Be

Be – don’t try to become.  Within these two words, be and becoming, your whole life is contained.  (Being is enlightenment, becoming is ignorance.)

My friend passed this Buddhist quote by me today (by Osho) after reading one of my blogs.  (Cool that anything I say could possibly remind someone of a Buddhist ideal.)  And I love it and wanted to share it.

Everyone has their own interpretations of quotes and principles – none more correct than the other, as each is personal.  So to me, this idea is about the simplicity of being human.  That we are, by our very nature, good and whole without having to “become” something.  That we all should spend more time just “being” – that which we are…and finding peace within that. 

But I also think that becoming is part of the circle…each day we are becoming more enlightened, growing into the people we want to be.  Nothing wrong with that in my book.  I can’t help but use the reference of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly…naturally…as it was meant to.  Moving from one form to another.  Our life is contained within that arc – being who we are and becoming what we are meant to.

I sent my friend back a favorite “buddhist” quote of mine – “Do or do not.  There is no try.” – Yoda.
Okay, yes, I love Yoda, the tiny old sage from Star Wars fame.  He spouted the wisdom of the ages to masses of movie goers.  He taught everyday people that there was something bigger than us all…that we must believe in ourselves.  I love this quote because although we all know that failure is a part of our existence,  we must erase that notion from our minds in order to succeed.  When our internal voice say’s, “Ok, I’ll try” there is doubt seeping in.  Embracing confidence and belief that we can do anything we set our minds to, sows the seeds for growth and success.

Spiritual leaders and a little green puppet….who knew.