
- Be aware of the movement of your fingers and hands as it scrolls down the post.
This is a conscious act. Spread it across your entire life and its activities.
From small moments to heated minutes, life presents a million opportunities. Be aware when anger, frustration, jealousy, pain, expectations, comparison, grief engulf you.
The mind loves to strengthen your identity with accomplishments, emotions, or thoughts. Be conscious of it, and gradually it will dissolve.
The jump is too big to make. Start with small actions. Practice it consistently. You will see a significant change when you remain stable, even when someone triggers you.
It is not impossible. But yes, it isn't easy. You slip invariably.
Build Your Support System to Prevent the Tendency to Slip to Deep-Rooted Old Patterns
Repeated actions strengthen your tendency to act in a certain way.
Overnight, you can not change how you argue or vent out anger. You can not even change your expression of care or love.
Constant reminders by like-minded people force you to see through your sleep-walking.
Build your support system. It is a trust system where you walk along with people on the same path. An encouraging place where you can express your authentic self safely, where you don't have to hide.
When you flower your being, you inspire others around you. You inspire others when you live the way you are. After all, this entire world is a vast community of humans. Everybody is suffering.
Ram Dass so aptly says,
“We all are walking each other home.”
