Perfect Imperfection
Small and large discoveries for dissolving karmic patterns of suffering
Each individual’s precious life journey is richly endowed with opportunities for small and large discoveries. The inescapable imperfection of life presents intermittent suffering and dissatisfaction. Consider the premise that suffering and dissatisfaction take an infinite variety of forms from slight to great, with each presenting corresponding opportunities for small to large discoveries within the Game of Life.
Consider a series of WHAT IF questions for each being’s life journey as the Game of Life unfolds, moment by moment.
What if there are fundamental mysteries hidden within the suffering that arises during each life journey? What if one of the essential and inescapable mysteries might be finding the perfection that resides on the flip side of suffering’s coin?
What if it is possible to thread the needle opening of a dimly perceived gate that can lead from suffering’s apparent imperfection to the discovery of momentary perfection? And what if this perceptual opening then reveals solutions that were previously hidden from the obscured awareness of they who suffer?
Consider that there there is a potential infinity of apparent content within moments of suffering. This content seems to exist within what is presumed to be practical reality.
What if the nature of the game that is being played within each life journey is to find the key discovery that unlocks a testable solution to dissolve the suffering? What if there are clues [aka guidance] for discovering such solutions?
What if that is the fundamental nature of the precious human life each being is given at the level of practical reality?
· To experience the suffering.
· Get stuck in the content of it.
· Feel helpless.
· Become sufficiently motivated to explore ways to dissolve it.
· Explore pathways for dissolution.
· Find one or more relevant clues or hints that indicate a testable solution.
· Test it.
· Experience the relief that arises from an effective solution.
· Feel gratitude for the cessation of that particular suffering or dissatisfaction.
· Then repeat the same process, over and over, for seemingly endless cycles.
As this fundamental pattern repeats, what if they who suffer begin to wonder about the possibility of another level of reality? One that resides above and beyond the practical reality that grabs the attention of they who have been suffering, finding solutions and eventually experiencing moments of gratitude for the cessation of suffering during their life journey?
What if they who suffer begin to see hints and suggestions about the value of meditation? What if they decide to explore sources of training in one or a variety of meditative techniques? What if they decide to practice this or that meditative technique occasionally, or even diligently? What if as a result of their practice they are better able to pay attention to what is happening in the present moment? What if they begin to notice what is happening around them in their surroundings that provide hints and clues? What if they begin to notice thoughts that hint of a solution to test for this or that?
What if they begin to dimly perceive this might be the Game of Life within which they are embedded? As the content of the game unfolds with infinite variation, as they continue their practice of this or that meditative technique, and as suffering continues to arise, what if they begin to recognize the nature of the life game they are in. The way the content changes but the pattern of suffering, exploration, solution, relief and gratitude continues to repeat.
What if they wonder might there be a way to go beyond practical physical reality into a different level of metaphysical reality? What if the principles governing these levels of reality are different? What then?
What if they who have been suffering and finding solutions for the content of that suffering for their entire life begin to play the game of life on two levels? One being practical reality – the world out there. The other being metaphysical reality – the content of their consciousness in each moment of awareness.
What if they who have been suffering begin to not only notice the content of their consciousness as each moment arises and then dissolves, but also begin to notice a discernible pattern emerging?
What if this pattern is a relationship between moments of conscious awareness and related moments of practical reality? What if they who have been suffering and notice such a pattern begin to explore the effect of changing the pattern?
· Change the thought, change the result.
· Change the feeling, change the result.
· Change the behavior, change the result.
What if they who suffer discover these karmic causes of their suffering?
What then? 🤔
What if there is a way to enable, enhance and accelerate such discoveries as each being’s play evolves within the Game of Life?
An infinite multitude of choices are available during the Game of Life. The most fundamental choice involves a decision to enhance and deepen awareness. This choice includes paying attention to the contents of consciousness: thoughts, feelings and sensory perceptions.
It is well established that a variety of meditation practices deliver the benefit of enhanced awareness.
Mindfulness techniques typically involve sitting quietly while noticing the breath. As thoughts and feelings arise and are noticed, attention is returned to the breath. According to vipassana practice, extending the frequency and duration of mindfulness meditation to noticing the content of thoughts and images can cultivate insights about the nature and causes of suffering and dissatisfaction.
Concentration techniques typically cultivate focus and one-pointedness of attention. Rather than simply observing the breath and noticing bodily sensations and the contents of consciousness, concentration techniques actively focus the mind on a single point of awareness. Chanting is a common method for the cultivation of one-pointed concentration. Chanting can be secular and involve affirmations or it can be derived from ancient spiritual disciplines using sanskrit syllables that have been vocalized for centuries by masters and adepts. The metaphysical vibrations from these chants can have beneficial effects for the practitioner and nearby surroundings.
A popular mantra is om mani padme hum. It is chanted to open the heart, soothe an overactive mind and generate a loving kindness vibe
Both mindfulness and concentration styles of meditation have the potential to deliver powerful benefits that include enhanced awareness and the dissolution of suffering. This arises as the practitioner develops insight into the potential causes of dissatisfaction and suffering in their personal life journey. The human ego’s grasping, attachment, greed, hate and anger all contribute to suffering. Both mindfulness and concentration techniques have the potential over time to diminish the suffering that arises from egoic attachment, judgment and striving. Chanting of affirmations and goal statements can bring benefits within practical reality, but the desired achievements can also become ego food, thereby increasing the risk of more suffering.
This approach to the Game of Life is testable through direct experience. When engaged with diligent, opportunistic and creative commitment, it can become rich with small and large discoveries. The imperfections of life will then be punctuated by moments of perfection as each life journey unfolds.
🙏💕🌎
ib
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