Mind Full to Mindful: Zen Wisdom From a Monk's Bowl

by Om Swami

One of the greatest illusions – or even delusions – people have is of a life where they are comfortably sitting, relaxing and having no stress at all; just enjoying themselves. Everybody, at some point in time, dreams of a life like that; one with no stress. The delusion is that somehow it could be a happy life, but nothing could be further from the truth. A life where there are no challenges is unfulfilling. It’s a very boring life, one not worth living, assuming it’s even bearable. Pain is an essential part of our spiritual progress. Whether our challenges are self-imposed or forced upon us, they make us work, think and appreciate the more desirable aspects of life. For a seed to sprout, it has to push through the earth – it must go against gravity. The harderit pushes through the earth, the more against the gravity it can go. The taller it will grow, the more it will flourish. This is why many rich people are very bored with their lives – especially those who inherit their wealth. There is little challenge or the joy of exhilaration upon accomplishing something after tremendous hard work. By no means am I saying that the lives of rich people are easy. I have known enough such people and was even blessed with decent wealth myself at one point to know that life is anything but rosy. It may be full, but not necessarily fulfilling. And when that is the case, we often search for a purpose.