Early excerpts

Here are some excerpts from the introduction of the latest book I've picked up. The link at the end of this post will reveal the title. See if you can figure it out.

"The difference [between survivors and vicitms] is simple but profound. Vicitims focus on what they cannot change. Survivors focus on what they can change." (p. 13)

"The culminating stage of Second Adulthood I call the Age of Integrity. It is primarily a stage of spiritual growth. Instead of trying to maximize our control over our environment -- a goal that was perfectly appropriate to the earlier Age of Mastery -- now we must cultivate greater appreciation and acceptance of that which we cannot control.
Some of the losses of this stage are inconsoloable losses. To accept them without bitterness usually requires making a greater effort to discern the universal intelligence or spiritual force that is operating behind the changes we now notice almost daily. Rather than focus on time running out, it should be a daily exercise in the third age to make the moment count. Each moment is like a snowflake -- unique, unspoiled, unrepeatable -- and can be appreciated in its surprisingness." (p. 15)

Any idea about the topic? Think about it, then go here to find out more.

The Accidental Buddhist: Part 2

Ironically, Moore's quest become Buddhist is not accidental as the title would imply. Still, there are many noteworthy concepts and references worth considering for outsiders such as myself.

Foremost to me is the notion of monkey mind, or the inability to quiet the voices in one's head, which is quite normal. My knee-jerk reaction is Thank goodness! I was beginning to wonder if my wandering mind was a symptom of insanity. But Buddhists believe that the key to happiness is to be mindful of the present and the world around us as it is. To neglect that, the here and now, is wasteful.

What I don't quite understand, however, is how does one plan for a future in which the present is filled with elements that ease our contentment? To traipse through life without a purpose or future goals must certainly be unmindful and perhaps disrespectful of our present state. Perhaps I am considering the materialistic, worldly things, even if it doesn't seem like I am. Afterall, I have kids, and I would like to prepare them well for adulthood. I will grow old, and I'd rather not forget to save for retirement. It just seems that being mindful of the future is pretty darn important as well, and I wonder how Buddhists address this.

On the flip side of this question is how does one meaningfully reflect on the past in order to make the present life happier as well? Certainly it is foolish to neglect our mistakes and repeat them. Here is an example near and dear to my heart. If a child dies because he is not wearing a bicycle helmet, wouldn't it seem mindful to reflect on that and encourage all children to wear bicycle helmets? Being in the present moment means to be reflective and appreciative of the now and present; but the way I see it, it is also to be reflective of the past and future, for these elements help shape our present.

In retrospect, (is retrospection mindful?) I reckon that present mindfulness is one of those Buddhist koans in and of itself.

Of course present mindfulness makes more sense when you consider the notion of nonduality or the interconnectedness of everyone and everything. Moore writes

"When you perceive a flower, a cat, your bother-in-law Ed, that being you perceive exists at that moment in your mind. Buddhists believe that what exists in your mind is reality, that it is not just a reflection of reality, so if reality exists in your mind, then everything that is part of reality is part of you." (p. 126)

Um. . . Okay, I still have to reflect on this one a bit, and I cannot quite decide if that makes me mindful or not. I am not trying to be disrespectful or difficult, this is just plain hard for my feeble mind to grasp at this moment. Perhaps by being more mindful I can grow to understand this better.

Finally, Moore does mention one book, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche (p.172) that I would to take a look at one of these days.

The bottom line about The Accidental Buddhist is that I enjoyed it and recommend it, even if I am slightly more confused today than I was before reading it. That work, family and life seemed to interfere with my finishing this book very quickly suggests that perhaps I have been taking in some of Moore's advice. In Buddhist terms, that might be a good thing.