Speed of Life
Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 2:12 pmSome repeating injuries that I had experienced lately have brought me to this topic. The repetition was enough strong sign for me to try to find out the message behind and I did it. As a result of that personal introspective research I came to this topic and some thoughts I wanted to share here.
I have always been a type who was able to do many things in a short period of time, efficient and fast. With time, it became a kind of self understanding that everything I do must be done fast and efficient and of course, although it seemed natural and relatively easy to me, on unconscious level my being reacted with some protective measures trying to warn me to slow down. Obviously I haven’t paid enough attention to these signals, and they increased in numbers, so that I couldn’t ignore them anymore. Thinking about all that, there are some thoughts that crossed my mind.
When we run we breathe stronger and faster as we need more air for the same period of time than when we are sitting. We need or we spend more energy when being in hurry or speeding our doings than during some calm and well controlled actions. When we are in hurry, what we do is running after time and this way giving great importance to the time. The same time we know that time is one of limitations of this world of reality, which is illusion because our awareness of it changes depending on that if that what we do is that what we like and enjoy or not.
It is a story about the piece of, size of a fox's skin with the mark of the seal which is in the East called Solomon's Signet. The mysterious talisman words were Sanskrit, and read as follows:
Who would have it that one would conclude the fateful contract proposed by an unknown force which is that the wishes of the owner will be accurately fulfilled, but at the expense of her or his life. The compass of the owner’s days visible in that skin will contract according to the strength and number of the owner’s desires, from the least to the most extravagant. The Brahman from whom the skin came into the merchant’s shop had explained to him that it would bring about a mysterious connection between the fortunes and wishes of its possessor.
From the time I have the first time met this story it fascinated me with the message I became aware during reading it.
So, when I put these two thoughts together, I realized that the way we live is our magic skin that spends the energy given to us to live it. If we had got a certain amount of energy when we came into this life, then the time of using it can be faster or slower and depending on that, our life can be longer or shorter.
Fast living- faster breathing- more energy- faster time- shorter life
In that moment I realized the importance of meditation which drops our breathing to the very slow, controls our thoughts and diminishes our desires, saves our energy and therefore prolongs our life.
Meditation- slower breathing- less spent energy- longer time-longer life
The whole message for me was not to ignore meditation and to give more time to that. I am aware of all the benefits and when I used to be disciplined and meditated daily I felt great and healthy and it was an easy going way for doing everything I wanted to do. The words “must” and “I should” or “I need to” disappeared from my vocabulary and the model of thinking.
To be more efficient, which means faster, is the same as driving certain distance instead of two hours, one hour and 45 minutes. Not much time is gained, and even this gain is not important, but because of that hurry one or more lives can be lost.
I have learned my lesson and do hope that some of my personal realizations will help some of you to slow down too.
I have always been a type who was able to do many things in a short period of time, efficient and fast. With time, it became a kind of self understanding that everything I do must be done fast and efficient and of course, although it seemed natural and relatively easy to me, on unconscious level my being reacted with some protective measures trying to warn me to slow down. Obviously I haven’t paid enough attention to these signals, and they increased in numbers, so that I couldn’t ignore them anymore. Thinking about all that, there are some thoughts that crossed my mind.
When we run we breathe stronger and faster as we need more air for the same period of time than when we are sitting. We need or we spend more energy when being in hurry or speeding our doings than during some calm and well controlled actions. When we are in hurry, what we do is running after time and this way giving great importance to the time. The same time we know that time is one of limitations of this world of reality, which is illusion because our awareness of it changes depending on that if that what we do is that what we like and enjoy or not.
Then I remembered the story of Honoree Balzac “The Magic Skin”.
It is a story about the piece of, size of a fox's skin with the mark of the seal which is in the East called Solomon's Signet. The mysterious talisman words were Sanskrit, and read as follows:
Possessing me, thou shall possess all things.
But thy life is mine, for God has so willed it.
Wish, and thy wishes shall be fulfilled;
But measure thy desires, according
To the life that is in thee.
This is thy life,
With each wish I must shrink
Even as thy own days.
Wilt thou have me? Take me.
God will hearken unto thee.
So be it!
But thy life is mine, for God has so willed it.
Wish, and thy wishes shall be fulfilled;
But measure thy desires, according
To the life that is in thee.
This is thy life,
With each wish I must shrink
Even as thy own days.
Wilt thou have me? Take me.
God will hearken unto thee.
So be it!
Who would have it that one would conclude the fateful contract proposed by an unknown force which is that the wishes of the owner will be accurately fulfilled, but at the expense of her or his life. The compass of the owner’s days visible in that skin will contract according to the strength and number of the owner’s desires, from the least to the most extravagant. The Brahman from whom the skin came into the merchant’s shop had explained to him that it would bring about a mysterious connection between the fortunes and wishes of its possessor.
From the time I have the first time met this story it fascinated me with the message I became aware during reading it.
So, when I put these two thoughts together, I realized that the way we live is our magic skin that spends the energy given to us to live it. If we had got a certain amount of energy when we came into this life, then the time of using it can be faster or slower and depending on that, our life can be longer or shorter.
Fast living- faster breathing- more energy- faster time- shorter life
In that moment I realized the importance of meditation which drops our breathing to the very slow, controls our thoughts and diminishes our desires, saves our energy and therefore prolongs our life.
Meditation- slower breathing- less spent energy- longer time-longer life
The whole message for me was not to ignore meditation and to give more time to that. I am aware of all the benefits and when I used to be disciplined and meditated daily I felt great and healthy and it was an easy going way for doing everything I wanted to do. The words “must” and “I should” or “I need to” disappeared from my vocabulary and the model of thinking.
To be more efficient, which means faster, is the same as driving certain distance instead of two hours, one hour and 45 minutes. Not much time is gained, and even this gain is not important, but because of that hurry one or more lives can be lost.
I have learned my lesson and do hope that some of my personal realizations will help some of you to slow down too.
Could you help me with few additional thoughts?
I didn't understand it, good that I asked.