Almost every one who lives in the western world is aware of the ten commandments. These laws, given by the God of monotheism, set the basis for ethical behaviour upon which the future of west was constructed.
Similarly, in the east, Buddha taught his disciples the eight fold noble path, which again laid the foundation for a propitious civilization in which the individual could attain inner peace and lasting happiness.
In today's world, many of us struggle to follow these laws, because doing so involves a wholesale change to our basic beliefs and way of life.
In the following two commands, I've tried to condense all the wisdoms of the ages into simple rules that you don't have to bend your back over to follow.
1. Go with the flow
Picture two swimmers caught in a rip in the ocean. One of them struggles to swim against the tide. Ten minutes later they're exhausted, and they're still in much the same position as they were before. The other, rather than swimming against the flow, allows the current to pull them out to still waters. From there they can easily swim without struggling away from the danger zone back to the nearest shore.
In life, there are things you can control and things you can't. 'The flow' is one of those things you can't control. Socially, 'the flow' is the general consensus of public opinion. When the tide is against you, it's better to remember that moving with it will eventually lead you to where you want to be.
2. Follow your heart
Our post-industrial ethos of exponential expansion has led many people to more often listen to their head, rather than their heart, when making any kind of decision. This goes against the teachings of all the great religions. The modern paradigm teaches us to reach for social status and approval from others as the most important thing. This comes at a cost of inner peace and tranquility. True happiness, religion teaches us, comes from the inside, and has nothing to do with what other people's opinions are of us. This is what it means to follow your heart.
So, the next time you're faced with a tough decision, ask yourself two things: 1, am I going with the flow, and 2, am I basing my decision on social status, or inner peace? This will give you the indicators you need to know whether the decision you make is in line with the religious masters, or not.
©️ 2023
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