Now, looking back at that time, I think the truth is that I actually had considerable equanimity - back then! Sure, there were some things I didn't follow through on, but that was largely because I took people's word that they would do something as meaning something. By taking on board the "suggested" lesson of not being complacent from people who didn't really understand what made me tick, I actually started the long erosion of that equanimity.
I now find myself, nearly three decades later, in a situation where I have to claw that equanimity back. Of course, that erosion was not due solely to a false lesson being imposed by others: it also came about as I tried to cope with massive amounts of discrimination (copped another lot today at work, actually) through being a member of several minority groups. In fact, one of my key issues here came about because of a previous work manager, from several decades ago, at another company, who claimed there was no need to address discrimination or harassment if people were not obviously upset - and the "obvious" had to be extremely obvious, in his case, such as metaphorically jumping up and down (which would lead to comments along the lines of "calm down").
Still, I could take a reasonable line when I was dealing with rational people - for example, politicians I and others were working with a decade or so ago. In their case, I didn't need to jump up and down to be paid realistic attention, i could present a case calmly and get a fair hearing.
Hmmm. Quite a few lessons in there for me to consider ... and maybe others will learn from my mistakes. Of course, it would have helped me at that time if I had the vocabulary to express myself more eloquently.
Anyway, on the search for equanimity, my de-stressing is going well, with the resumption of regular walks around a lake after work, plans for an early morning trip to the bush on the weekend, and more incense and crystals in shared areas of the house. It will be, however, a long process ... my recent realisation has helped, but I think I need to keep working for quite some time. Might even be able to get a boat and get back on the water (which is VERY de-stressing for me) before this is all over ...
Well, let's get to the ostensible purpose of this post: more reading :)
Now, this first article is about a point of view that I don't always agree with: that people come into this world with their karma from their previous lives, and hence they are not necessarily Innocent. Well, I do actually agree with that, but I think the argument misses out on the view that many (or maybe only some ... ?) events happen as tests, perhaps of those people around the people undergoing unpleasant events.
I also know that children are not innocent darlings - I REMEMBER the bullying, the unpleasantness, the fights, the exclusions ... some children are, in my opinion, evil, or very nearly so - even with allowances for immaturity and possible lack of love etc. But it is still difficult to consider that a child with say, Type 1 diabetes, or a birth defect, might have that as a result of what they have done to others in a previous life. I have to admit that it is conceivable: for instance, if I think of what happened at the My Lae massacre (the Wikipedia link is here, but caution: it is disturbing, and has some graphic images) during the Vietnam war, people like William Calley possibly deserve to reborn as children who undergo some of what he caused to be dished out ... or possibly the soldiers who did the slaughtering under his command could come back as his children and he experiences what it is like to lose a child that way while they experience what they dished out. (Some of the soldiers resisted taking part - they were apparently abused for 30 years before their efforts were finally honoured: see here.)
The comments about why bad things happen to good people are closer to what I think - of course, this does suggest that I dished out to my problem manager from a few decades ago the sort of behaviour he dished out to me :) Fortunately, though, it seems I have cleared that karma, as my work situation is much better (in terms of managers, at any rate).
"Karma: The Ultimate T*** in the Cauldron", by Morgan St. Knight
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usga&c=words&id=14610
(I don't have an adults only warning on this website for a whole range of reason, so I have edited the heading)
"Heathen Virtues (Plus One) for Eco-Activists", by Heather Awen
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usny&c=words&id=14596
"Spirit Energies", by Priestess Jean
http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usaz&c=words&id=14669
"Sitting quietly, a man dreams now and zen of gold", 13th August, 2011:
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/sitting-quietly-a-man-dreams-now-and-zen-of-gold-20110812-1iqrf.html
Interesting application of mind techniques to achieving goals.
ABC Religion and Ethics 4 Jul 2011
The Dalai Lama phenomenon By Rachael Kohn
http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2011/07/04/3259862.htm
"Religion versus Spirituality", by Joseph McCann (from the Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue via a Parliament of World Religions newsletter)
http://parliamentofreligions.us1.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=15d4f7de1064a5171ce87bc0e&id=1c07984780&e=5bf13c64d6
And finally, this came through on a Yahoo group I am on from someone who is normally critical of Islam. Much of this is good, some I disagree with, but I'll let you read and decide for yourself:
" Sixty Tips From Quran "
1. Respect and Honour All Human Beings irrespective Of Their Religion, Colour, Race, Sex, Language, Status, Property, Birth, Profession / Job And So On [17/70]
2. Talk Straight, To The Point,
Without Any Ambiguity Or Deception [33/70]
3. Choose Best Words To Speak And Say Them in The Best Possible Way [17/53, 2/83]
4. Do Not Shout. Speak Politely Keeping Your Voice Low. [31/19]
5. Always Speak The Truth. Shun Words That Are Deceitful And Ostentatious [22/30]
6. Do Not Confound Truth With Falsehood [2/42]
7. Say With Your Mouth What is in Your Heart [3/167]
8. Speak in A Civilised Manner in A Language That is Recognised By The Society And is Commonly Used [4/5]
9. When You Voice An Opinion, Be Just, Even if it is Against A Relative [6/152]
10. Do Not Be A Bragging Boaster [31/18]
11. Do Not Talk, Listen Or Do Anything Vain [23/3, 28/55]
12. Do Not Participate in Any Paltry. If You Pass Near A Futile Play, Then Pass By With Dignity [25/72]
13. Do Not Verge Upon Any immodesty Or Lewdness Whether Surreptitious Or Overt [6/151].
14. If, Unintentionally, Any Misconduct Occurs By You, Then Correct Yourself Expeditiously [3/134].
15. Do Not Be Contemptuous Or Arrogant With People [31/18]
16. Do Not Walk Haughtily Or With Conceit [17/37, 31/18]
17. Be Moderate in Thy Pace [31/19]
18. Walk With Humility And Sedateness [25/63]
19. Keep Your Gazes Lowered Devoid Of Any Lecherous Leers And Salacious Stares [24/30-31, 40/19].
20. If You Do Not Have Complete Knowledge About Anything, Better Keep Your Mouth Shut. You Might Think That Speaking About Something Without Full Knowledge is A Trivial Matter. But it Might Have Grave Consequences [24/15-16]
21. When You Hear Something Malicious About Someone, Keep A Favourable View About Him/Her Until You Attain Full Knowledge About The Matter. Consider Others innocent Until They Are Proven Guilty With Solid And Truthful Evidence [24/12-13]
22. Ascertain The Truth of any news, lest you smite someone in ignorance and afterwards repent of what you did [49/6]
23. Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning [17/36].
24. Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge and nobody knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed with knowledge is another endowed with more knowledge [12/76]. Even the Prophet [PBUH] Was asked to keep praying,
"O My Sustainer! Advance me in knowledge." [20:114]
25. The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of one family, brothers and sisters unto one another [49/10].
26. Do not make mockery of others or ridicule others [49/11]
27. Do not defame others [49/11]
28. Do not insult others by nicknames [49/11]
29. Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might deplete your communal energy [49/12]
30. Spy not upon one another [49/12]
31. Do not backbite one another [49/12]
32. When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for safety. One who conveys to you a message of safety and security and also when a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous or (at least) of equal courtesy [4/86]
33. When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else, compliment the inmates [24/61]
34. Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought permission; and then greet the inmates and wish them a life of blessing, purity and pleasure [24/27]
35. Treat kindly -Your parents-Relatives-The orphans-And those who have been left alone in the society [4/36]
36. Take care of -The needy,-The disabled-Those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs-And those whose businesses have stalled -And those who have lost their jobs. [4/36]
37. Treat kindly -Your related neighbours, and unrelated neighbours-Companions by your side in public gatherings, or public transportation. [4/36]
38. Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the street,and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition [4/36]
39. Be nice to people who work under your care. [4/36]
40. Do not follow up what you have given to others to afflict them with reminders of your generosity [2/262].
41. Do not expect a return for your good behaviour, not even thanks [76/9]
42. Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate with others in evil and bad matters [5/2]
43. Do no try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues [53/32]
44. You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways first. Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good deeds yourself, then preach [2/44]
45. Correct yourself and your families first [before trying to correct others] [66/6]
46. Pardon gracefully if anyone among you who commits a bad deed out of ignorance, and then repents and amends [6/54, 3/134]
47. Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions to creative energy, and become a source of tranquillity and comfort to people [3/134]
48. Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful exhortation. Reason with them most decently [16/125]
49. Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the Divine code and have adopted and consider it as mere play and amusement [6/70]
50. Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless they engage in some other conversation [4/140]
51. Do not be jealous of those who are blessed [4/54]
52. In your collective life, make rooms for others [58/11]
53. When invited to dine, Go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too early to wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating to engage in bootless babble. Such things may cause inconvenience to the host [33/53]
54. Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation [7/31].
55. Do not squander your wealth senselessly [17/26]
56. Fulfil your promises and commitments [17/34]
57. Keep yourself clean, pure [9/108, 4/43, 5/6].
58. Dress-up in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite character from inside out [7/26]
59. Seek your provision only by fair endeavour [29/17, 2/188]
60. Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their possessions [2/188]
Note: The above points are some of the lessons learnt from Quran that apply to our general living. In the end, the verses of Quran from which the lesson is drawn is given. The points above may not be word by word translations of Quranic verses.
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
Tags: complacency, equanimity, life lessons,
First published: Thorsdagr, 25th August, 2011
Last edited: Thursday, 25th August, 2011
