This lesson sits at an important junction in our exploration of the cycle of habitual reactivity, linking all that has been discussed thus far. Remember, our journey is about cultivating a more profound sense of inner peace, and understanding our experiences is pivotal in this process.
Our beliefs influence our perceptions, shaping our thoughts and emotions. These emotions ignite feelings which guide our decisions and subsequently drive our actions. Actions manifest as behaviors, which inevitably lead to consequences and results. All of these facets in the chain contribute to our overall experiences. These experiences, in turn, reinforce or challenge our beliefs, and the cycle goes on.
In life, we often underestimate the power of experiences. However, they are the distillation of all our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, emotions, feelings, decisions, actions, behaviors, and the ensuing results. They are the ultimate result of our interactions with life and play a vital role in our continuous personal growth. Experiences are the fertile soil in which our beliefs take root, grow, and flourish. They can affirm or reshape our perceptions of reality, either strengthening existing beliefs or facilitating the creation of new ones.
Experiences are not random occurrences; they have countless causes and conditions. They are the cumulative results of many interconnected factors. By understanding and consciously engaging with this process, we can shape our experiences to foster a deeper sense of understanding, connection, and inner peace.
The Parable of the Strawberry
Once upon a time, a man was walking through the forest when he saw a tiger. As the man turned to run, he heard the tiger chasing after him. Running for his life, the man came to the edge of a steep cliff. Clinging to a vine, he climbed over the cliff edge just as the tiger approached. Hanging over the side of the cliff, with the hungry tiger pacing above, the man looked down only to see another tiger, stalking him from the ravine below. Just then, a small mouse emerged from a crack in the cliff face above him and began to chew on the vine. Just then, the man noticed a patch of wild strawberries growing on the edge of the cliff. He reached out and plucked one. It was ripe and ready to eat. He quickly ate the delicious strawberry and was amazed by its incredible flavor.
Remember, stories are like fingers pointing at the moon, but they are not the moon. This story can be interpreted in many ways, some say it’s about living in the moment, and others might say it’s about not getting distracted. The truth is that it’s just a story about a strawberry. Whatever meaning you want to give it, will be up to you.
I’ll share what it means to me.
Our journey through life can often feel like this parable. Suspended between what was and what will be, facing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its timing. For me, the strawberry represents every moment we have the fortune of experiencing while we're here.
In the story, the man hanging precariously from the vine notices a strawberry growing near him. Facing the certainty of his eventual fall, he reaches out, picks the strawberry, and savors its sweetness. This act is an act of fully inhabiting the present moment and embracing life as it is, despite its impermanence and inherent uncertainty.
These strawberries are the moments of joy, the moments of sorrow, the moments of connection, the moments of solitude, the moments of triumph, and the moments of defeat. They are the experiences we encounter along our journey—experiences that are uniquely ours, experiences that define our humanity. They are the magic that punctuates the seeming ordinariness of existence, a stark reminder that there's beauty in every moment, in every experience, if we choose to see it.
Much like the man on the vine, we have a choice. We can spend our time clinging tightly, consumed by the fear of our inevitable fall, oblivious to the beauty that surrounds us. Or we can choose to reach out, to seize the strawberries of our life, to fully inhabit each moment, each experience, tasting its unique flavor, its inherent sweetness or bitterness. We can choose to truly live.
Tigers above, tigers below. This is actually the predicament that we are always in, in terms of our birth and death. Each moment is just what it is. It might be the only moment of our life; it might be the only strawberry we’ll ever eat. We could get depressed about it, or we could finally appreciate it and delight in the preciousness of every single moment of our life. — Pema Chodron
Life is an experience to be had.
Life is an unfolding experience, ever-changing, and always present. It's an experience that’s always happening here and now. There is no other side because ‘you are on the other side’. It's this moment, this present experience, that we will always be experiencing. There is no other moment.
Each moment and each experience is a gift. The present moment is like a ripe strawberry waiting to be tasted. Who knows if we’ll enjoy it or not, but that’s not the point. Who knows what is good and what is bad right? As we journey through life, hanging from our proverbial vine, let's strive to notice the strawberries. Let’s try to appreciate the uniqueness of each experience, and fully engage with the miracle of being alive. This, in its essence, is the cultivation of inner peace. I believe inner peace arises naturally when we are mindfully engaged with our present experience of being alive.
Conclusion
Congratulations on reaching the end of this course. You've journeyed through a variety of concepts, lessons, practices, and stories, all designed to guide you toward cultivating inner peace.
These concepts and practices may take time to fully sink in. It's okay if you don't grasp everything immediately or if some practices seem challenging at first. Inner peace is not achieved overnight. It's a continuous process that unfolds over time.
Remember, the process of cultivating inner peace is not a race, but a journey of self-discovery and introspection. It's about learning to navigate beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, emotions, feelings, decisions, actions, consequences, and experiences over and over and over again.
I encourage you to revisit the course materials as often as you need. Go back to the lessons that resonated with you, or those that you found challenging. Each time you revisit these lessons, you may discover new insights or deepen your understanding. Try all the meditation techniques and exercises mentioned in the course. Find what works best for you and maintain consistency in your practice.
Thank you for embarking on this journey. Keep practicing, keep exploring, and remember to be patient with yourself. The path to inner peace is a journey, not a destination.