Focus on Life™

The view,
so vivid and exciting,
full of life,
happiness and joy,
sometimes sorrow, often pain,
from limited knowledge and
ignorance,
glances still;

Stepping back,
enlarging the scope,
gaining new foothold,
spectating,
from a distance,
different angle;

Firmly pacing,
knowing,
from here I must walk,
these curtains must fall,
something must go;

Giving away,
the known,
to make space,
for the unknown,
letting go,
to fall,
the facade,
so dear and attached,
which does not hold,
it must go;

The one behind,
was an angle of mine,
based on defects,
that was all,
nothing really at all,
but it was all,
I knew.

We read many books during our life. The type of reading we
do varies with the topic, our interest in it, and the situation.
Sometime we just want to pass the time while waiting for
something else. Holiday and travel reading are just some
examples. On some occasions, we are very focused and con-
centrated on the text. The book is so good that we do not see
or hear the world around us. Time flies when we “wake up”
from the book’s fascinating world. This state of concentration
is meditating. Our mind is not wandering around but focus-
ing on the text for long periods of time.

Our reading style is different when we study. We need to
focus and concentrate in order to understand the context. It is
more of a struggle than when we read a good fiction novel.
Our mind tries to slip off from the concentration required for
learning something new; reading in this way is work, like any
other serious thinking processes.

When we study, we use the text and words as pure means
to penetrate and realize the idea and concept illustrated by the
words. We want to gain insight and learn the idea the author
is trying to present and transfer to us via words. What we
actually do is we use the text as our meditation tool. It is our
guide and map to help us to reach the concept and thinking of
the writer. Our concentration is in seeking to catch and reflect
the thought object produced by the author. Some texts are
easy for us to understand—we gain the insight and realize the
meaning. Often, we have difficulties reproducing and reflect-
ing the thinking, especially with subjects unfamiliar to us. We
need to work hard to expand our mind in order to understand
something new, unknown, to us.

We are able to learn and gain insight without firsthand
experience. However, this does not mean that we should not
actively strive forward for the insight. Pure mechanical read-
ing does not provide us with anything. We simply mimic and
repeat the mantra of the text without catching the concept
and the idea transferred by the text. In other words, we might
gain some knowledge but definitely not any wisdom. But wis-
dom can be achieved and realized from written materials.
This is an excellent way of gaining insight. It only requires
that we are open and willing to learn and are persistent: noth-
ing comes without personal responsibility and effort. The
most important component is our personal desire and humble
attitude toward learning more about ourselves. With practice,
we get better and our meditation technique improves as well.

Different stages,
various levels,
intercepting each other.
Same moment,
different meanings,
present in all of them.

Separate paths,
isolated ways,
interlinked only for the few.
Reaching for the next,
struggling in the past,
worrying for the future.

Gaining experience,
the hard way,
is the slow and easy,
mostly used and favored.
Converting the current,
realizing the meaning,
living the truth,
is the instant reach for the willing.

Gradual gains,
layered and stay,
remain for the next,
step for the greater,
further and brighter.
The future way,
of realization and gain,
better understood,
aligned,
without the strain.

Parallel,
here and now,
one within the other,
full of life,
isolated from each other.
All linked and acting,
planned to support,
and coach,
way to develop,
and progress,
up or down,
in or out,
heading forward,
never failing to drop out.

Some of us choose a harder route. We want to achieve things
faster this way than it would take on the usual long and less
steep road. This means that we are put into a series of tests
that are progressive in nature. They come in different forms
and shapes. They drive us to our limits and press us hard. We
are offered the easy way out, which means failure, but the real
solutions are usually nowhere to be found and beyond our
personal comprehension. Often, all the circumstances are
against us. This is the harder way.

The rewards are high as well. Our life is very intense and
rich in experiences. Situations may even seem strange to
bystanders. Lucky coincidences and amazing turnarounds
occur. We are not that surprised if we have the inner knowl-
edge of the real issues. Anything is possible and at the end,
things turn out the good way—if we only last to the end. The
choice is ours and we can opt out. But there are a few of us
who have made it all the way—they are the hope for the rest
of us. They are very few in numbers, compared to the total
population and even to the number of people reaching for
higher grounds. But everybody is free to join—the choice is
ours.

Every one of us is here alone (but not necessarily lonely). We
live among other people and yet all the great challenges of life
we have to face alone. Our friends and people we keep close
can support and give us the courage we need in our journey.
Circumstances often take us on some rough rides but the
greatest lessons are given to us by other people. Our life is
about relationships with people. Some are strangers and just
visitors in our lives and some are here to stay longer with us.

Our life is about learning new sides to and issues about
ourselves. The things in our lives are purely about us. The
people we meet, the situations we face—they are not coinci-
dences or pure chance. They have a meaning for us and help
us to get to know ourselves better. Still, it is up to us to do the
work and learn the lessons. Often we are ignorant and seem
to repeat the same patterns. We realize this when similar
kinds of things happen to us. For example, we might get
involved with the same type of people all the time—and they
get us into trouble. Or we seem to struggle with our bosses in
each and every new job we have. These things will happen to
us until we acknowledge the pattern and learn from our
behavior and actions. Then we are up to new challenges.

Other people play an important role in our lives. They are
the mirrors for us. They interact with us and give us the test
bed for getting to know our different sides and even hidden
talents and emotions. People, through their behavior and
actions, show us who we really are—and it should not be any
big surprise that often we are the last people to see the reality.
Just check with your closest friends—they may describe your
other side if you only let them.

We get angry and frustrated with other people easily. They
are the ones to blame. Why are we agitated? Why should
their behavior concern us? Other people’s problems or bad
behavior are not our problem. So there is no reason to get
emotional. Unless there is something in us that knows that
they have revealed or awakened some hidden issues in us,
such as ego, selfishness, laziness, greed for power, hypocrisy,
and so on. Naturally we do not like to be reminded of those
darker sides of us. We cannot stand it, and we blame others.
As long as we have these issues with ourselves, we will need
other people because we are not voluntarily working with
ourselves.

Therefore, each human interaction and moment in our life
is a new opportunity for us: to learn more about ourselves and
become better human beings. Every person you meet is most
of all teaching you about yourself. You only have to be humble
and open-minded to realize the messages. Remember to
thank the people around you. You don’t have to say any-
thing—just smile and love your neighbor. He or she is your
greatest teacher.

Our inner life is sacred and personal to each of us. Our exter-
nal life we share with the world. It is not obvious that they
can be in harmony and still enable the sought-for inner real-
ization. But it is possible.

History has given us examples of sacred people who lived
in isolated places and practiced their spiritual life. Often, we
have this image of true practitioners, and nothing else is “seri-
ous” or real enough. Inner peace and mindlessness do not
require any particular place or arrangement. We can practice
it no matter where we are. It also stays with us when we have
reached the right level. Actually, our environment and cir-
cumstances are no obstacles to our inner development.

We have to live in the world and take care of our duties
and responsibilities. Actually, what provides a better opportu-
nity to practice detachment and tranquility than the chal-
lenges of our everyday life? Our situations provide us with the
training arena where we should be able to stay in a totally har-
monious inner state—no matter what we are experiencing.

Living under time and space where causality is imposed
does not mean that we cannot have a rich inner life as well.
We can experience both worlds continuously. A place or situ-
ation will have no significance for us because our life is our
state of mind. We create the meaning for the circumstances—
not the other way around.

True teachings are nonverbal. They are not given by any
symbols (i.e., writings, talk)—we have to experience them
directly. Therefore, our life defines our existence, and by our
behavior and actions we state who we are. What would be a bet-
ter way to share the wisdom we have gained than to live among
people and be a practical example? No words are necessary.

Have you ever looked back on your life, thought about the
incidents and situations you faced in your life? Often, the
sudden and out-of-the-blue surprises that we are at first
shocked by and terrified to overcome later turn out to be
important turning points or stepping stones to something
else. They did serve a purpose and were necessary in our pur-
suit for something else. In the very situation we did not real-
ize the bigger picture, but later on, sometimes even years later,
everything makes perfect sense. There was a red line after all.
We just did not realize it earlier.

There are a few Hollywood movies that tell the story from
the end to the beginning. The film Memento is one of these.
For the spectator, this is a very annoying experience because
the causal relationships we are so used to in our everyday life
is working in reverse. The situation and things happening are
not leading to something but are results and consequences of
something that has already happened. Therefore, it is practi-
cally impossible to “know or expect” the next phases of the
events.

Our life works this way as well. We can only track back the
events leading to this point but the next phases are not known
to us. This makes us insecure and uncertain about our future.
Anything can happen—or that’s the thinking.

We could use reverse-order logic on our life as well. We are
very confident when looking back on our lives. The sense of
security derives from knowing that finally everything turns out
to be OK (because we are here to reflect back on our memories).
Similarly, we also understand better the circumstances and may
analyze the reasons and situations that we have already lived.
But why are we so uncomfortable with our future? Why should
it all change and things become unbearable for us suddenly in
the future? Our activities in the past were necessary and led us to
many surprises. Not all of them have been negative and many of
them have actually given us something. We have learned from
our mistakes and these experiences have given us new ideas and
added new dimensions to our lives.

Look back on your life and focus on some important devel-
opments in your life. Can you claim that all the incidents and
situations in your life have been totally chaotic and range from
whatever unexpected irrational incident to another in no partic-
ular order, where putting it together makes absolutely no sense
at all? Has all of it been a pure waste of time and resources? Pure
chaos means that random events happen and each incident is
not in any way interrelated or dependent on any other occur-
rence. Chaos consists of no logic but a hidden logic is no chaos.
Reverse confidence may start to make sense.

Inner peace derives from an insight and internal knowledge
and confidence. It is a known fact for the one who has real-
ized it and, therefore, it is also a permanent state of being.
One has to reach for and make a persistent effort to gain it,
but when it has been achieved, no effort is necessary—you
just are tranquil. Inner peace or tranquility derives from the notion that one
has realized that there is nothing to be afraid of. Everything is
in order and our existence is pure love. In other words, the
realized knows that everything is as it is meant to be and there
is nothing that we are not expected to experience or face. All
circumstances are meaningful (or meaningless). Nothing can
happen to us that would not serve a purpose and be for our
well-being. Life is love and so are we, as well.

Our confusion and distrust results when we are too afraid
and scared to face life. We do not trust that it would support
us. We have too much to lose and too much at stake. We cling
to the reality we know and the perception we have. We freeze
and hang tight to our mind and our concept of the world
because we do not know anything better. Our illusion of
being in control prevents us from being able to give away.
And without totally letting go, we cannot gain the firsthand
experience and knowledge, the internal realized trust. Until
we have surrendered to life 100 percent, we will live in fear
and mistrust. This is the paradox and the ultimate catch-22.

Nothing comes easily, but to realize the inner certainty and
confidence we do not have to do anything. We already are
everything—we only have to realize. We do not need time
and effort per se—only personal insight is required. It cannot
be faked and it cannot be done halfway only. Either you reach
for your goal or you don’t. The good part is that we get better
and gain confidence while we’re progressing. Regular practice
helps us to intensify our realization and every step of the way
we are getting closer. Inner peace is not about achieving or
gaining anything. Therefore, it cannot be claimed but it is
always waiting for us. We need only be prepared and ready for
it—be humble in front of life.

We are used to degrees. Our school years are based on num-
bered degrees. We live and breathe different steps and thresh-
olds. We have to qualify and learn the lessons before we are
approved to achieve the goal we are seeking. The same applies
to life as well; the scale is different and we can keep trying as
many times as needed. Everybody’s learning curve and pace is
unique. Still, the goal is ultimately the same in each level—
some just jump from one level to another faster than others.

Our lifelong learning system is set up a bit differently than
the one we are used to in our own educational systems. Here
we have to try first and the reward or penalty is given later on.
The appraisal is not instantaneous, which makes learning
more difficult. This means that we are not quite following the
cause-reason causality anymore. Things seem to happen for
no particular reason or purpose. This causes confusion, which
is the real acid test. If we are to learn something, it has to be
verified in all the circumstances—otherwise it would be just
pure chance and not a conscious act of will. Learning should
not be based on lottery, should it?

Our level is preparation for the following ones. We get bits
and pieces of the forthcoming concepts but proportioned for
our own development and ability to handle them. These con-
cepts are spread around the world in various shapes and forms
in a way that we run into them everywhere. We only have to
keep our eyes open and be ready to receive and notice them.
Some of them are more obvious and others are hidden more
carefully. Still, we recognize them and can put them into the
bigger picture like a piece in a big puzzle. Gradually, we get to
know more pieces and start to get a feeling of the overall con-
cept. In tiny steps we improve our performance and learn some
important lessons—finally they turn into a part of our every-
day life and existence. Then we are ready for other lessons.

Like when we were in school, we learn the alphabet and
practice it so we can communicate. After a while of usage, we
start to ignore the letters as such and focus purely on the mes-
sage they carry. Often, we just forget that not everything we
say or mean can be expressed in words. Also, some precise
words do not necessarily mean that the very concept they
express is as exact. Similarly, we express and learn some con-
cepts and ideas derived from the next levels. They are not that
accurate or entire—they can be only described with the
alphabet and illustrations from our world. We need to trans-
late and use allegories. Every translation and derivation also
means that some information is lost in the process. The
meaning is not as exact anymore and things can get confused
and imprecise along the way. Therefore, the reflection of the
original source is not the original but simply its representation
or replica. Often, we take these copies as originals and get
messed up in our mind. This creates a lot of confusion, agony,
and misinterpretation. Still, we have to use these more-or-less
precise concepts in order to learn our lessons. They are like
toys and fairytales for children, harmless but they still serve a
purpose—they are meant for education and learning. Like
smaller children who are not yet allowed real items, similarly
we are given a nice sandbox in which to practice things. Yet it
seems that playing in the sandbox and getting involved with
the concepts we are learning drives most of us off the topic for
way too many moments.

Some of us get so carried away to play the game and form
our sand houses and lives so that anything else is secondary.
Big facades are torn down and sand grains thrown into other
people’s eyes are not that uncommon. A few of us are less
concerned with making temporary monuments than gaining
insight and knowledge for the more permanent foundations.
These types of people are harder to find and they cannot be
shaped like sand cakes. The tricky part is that we are given
enough to make us masters at our level but the degree test is
very hard and objective. The bar is high and it takes a rela-
tively long time to pass the test. Eventually everybody will get
promoted, but some are more ambitious in making progress
than others. And a few have had enough of the sand games
and want to move on. Fortunately, there is no limit to how
many cakes we have to bake. Only the results count. And the
weighting in the test is equal—for all of us. See you around!