The Diamond Sutra teaches that freedom exists in each moment of life and advises we meditate deeply in order to throw away the notion of self. Simplicity. Moment to moment mindfulness. The Diamond presents the possibility of "being" present in every breath beyond fear of acceptance. To master its principles means we can learn to live minus attachment to permanence, past experiences, without projection of expectations into the future.
"Expectation is the root of all heartache." ~ William Shakespeare
In general, goals are stable and within our control and since they depend primarily on what we do are fluid in changing circumstances. Expectations differ from goals as they reflect our desires and are emotion based. Our expectations are not concrete or easily achieved because they depend upon things outside our being, often resting upon the decisions and behavior of another.
Acceptance of unrealized expectations is disappointing in ways missing the mark on our goals is not. When we do not receive or get back based upon what we give we suffer. By floating our happiness on the waters of this type of uncertainty, we create a formula for the devastation of potential heartache and crushing blows to the ego.
"You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down." ~ Toni Morrison
Life happens to all of us. Acknowledge the painful discouragement of setbacks; let it pass over you, but do not wallow. Though we cannot control the events in our lives, we can choose our thoughts and how we feel about what occurs. Stay mindful and alert to the lessons.
Remember happiness is a fleeting emotional condition dependent upon things that exist outside of us, however, joy is a state of being at rest within our temple born of and sustained in our relationship with the Creator. Take a deep cleansing breath and choose to move forward in conscious awareness with joy.
The decision to sow joy and peace, or sorrow and "oh woe is me" will be the predictor of the theme of your future circumstances. The wisdom of the Diamond says to let go of self and all its attachments. Drop the "when I" "if only" "if they would just" from your emotional vocabulary and choose a mindful existence in the present. From the seeds you plant in your life today will spring the tree under which you will find yourself seated.
Release the habit of living "a joy deferred". Embrace the power of your right now. All you have is the breath in each moment you are given. It is yours. Take peace and "be" in it.
"The day I understood everything, was the day I stopped trying to figure everything out. The day I knew peace was the day I let everything go." ~C. JoyBell C.
