What Do You Really Care About?
"The Master cares about nothing but the Tao."
Lao Tzu
Spiritual teacher and author David R. Hawkins was once asked why humanity suffers so much, and his response sums up succinctly the very predicament that we now find ourselves in. He said that, if you were to go into any major city on the face of the earth and spend the whole day asking random strangers what their primary focus or concern was, you would likely get an array of answers - from relationships to money; gas prices to how best to start a business. "You would go the whole day," Hawkins said, "and you would be lucky to find one person who would tell you that their primary focus is God. And therein lies the root of human suffering." These words resonate with the power of truth, and if you doubt them, have a look at what the primary focus of your life is right now. Does this focus bring you consistent joy and peace?
If we are honest, we seem to have all the time in the world to worry about every trivial thing that happens to us, and very little time to remember and give our attention to the very Source of our Life; to That which is breathing us right Now. In most human minds, there is a war of fear raging, as we habitually worry over what will happen in our lives; from our jobs to our our relationships; our incomes to the chaos unfolding in the world around us. Yet, when it comes to giving even a little bit of attention to the Divine Source that makes our Lives happen, we seem to have better things to do. When it comes to actually doing something that might bring a little peace and sanity to our lives; like sitting Still in meditation, breathing and communing with the Divine Flow; we would rather spend an hour searching the internet looking for the next bit of trivial information that will be forgotten by the end of the day.
Is it any wonder we are filled with so much anxiety and unhappiness?
The point is this; as every great sage has told us; until we keep the Flow of the Tao (or God) as the focus of our lives, we will continue to get lost in the temporary illusions and dreams around us, and thus feel fear and anxiety as a result. Yet, when we turn our focus within, and rest in the the eternal present moment; we easily find the sanctuary of peace and stability that we long for. In this world of constant change, where tomorrow grows more uncertain by the day, why not put your attention on that which never changes - on the inner-refuge of Silence and Stillness within - and see for yourself the peace that will blossom in your life. Give a little time each day to meditate, to care about 'nothing but the Tao' as Lao Tzu advised, and come home to the Divine Presence within, and around you. What have you got to lose, except perhaps, your fear and suffering in a world that is spinning beyond your control.