dharmatalks

At some point in your life, I believe you must make the decision, if you are ever going to really grow (and grow-up) that you will no longer allow the shortcomings of our society become an excuse for your own failure to realise your potential.

We look around us and see a culture that is obsessed with spending money, drinking, partying, and digging themselves into a desperate and bottomless debt. Advertising, entertainment and peer pressure fuel this cycle of negative behaviour. We may begin making unhealthy decisions, and use as an excuse that we cannot help ourselves.

And we know that’s a lie.

Each of us possesses the same capacity for light, for awakening, for manifesting the abundance, calm and ease of the Buddha Mind or Christ Consciousness. We have the authority over our lives, not some imaginary external beings, forces or influences. That is why religion seldom does much to really solve the root of people’s addictions, habituation, overspending, and financial recklessness. Until someone takes responsibility, and affirms that their choice is not to imitate the failures of their society, their parents, their cultures, but rather to become the leaders who can set the example for, and inspire others around them, we will continue to fail.

The potential exists for you, right now, to decide that you’re not going to play the victim anymore.

It’s OK to ask for help. We can often accomplish more by seeking the support, encouragement and assistance of someone who already recognises our potential, or who has made the changes we wish to make. The psychological and emotional positioning of reaching out for help opens us – physiologically, psychologically and spiritually – so that we can become more courageous “warriors” against the effects of habituation.

Chances are, you don’t need someone to point out how out of control your behaviour may be in certain areas. You’ve already seen the impact that behaviour has had on your relationships with others, on your health, on your financial security.

Grow up! Stop the childish excuses! Wake up!

It’s not too late to change your behaviour, before you end up recreating the experiences of your past, which may have led to serious health problems, loss of loved ones, legal issues, or psychological problems.  Just reach out to someone who is willing to help you… and recognise that everything you need to accomplish this powerful transformation already exists within you.

Relax and allow yourself to focus on your breath. There, at the centre of your being is the ultimate capacity to transform every moment into love.

Love manifests as ease, peace, health, and balance. It is the Middle Way.

Practice whatever you can, so that the teachings of our lineage holders and dharma acharyas will not have been in vain, but above all, practice compassion, loving-kindness and mindfulness with every step.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

_____________________________________________

“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion;
Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom;
Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces;
O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa –
Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows,
Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”

_____________________________________________

Drawing on the essential teachings of the great spiritual teachers, philosophers and freethinkers throughout time, Khenpo Gurudas Śunyatananda (retired Archbishop Francis-Maria Salvato, O.C.) has been regarded as a provocative, revolutionary “voice of reason” within the field of religion and spirituality, since 1983. Having the distinction of being one of the few openly non-theistic, openly-gay and post-denominational thinkers ever to serve as Bishop-Exarch and spiritual leader of the autocephalic Eastern Catholic Franciscans in North America, Gurudas is the author of more than 600 articles, eight books and currently serves as the spiritual advisor for a non-theistic, intentional spiritual community, The Spiritus Project. He can be reached at: http://dharmadudeunplugged.com

Copyright ©2008, His Eminence Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.