Radically Condensed Instructions for Being Just as You Are

by J. Jennifer Matthews

Chances are we have adopted a rather grandiose identity as someone who “has peace” all the time. Do you see the irony here? When we try to overcome reactive emotions, there is always the infinitesimal remainder we can never be rid of. We are then like a rocket attempting to break the speed of light, which can never burn enough fuel to push the weight of its fuel to light speed. Wakefulness or enlightenment can be reasonably defined as appreciating the mystery of life in the present moment, while knowing it is the only 'thing' there is. Wakefulness’ opposite – the dissatisfaction brought about by reactive emotions and alienating desire – can be reasonably defined as the futile attempt to ‘get something out of life.’