Trailblazer
Veteran Member
Not nearly as shameful as me, I can assure you.
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Have you accepted your life as it is, or are you fighting it?
- Thread starter Spirit of Light
- Start date
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
That no matter what happens you accept it and go through it without feeling any different than a calm day
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Trying to make one's life better materially is not 'fighting life'. In Hinduism it is an important part of life along with three others, studies when one is a student, sex when one is an house-holder and 'Moksha' when one tries to disengage from the material world - the four 'Purusharthas', the done things (which are unblamable).
TagliatelliMonster
Veteran Member
Only concerning the things that I can't do anything about.
Revelation, a chapter of the New Testament bible, says that if we attack Iraq, God will punish us. For example, Revelation 15 says that we will have seven plagues, and I presume that COVID is one of them.
So, now that God has ordained our punishment, we must not defy God any further, and take our punishments. Therefore, we should not get a vaccine to save us from the wrath that God wants to give us. Nor should we restrict travel during the COVID pandemic, as the pope restricted travel to the Vatican. After all, it is God's plague, and if God wants to kill us, God should have the right to do so.
Furthermore, God said "though shalt not kill" which means that war is wrong. Therefore fighting terrorists is wrong. So, if an Arab, shouting "death to Americans" boards a plane, takes off his tennis shoe bomb and lights it on fire, we are supposed to be blown up and are not supposed to stop it. Furthermore, it would be politically incorrect to target investigations to Arabs, just because all of the recent acts of terrorism lately have emanated from Arabia and Egypt. So, we should just resign ourselves to getting blown up. By the way, an Arab did light a shoe bomb, but ended up burning his own lap and not exploding the plane. God moves in mysterious ways.
President W. Bush said things to inflame us, such as "don't cut and run" or "these colors (red, white, and blue flag) don't run." But, obviously W. Bush is not a person of faith.
We should be protected if we wander with a blindfold into freeway traffic.
We should be protected if we walk off the edge of a 100 story building or cliff.
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
I often wonder how much free will we have; a little, I think. Most but not all of it is illusory imo, and the illusion - delusion really, for it is of our own making - is a function of our pride. And pride only hurts, it never helps ( I stole that from Quentin Tarantino btw. Pulp Fiction
)Things do change. That they do is the only constant. All things must pass, both the good and the bad. Many times we may feel lost in darkness and not able to see a way forward; but then, when we least expect it, a door opens for us and the light comes flooding in.
A very great man once said, “Believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the light, even though for the moment you do not see.”
RestlessSoul
Well-Known Member
I suppose it might, if carried to the extreme. Equally, it can lead to acceptance, harmony between the inner and outer world, and freedom from the heartbreaking obsession that if we can just bend the world to our own will, all will be well.
Everywhere we see individuals, often with the best of intentions, trying to impose their will, their values, their opinions on the world about them. It clearly doesn't work.
Ever read Moby Dick? Captain Ahab tries to bend the tides, the winds, the elemental forces of nature to his own indomitable will; he destroys himself, sinks his ship, and drowns his crew.
I wouldn't personally advocate complete passivity; we are social animals and we have duties and responsibilities to our fellows. And I certainly don't think we should accept injustice, though perhaps i am contradicting myself here.
There appears to be no life without struggle - but the most productive struggle may be that within ourselves. Be the change you want to see in the world (Gandhi, I believe, said that?)
When we fight the world, and especially when we fight the will of God, there are no winners. That may be the true meaning of Free Will - I am free to submit to the will of God, or I can make like Frank, and Do it My Way; I don't have his voice though.
I have the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
This.
It's amazing how often questions can be answered by some version of 'context and balance'.
Koldo
Outstanding Member
Then I most certainly don't accept everything that life throws at me. And neither would I want to.
What you are describing seems to be similar to what would be experienced after a lobotomy. I definetely don't see that as an improvement over my human experience.
Now, that is not to say that I don't seek to be less concerned about the small things that happen almost daily...
You can also fight the negativity within yourself and try as best as you can to follow the will of God, to not follow your lower instincts or selfishness.
But it is you who has to do the fighting, eventhough you are aware that nothing you do can be done without His support and permission. Free will is an illusion because it is always embedded in His will but you cannot simply take your own initiative out of the equation, it doesn't work that way, the law of karma works anyway whether we like it or not. But what we can do is take His name before doing any action, so the reaction to our action will not be ours, that is one of the secrets of spiritual progress (also taught by Jesus by the way).
Koldo
Outstanding Member
I have the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
I have my very own version which I prefer:
I have the serenity to change what I can change, the courage to change what I thought I could not, and the wisdom to never presume there are things I can not change.
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
I do concern my effort to make life better for others. But i do not have huge needs for my own being.
Fighting to make it better? Not so much, given that our local impact on others is mostly not that important, and hardly ever counts in the wider world either. It seems to me, unless one was especially attracted to strife, that it is best to accept much of what life entails and to deal with one's own issues - so as not to harm others. Some seemingly have more pleasant lives, and hence can afford to look more outside of themselves. Plenty don't have that luxury though.
As we the people are the custodians and citizens of planet earth and the world, how we treat it and each other shapes and makes the world the way it is. Both the things we do and do not do shape the world.
So in that light I believe each one of us has responsibilities to society, the planet and each other to ensure what we do or don’t do does not harm or hurt the planet or our world.
We are interconnected. Collectively and individually we each bear responsibility for life on this planet. Much suffering is caused by people turning a blind eye to what goes on. The disparity between rich and poor. - where is our voice? World peace where is our voice? Prejudice and racism is our voice strong enough?
If we collectively accept these injustices aren’t we blameworthy? We elect governments. Why do we accept that our governments collectively spend $trillions on military budgets instead of spending it on the well being and betterment of the people? On providing universal education and universal Medicare etc.
Is there a strong world disarmament movement? Where is it? It would help solve poverty the money spent on weapons.
Yet millions in worldwide marches and with people unity alone were able to achieve same sex marriage in many nations.
Is it that there is a disconnect or that we just don’t care enough to push peacefully unitedly worldwide for huge changes that will result in the betterment of the world?
We did it for same sex marriage, why can’t we do it for disarmament, peace, universal Medicare and poverty?
So in that light I believe each one of us has responsibilities to society, the planet and each other to ensure what we do or don’t do does not harm or hurt the planet or our world.
We are interconnected. Collectively and individually we each bear responsibility for life on this planet. Much suffering is caused by people turning a blind eye to what goes on. The disparity between rich and poor. - where is our voice? World peace where is our voice? Prejudice and racism is our voice strong enough?
If we collectively accept these injustices aren’t we blameworthy? We elect governments. Why do we accept that our governments collectively spend $trillions on military budgets instead of spending it on the well being and betterment of the people? On providing universal education and universal Medicare etc.
Is there a strong world disarmament movement? Where is it? It would help solve poverty the money spent on weapons.
Yet millions in worldwide marches and with people unity alone were able to achieve same sex marriage in many nations.
Is it that there is a disconnect or that we just don’t care enough to push peacefully unitedly worldwide for huge changes that will result in the betterment of the world?
We did it for same sex marriage, why can’t we do it for disarmament, peace, universal Medicare and poverty?
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
Thanks for your understanding and wisdom. I have had that experience, lost in darkness and not able to see a way forward; and then, when I least expect it, a door opens and the light comes flooding in.I often wonder how much free will we have; a little, I think. Most but not all of it is illusory imo, and the illusion - delusion really, for it is of our own making - is a function of our pride. And pride only hurts, it never helps ( I stole that from Quentin Tarantino btw. Pulp Fiction
Things do change. That they do is the only constant. All things must pass, both the good and the bad. Many times we may feel lost in darkness and not able to see a way forward; but then, when we least expect it, a door opens for us and the light comes flooding in.
A very great man once said, “Believe more deeply. Hold your face up to the light, even though for the moment you do not see.”
In my religion it is written that the weak lean on the strong. I am usually very strong but there are days when life just gets to be too much to bear. I cannot really say why I am feeling this way, it is nothing I can put my finger on. There is nothing untoward going on, and in fact things are more stable than they have been for a long time, except that my husband is ill and I worry that he will not recover. Maybe that is part of why I am feeling this way. I try to repress the feelings in order to keep going, then they all come rushing out like they did yesterday.
I do not really want to be an atheist but being a believer is sometimes overwhelming because I have very high standards for myself and I put too much on myself, and then I feel guilty if I cannot measure up so I try to, but there are only so many hours in a day. Probably most people would not want to be a believer if they had the expectations I have for myself.
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I try to split things in two parts: the things I can control or at least make a difference, and those that are completely outside my control.
Worrying too much about stuff I can't control is a waste of time so when those thoughts pop into my mind I try to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
Then I'm left with doing the best I can with what I have. I'm not the type who's going to cross their arms and cry about everything negative going on. Every day comes with its challenges but I truly believe that little by little, those challenges can be dealt with. That might require some fighting, sometimes it goes well and others it's exhausting, but in the end, effort always pays better than doing nothing. Might as well take some action
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
I do change certain things tooI try to split things in two parts: the things I can control or at least make a difference, and those that are completely outside my control.
Worrying too much about stuff I can't control is a waste of time so when those thoughts pop into my mind I try to get rid of them as quickly as possible.
Then I'm left with doing the best I can with what I have. I'm not the type who's going to cross their arms and cry about everything negative going on. Every day comes with its challenges but I truly believe that little by little, those challenges can be dealt with. That might require some fighting, sometimes it goes well and others it's exhausting, but in the end, effort always pays better than doing nothing. Might as well take some action
meaning as an example if i learn my understanding of something is wrong i study to understand better.But i do not try to change others like i tried before. I let people think or feel about me as they want.
YoursTrue
Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
Would you say, though, there are guides that can direct your feet? Interesting question, though, to accept life as it is. For instance, I might think of visiting Mexico or Saudi Arabia, but I wasn't born there and I also know I don't have the time now to go exploring.
Spirit of Light
Be who ever you want
Allah guide me in life.
Saudi Arabia is not dangerous if we follow their rules when visiting ( do not have to agree with their politics or religious way to visit.