The more we understand our own minds, the more we understand everyone else. We increasingly feel the commonality of our human condition, of what creates suffering and how we can be free. Our practice also benefits others through the transformation of how we are in the world. If we’re more accepting, more peaceful, less judgmental, less selfish, then the whole world is that much more loving and peaceful, that much less judgmental and selfish. Our mind-body is a vibrating, resonating energy system. Of necessity, how we are affects everyone around us. On a boat in the middle of a great storm, one wise, calm person can bring everyone to safety. The world is like that boat, tossed by the storms of greed and hatred and fear. Can we be one of those people who help to keep it safe?
When it comes to money, where we feel our clear interest, we have an entire art where the tester uses many means to discover the worth... just as we give great attention to judging things that might steer us badly. but when it comes to our own ruling principle, we yawn and doze off, accepting any appearance that flashes by without counting to cost.
—Epictetus, Discourses, 1.20.8:11(resource) The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom
Paulo Coelho, Stories for Parents, Children and Grandchildren
It is told about Gautama Buddha that he spent many lives in animal form, as various animals of the forest as the prince, Siddhartha of the Sakhya clan. This story is about his life as King of the Deer.
The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil?
Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own...
