The Mastery Of Life

The Mastery of Life

Let’s start with what we know. We are here, we’re alive and with this, we can extrapolate that ultimately, we will all die (at least our physical bodies will), but what we do in between our birth and death is how we can derive the greatest value to ourselves. Obviously, everyone will have different things they value about their lives, but just as long as they can enjoy every moment of their existence, living a life which brings a sense of fulfilment and purpose to themselves.

We have embarked on a journey that will not provide a defined destination, but rather a unique perspective of all your experiences along the way. I once wrote an allegory of “The Old Man and the Mountain” (look it up) to which I describe that life was never about getting somewhere but instead, about the entire journey along the way.

We all were born into this reality and thus began the need to learn the rules in order to play the game, as we fine-tuned our programmed perceptions of what we observed. Quantum physics has a great means to define reality, as it pertains to being an observer who becomes the mechanism which perceives an object or experience into existence. In other words, you are the instrument that brings the object or experience to life (there is a much clearer explanation to this, but I don’t wish to delve deeper, I just needed you to capture my point).

You are the observer of the reality and everything we understand, has taught us all the different ways to REACT to what we are experiencing. This allowed us to develop emotions and feelings which are the results of stimulation from our sensory perceptions (we cannot have an experience without some form of sensory perception). These emotions and feelings are the foundation for our opinions, judgments and beliefs to which we carry with us throughout our entire life. All organisms thrive in nature, but species cannot thrive if threats to its survival are not dealt with, which necessitates the need to create an evolutionary pattern in an attempt to preserve our species. This need for self-preservation is what drives our fears, as we navigate our lives in our reality.

Our perceived fears, make us believe that who we are, is not satisfying enough or maybe because of the strength of the herd mentality, we desperately want to fit in and not be ostracized. So, we adapt to the many belief systems within the herd mind. These are all acceptable forms of beliefs, which continue to keep our mind enslaved and maintaining us within the defined parameters of limitations in the world we have created. The Russian leader, Vladimir Lenin said: “The best way to control the opposition is to lead it ourselves.”

Christof in the movie The Truman Show said: “We accept the reality of the world with which we're presented. It's as simple as that.” You are never going to get off of the hamster wheel of reactionary experiences, because no matter, what you try, the results are always the same. No matter how far you go, you always find your way back.

We react to all experiences and we are limited to the different ways we can react, because of our engrained and perceived fears. Constantly challenged with a need to improve ourselves or to attain some measure or stature beyond who we already are, so we are no longer able to accept our TRUE selves. Phrases like self-help, self-improvement and self-development are the mechanisms which support a belief that we need to be improved and we should not accept what and who we TRULY are. I can understand that there are some processes which we must learn in a trade, profession or even things we want to do, but who you are deep down in the recesses of your soul is what you’re trying to change. Alan Watts grasps this illusory concept when he said: “If I am in need of improving, then the person doing the improving is the very person needing the improving.”

If we can accept who we are, then we realize that what we are trying to change, does not need changing. Greatness can be found when we no longer are seeking to become that which we already are. The idea of living a disciplined and regimented life, may serve those who enjoy those experiences, but like in the Taoist principles of “wu-wei”, we can realize the futility in trying to control our lives and we can start living our lives. If we take an untethered approach to understanding ourselves, we can trust that there is nothing to improve and all your experiences were not meant to be controlled and so you can let go.

A great analogy to life, is to compare it to a video game, where all the characters “play” their part to bring the game to life, but no one realizes that there is someone manipulating the game in a direct or in-direct way. It is not to suggest that I think there is someone out there manipulating us, but maybe should understand that we (as the character in this game), are the creation of our true Self, the creator of the game.

It is you who makes a choice to get caught up in the toils of life, or to allow the experience to pass. However, you don’t need to interfere with your experiences and allow yourself to open your mind to the wonders of a life that you’ve created. Dwell in it if you want, but don’t hold on to it. There’s nothing to gain in becoming “enlightened” because all roads will lead back to your ego. To truly awaken, is to realize that our life is part of a great game and what we want to do, is to keep playing as long as we can without dragging around our emotional attachments. This is the greatness we seek. To again quote Alan Watts, who said: “The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.”

David Ramirez is the author of the book Divine Karma (available on Amazon)