I am under no illusion that my hour or two of imperfect meditation each day does anything to change the circumstances that confront us every moment of our lives.
We are inundated by news of the rapidly deteriorating environment, corrupt politics, the economics of war, the displacement and devastation of life caused by unending greed and religiosity, over-population and insufficient natural resources to support us, rampant nationalism, overt racism, and various and myriad belief systems turned into systems of hate and prejudice that turns us into xenophobic freaks so rabid we are able to justify torture and murder in the name of “god”. We are forced to face a not so pleasant future on planet earth.
If hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of sages, mystics, visionaries, gurus, monks, and other enlightened folk throughout the ages, meditating hour upon hour, day upon day, week upon week, month upon month, year upon year, decade upon decade, era after era, cannot change the maddening course we are on to certain destruction, maybe it is time to realize that perhaps changing our circumstances is not the purpose of meditation, or if you prefer, prayer. Maybe we have been beating our heads and fists against a door that only exists in our minds.
Perhaps our solitary waiting is so that we can see a different reality beyond understanding. Perhaps this great unknown is just beyond our daily hurry and worry, waiting for us to slow down long enough to show itself. I can’t say that I know anything for certain. I can’t begin to articulate any of it, but for me, that’s O.K. I know that sitting quietly, waiting, breathing, brings a certain tranquility in the midst of chaos, and for now, that’s enough. Who knows what insight tomorrow might bring.
eyeamdust 