No 243 of Living Life Series 1
We cannot change the world and others. We cannot change ourselves but we can certainly change the way we handle the world.
If we try to change the world or others, we will not be at peace, more so if we try to change things in a very big way. That will upset the status quo and destroy any semblance of peace that we may have.
We must accept ourselves for what we are and can be. We too must accept others for what they are and what they choose to be or do. We must also accept situations but change the way we handle situations.
We must try not to correct situations and most times, we may not be able to do so. We can usually still change the way we can better handle situations even if we cannot change situations. It will be onerous and taxing to want to change and correct situations all the time.
It will likewise be ridiculous to change or correct others as well. That will often bring on conflicts and relationship issues
Go for the peace by being at peace with situations and others. If change is needed, easier to change the way we handle situations than even to change ourselves let alone others.
This is the doctrine of life. We learn from the truth of life as it unfurls. Life is our living bible or gospel and we must value it. We learn from our own life and from the life of others. This is the teaching of all saints and Lord Bo Tien too is no exception.
We must cope with life often by not trying to change the world, let alone ourselves but we need to learn how to change the way we handle life, situations and others. Cheers and that will be the way to peace in life for most of us. Even God cannot change or correct men, let alone we men trying to do what God would not do most of the time.
Go for peace in life often by changing not men (be it others or oneself) or situations but changing only the way we handle them. We do not try to correct or change men. We do not need to change oneself as well. We don't need to change situations. We do need to change how we handle situations and men. Only on rare instances, would it be worth while to change men and situations. This would be the exception rather than the norm.
For in life, we do have to go with the flow but not be at mercy of the flow if we want to maintain the peace and be happy. In life of polarities of yin and yang, we cannot run away from yin and yang but we can flow along and make sure somehow we are not tossed around by yin and yang. We must be on top of and be at peace with yin yang of life. This is depicted by the pakua or by the seated image of Lord Bo Tien with feet atop the elements.
Yin and yang may swirl round and round but we must stand still and be at peace like the centre of the pakua
or like the lotus serene and at peace above the mud and water
