Recently, while filling my co-op cart with a potpourri of organic fruits and produce – apples, figs, pears, lemons, mangos, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce, chard, collards, peppers, baby bok choy, potatoes, leeks, dandelion greens and more – a couple approached me, attracted by the rainbow of food in the bottom of my cart radiating abundant Chi. “Do you do a lot of juicing?” they asked in a friendly tone. “Well no, but my wife is not feeling well, so I am stocking up on high quality Earth medicine,” I replied. Turns out they were visiting from Hawaii and followed a diet of primarily raw foods. It showed in the radiance of their complexions. We had a lovely conversation and exchanged contact information. Rich organic friendships spring up in the produce section of the co-op.
Later I had the thought, “these people who appear so radiant on the outside, who can say what the state of their inner health really is?” Not that I was feeling judgmental – and by all appearances, they were saints, altruistic healers of the Earth and humanity. The thought was simply a reminder that if I truly seek health, then it is critically important not to be exclusively focused on the foods I eat, or the fact that my daily bicycle workout keeps my physical organism healthy. Similarly, a daily yoga practice, or a morning job, or gym routine are all wonderful habits, but if we neglect the state of our mind, then our pursuit of health is superficial.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama comes to Seattle April 11-15 to participate in the Seeds of Compassion conference. He often professes admiration for the technological sophistication that western science has developed, and in the same breath, counsels us to not neglect our heart (which in the East means our mind). If I could have one wish granted before I die, it would be to free my mind once and for all from the poison of anger – in all its poisonous shades. Having lived a few years in India and witnessed the peaceful countenance of beggars, it is clear that a calm and contented mind has very little to do with material success.
Have you ever noticed how physically painful it is to hold feelings of resentment or anger towards someone? How it destroys your peaceful sleep? Robs you of your peaceful mind? Even creates physical pain in the center of your chest and fills your body with tension? And when you fill your mind with the bitter poison of anger, what happens to your friends and family? They may run to escape the heat, or perhaps their mind catches fire too and what started as a proverbial dropped match at the dinner table quickly becomes a family inferno.
The CDC and the mainstream media blast us with fear pronouncements regarding the imminent danger of SARS and the next big flu pandemic. But don’t worry, just come to Big Pharma for the latest vaccination or pill party, and keep buying those newspapers and watching the evening news while you are at. Don’t question authority. Follow the herd and you will be safe at all times.
Meanwhile, a far more dangerous global virus threatens the planet – anger. One man (or woman) inside the White House, with an untreated anger problem, can render vast regions of the globe into hell realms through a few brief words spoken to the Generals at the Pentagon. You see, anger has many shades. Anger destroys compassion. When the heart is barren and empty of compassion, then someone can even look calm and cool on the outside as they order the ICBM’s to launch.
These times we live in are not for the faint of heart. But the choice is ours: to be awake to the dangers and the possibilities inherent in this moment on the planet, or to completely miss the boat by blaming our so-called leaders for our problems. In reality, we are the leaders, they are the followers. What happens in the high government offices and board rooms of the world is merely a reflection of the collective psychosocial template established via the daily actions which play out on the streets, homes, and in the minds of billions of humans. Sorry if this breaks your bubble, but it’s up to you and me. So let’s try something together here. Let’s be extremely diligent for the next month and try really hard not to get angry at anyone or anything.
If you screw up in the first hour of day-one, don’t worry about it. Forgive yourself and start over. Same with hour two and three. Keep practicing. Generate regret (not self-blame or hatred….totally useless) each time you get angry. If you find yourself getting angry at yourself for not being able to control your mind, welcome to the club. Start over again. Learning deep patience and wisdom is the work of a lifetime, or many lifetimes depending upon your views on reincarnation.
As His Holiness says, if there’s something you can do to change a situation, then do it – no need to get angry. On the other hand, if there is nothing you can do to change a situation, then once again, it is illogical to get angry, because you are powerless to affect the situation. That really covers all possibilities. Are you with me? Let’s try.
May all beings be free from anger and its causes. May all beings experience love in their hearts, and compassion for all beings who suffer. Grind those seeds and put it on your daily bread!
Jordan Van Voast, L.Ac.
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