Learning how to be

"Have good trust in yourself...not in the one that you think you should be, but the One that you are." -Tiazan Maezumi Roshi

This is a very powerful statement. Very simple, yet it is overflowing with meaning. I see so many people who don't trust and love who they are, so they turn to anger, sadness, depression, addictions, etc...as a self defense. Everything becomes a struggle. Yet, it is a self-created struggle. Struggling to get somewhere, be someone, attain some goal...

It sounds very simple to love oneself, yet because we get caught inside our own head, and create internal struggles with our own ego about right/wrong, good/bad, we don't know how to just be.

The key is to learn how to quiet the mind. Emptiness is the prize because once we can turn off the chatter in our heads analyzing every move we make, every person we meet, every situation we stand in front of...we can really just be one with ourselves and the universe.

I picture my mind turning to a lake so still it looks like glass. I listen to my breath until I can't tell the difference between it and the air flowing through the trees. I feel my heartbeat until I don't know the difference between the rhythm of it and the rhythm of nature around me. You finally can just be and feel what it's like to be part of everything, the whole universe. You are everything beautiful and ugly that makes up this world because we all depend upon each other for existence; everything that leads up to this very moment that we are in has brought us to be here and without each and every moment, this very moment would cease. You are every person, every insect, every vast ocean and starry night sky, planet, galaxy, birth, death, health, sickness, love, hate...because we are all a unique part of one whole. And anyone can find it because whatever wonder and amazement you know is there when you look out into the vast universe can be found inside of you.

Just be.