There's Always A Way Back
The Buddha said that every evening, when you see the sun set, you should reflect: “What if this is the last sunset I ever see?” But he also said: No matter how long you’ve been lost, if you can come into the present moment for just an instant before you die, that would be worth a great deal.
In other words, the spiritual path isn’t like a path through the forest, where a wrong turn means retracing every step. No matter how far you’ve wandered, it only takes a moment to return to your breath, your body, and your blessings.
Because life doesn’t keep score. And there’s always a way back to eternity.
That last sentence may sound overly mystical. “Who cares about eternity? I’ve lost my youth, my dreams, my way. And look at this planet, getting hotter and filling with war and inequality. Capitalism has sold everything there is to sell. Brother, we’re cooked!”
But look beneath the pessimism of our age and you’ll find not a real challenge to capitalism, but a surrender to it. Because those who think we’re out of time are actually repeating what capitalism has been telling us for centuries: time is a scarce commodity, always running out. Hoard it or spend it, but never trust in its natural abundance. And the brutal irony is, the scarcer time feels, the faster we consume.
I’m not saying some things aren’t urgent. But to repair our world, we have to slow down and, as the saying goes, plant trees whose shade we’ll never sit beneath. We have to broaden our children’s minds beyond the jobs they’ll get after graduation. And we have to find a daily relationship with eternity, whether through meditation or dance or simply watching the sun set.
There is always a way back. I say this knowing the planet will continue warming for decades even under our best scenarios. But “back” doesn’t mean back to some pre-industrial past. It means back to a true understanding of what any of this life is worth.
As always, if you’d like to be held through your process, reach out and we’ll set up a free coaching call.
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