Breaking The Cycle
Just prior to the end of 2023, I made a promise to continue down the path of Zen with no predetermined course of action or expectations. Doing so would defeat the purpose of merely being present in the moment, which fits in neatly with the inherent message of this months post. I want to reiterate the purpose of this blog is to highlight what inspires us to create. Self-reflection and understanding our mind is the beating heart of the creative psyche.
In his 1999 book, The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation, Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh began one of its chapters this way, Washing the Dishes to Wash the Dishes. Here is his direct quote, If while washing the dishes, we think only of the cup of tea that awaits us, thus hurrying to get the dishes out of the way as if they were a nuisance, then we are not washing the dishes to wash the dishes. What’s more, we are not alive during the time we are washing the dishes. In fact we are completely incapable of realizing the miracle of life while standing at the sink. If we can’t wash the dishes, the chances are we won’t be able to drink our tea either. While drinking the cup of tea, we will only be thinking of other things, barely aware of the cup in our hands. Thus we are sucked away into the future – and we are incapable of actually living one minute of life.
Now, I want you to stop for a moment, quiet your mind and simply be present in the moment. If you find the mere concept of what I just mentioned impossible to grasp, you are not alone, and it speaks directly to the multitude of frivolous distractions we face every day disguised as importance. I think it is safe to say, we have all fallen victim at one point or another to constant monitoring of your favorite handheld instrument of choice just so we do not miss something. If you are present, what are you missing?
I am by far not a Zen master. I am merely walking the path and reminding myself with every step to live in the present. No matter our chosen craft, and we do have many of importance in our lives, being mindful of our waking moments will allow us to cherish each one as we practice them. This will also teach us we can only focus on one at a time. Even as I type these words, I find myself oddly, easily distracted. This takes away from the beauty and privilege of living in this singular moment. Through mindfulness, we can stay in the moment effortlessly because we see these distractions for what they truly are – meaningless.
If you have read this far, I thank you. There was a time I contemplated not having a source of content for this months post. When I sat down to reflect and remove those frivolous distractions I mentioned previously, the idea came to me effortlessly. I found the more I typed, the more I came to see the appropriateness of speaking to the concept of a cyclic existence or Samsara as it is known in Buddhism and Hinduism to denote the beginningless cycle of repeated birth, mundane existence and dying again.
Taking if further from the Wikipedia article, Samsara is considered to be dukkha, suffering, and in general unsatisfactory and painful, perpetuated by desire and avidya (ignorance), and the resulting karma. Samsara ends if a person attains nirvana, the blowing out of the desires and the gaining of true insight into impermanence and non-self reality.
The beginning of 2024 has already been life altering where I have faced my own Samsara and came to terms with how attachments have lead to my own repetitive cycles of suffering, affecting my sense of self and those closest to me. Suffering does not simply isolate itself to the individual; it affects everyone surrounding them as well. As writers who understand the fundamental elements of our craft, I think it is quite clear how breaking this cycle is key to obtaining true insight into our chosen craft.
When I reflect back on my approach to life, it has been one wrought with a pain difficult to isolate, mostly because I hid it behind the veils of anger, isolation, and avoidance. These veils allowed for the manifestation of complacency and formation of a finely crafted veneer for on the surface everything appeared okay, while beneath the surface a swirling mass of suffering continued its churning. In my ignorance, my desire to help others overcome their own internalized suffering, I caused only more to be visited upon myself until one day I realized one simple, yet glaringly obvious truth. How could I help others if I didn’t know how to help myself first?
My intent with this writing is not to be exhaustive in explaining particular concepts associated with Zen. Much of its framework is conceptual for introducing and explaining Buddhism, often defying exact definitions but refer to and express its basic orientation. Everyone’s path is unique, which is why my life experiences are only dots in the epoch of my existence. They only serve as reference points and certainly should not be lived in, which can rob us of the gift of the present moment.
In my past relationships, whose number can still be contained on one hand, the veils I mentioned previously directly contributed to their inevitable end. Anger, disguised as passion, and ego masquerading as knowledge, continued the repetitive cycle, where the parting of ways was considered a success because it was amicable, and we still remained friends. Although mostly true, it did not address the core issue of loss and the price it exacts if left to heal on its own. Yes, the human propensity to stuff our most painful events into a box and shove it to the back of our minds is legendary.
My current relationship is undergoing the same manifestation, except for one key difference. Each of us have chosen to break our cycles by working on ourselves individually, then as a couple with the proper guidance of one who will help us bring to the surface what we cannot see through muddy waters. A trusted and astute friend recently told me, You both do a lot of hurtful things to each other and then stuff your feelings or distract yourselves to hide from your pain.
What I just mentioned is a direct manifestation of how ignorance helps maintain Samsara in our lives, until we begin mindfully walking down the path and gain true insight. Moments of enlightenment happen right in front of us but if we are distracted, they appear as blinding flashes, which we casually dismiss as a nuisance. I have found when I let go of my preconceived notions of reality, the frustrations and stress encountered in the moment dissolve, allowing for a clarity I find difficult to articulate. This is because it is not needed for when you experience such an event, the mind is free of the need to find an explanation.
The Buddha is quoted as saying, The mind is everything. What you think, you become. The moment we are born those who surround us begin to shape us in their image because they know of no other way. They, too, were shaped in a similar fashion. Thus, the cycle of ignorance continues until we begin to awaken and question the reality others told us to accept. When this occurs, we are ready to shed our personas and, through practiced meditation, see our true selves. This is not meant to assign blame to those who raised us for they were walking the only path they knew.
If you are wondering, how does one break the cycle, the only way I can articulate it is based on my own experiences, which can serve to help one navigate the path, not put them on it. Through intentional action, I have experienced my most significant breakthroughs. We more commonly know this as karma, which results from an intentional physical or mental act, inevitably causing future consequences. These acts are either unwholesome or wholesome because they are motivated by unwholesome or wholesome intentions (Samsara Wikipedia).
As writers, it is vital we understand the content we create can fall into the very same cycles. Our culture and society have shaped our realities to convince us only certain approaches to creating our unique worlds will achieve true success. This is because many are motivated by unwholesome intentions in the pursuit of avarice. When we shed these types of preconceived notions, we begin to break the cycle and our writing will thrive.
So, talk less, do more and be humble. This will allow wisdom to take hold and give you the ability to help yourself, while being effective in helping guide others to take their journey towards mindfulness.
Be safe and be well.
References
The Four Noble Truths
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
https://plumvillage.org/books/the-miracle-of-mindfulness
Samsara (Buddhism)
Six Disadvantages of Cyclic Existence
https://sravastiabbey.org/six-disadvantages-of-cyclic-existence/
Thich Nhat Hanh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%ADch_Nh%E1%BA%A5t_H%E1%BA%A1nh
