Being and Becoming

As wave is driven by wave/ And each, pursued, pursues the wave ahead, / So time flies on and follows, flies, and follows, / Always, for ever and new. What was before / Is left behind; what never was is now; / And every passing moment is renewed. – Ovid

Impermanence is the nature of existence. Your Being is the present You; and by transforming you are Becoming that which you desire to Be. All things change. We know this without being told. Life smacks us upside the head with shots of reality on a regular basis. How we respond to change flows from our individual nature. Change happens when we decide. Deciding to transcend habitual patterns of behavior takes courage and encouragement. If there is a part of your being which is suffering because of what you feel are: bad habits or bad behaviors take the first step away. The following steps become easier as you renew your being. Don’t go on discussing what a good person should be. Just be one – Marcus Aurelius

Contemplation is an ancient practice. We gain understanding by looking at things with the eyes and with the mind. Knowledge of reality is gained through contemplation. People turn to contemplation during difficult times, but taking time for self-reflection each day adjusts your being to what life is becoming. There are a myriad of ways to contemplate: mindfulness, meditation, Qi Gong, yoga, strolling, cycling, jogging… Do whatever you need to do to refresh your mind. Know that as part of the natural world you are transforming and stormy times will always give way to sunshine. Strong winds do not last all morning, hard rains do not last all day. – Tao Te Ching.

From the moment you first opened your eyes in this world, you have been on a unique journey. You are ever-becoming you. That knowledge is part of the joy of living. At the same time, we have to be aware of the impermanence of existence. The Japanese have a concept called Mono no aware, which can be translated as the transience of things. One should recognize the significance of the moments of Being and become content with ephemeral experiences. This appreciation for the beauty of temporary moments fills our lives with meaning. I wrote a Haiku to try and describe the feeling. Bittersweet moments / Splendor of cherry blossoms / Life swept up by time

It was said by the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus that “No man steps into the same river twice.” He also said, “Everything flows. Nothing stands still.” Events in our lives are ever-flowing towards our intentions. Just as in Taoism Yin/Yang are not a duality but a unity – one flows into, and transforms into, the other. Events these days illustrate the importance of finding the commonality in our lives and in the lives of others. With our voices lifted up in togetherness, we can transform our beings in positive ways and the world can become what we dream it can be – Together. With Peace and Love.