“Some people live as though they are already dead. There are some people moving around us who are consumed by their past, terrified of their future, and stuck in their anger and jealousy. They are not alive; they are just walking corpses. If you look around yourself with mindfulness, you will see people going around like zombies. Have a great deal of compassion for the people around you who are living like this. They do not know that life is accessible only in the here and now.” — From You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh
The above quote is quite mindful, yet alone a mouthful to say the least. When you are really living in the moment, it is almost a constancy in experience that these individuals are swirling around us with acute proficiency. Going one step further . . . because of your mindful awareness each time you encounter another walking corpse, it is ultimately no less a shock to the psyche. Why is this the norm and not the excepiton? As an in your face daily observance unfortunately, these practices are obviously blatant. Next time you’re walking on the street, in a health club, restaurant, retail or grocery store, riding the bus or train, on college or high school campuse, in a hotel lobby, waiting in lines for a myriad of things etc., observe how the human species connect, communicate, or relate to each other. The ubiquitous use of the IPhone, Smart Phone, IPad, Texting or the like enhances and enriches the complete breakdown of face to face discussion, exchange of ideas, creativity, relationships or understanding among individuals, families, co-workers, teachers/students and right on down the line. There is a breakdown or more blatantly put . . . a complete disconnect within our culture. Why and how did this become impervious to our consciousness? We have completely dismissed how the convenience of technology, has taken away the basic tenets of how to connect with each other. We are losing the ability to communicate with each other, our spouses, families and loved ones. William Shakespeare put it another way, “Everyone should bear patiently the results of his own conduct.”
Yes . . . this works well when we step up and take responsibility for anything, instead of blaming someone else or playing the victim card. None of this is easy, and takes the awareness of exactly what’s going on in your life and what part you played in it, or contributed . . . is of the utmost importance. We have the here and now . . . time is short but once awake, alert, alive, conscious, aware and willing to embrace the essence of who you are the words once again of Thich Nhat Hanh become clarified . . . “For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to abandon our views about them.” What views are you now willing to release, thereby setting you free? JLR