Discourses on the 5 Principles: Principle Two

I have of late been put to the test on the second principle - Just for today, do not worry. Seems I do nothing but worry these days.

What is worry? I see worry as the constant nagging anxiety over the things of life. Usually worry involves things that may happen not things that are happening. Alot of people worry about impending apocalypse. I tend to worry about more mundane things like car accidents, running out of money, living a pointless life. None of these worries are imminent. They are fantasies. With them I draw misery to myself.

There's a difference between concern over circumstances that present challenges and worry. We can pay attention to circumstances that actually need to be addressed - getting the car inspected, balancing the check book, giving thanks for the opportunity to live the embodied life as a vehicle for lovingkindness. Taking care of daily business is being responsible, it gives us opportunity to live with integrity and compassion.

Worry is a different thing. Worry is fruitless attachment to our petty fears. Worry is constant chatter in the little mind about those fears. Worry colors all our waking moments and seeps into our dreamtime.

The antidote to worry is trust. Trust in the goodness of the universe. There are two ways (at least) of looking at the universe. One, the view most often foisted on us by "science", is that the universe if a hostile place always threatening our fragile existence. From dwarf stars to viral outbreaks, we are presented with a world that's unfriendly and cruel. I never watch "nature" shows on TV. These shows always explain the cycles of life and death in terms of cruelty and violence. There is not an attempt to understand the larger cycles of creation, destruction and rebirth. There is no celebration of life.

We can also look at the universe and see a vast dance of creation and transition. Nothing is ever lost. Neither the planets or galaxies nor you and me. It is all, including us, in a constant state of transformation into different forms. We are constantly being birthed in a new existence. The universe facilitates and supports the natural transformation of all beings in the beings they will become. We can truly trust the goodness of this process.

Worry is a lack of trust in the process. Worry is an clinging to what we are now. Trust is the celebration of what we are becoming. I must remind myself these days to celebrate. To give thanks. To trust.

Just for today, I will not worry. I vow to trust in the goodness of the universe.

Peace