Very rarely do we meet someone who has everything they need. Especially in these times of lockdown and scarcity of many items. But perhaps the greatest thing we lack is understanding of the basic rules of life behind everything that happens. With this we can face any difficulties that the chaotic world may produce.
There are systems that work together in an integrated way to produce all aspects of our existence. The world around us in all its shapes and forms is the consequence of the way the elements that make it up, both living beings and the inanimate elements of matter, relate to each other. Our individual connection with the world around us happens through the ego linked to our physical identity, roles and history. The ego can be the best or the worst agent for the inner self in its relationship with the world.
There are three elements that integrate to produce our perceptions, experiences and activities, as shown in the diagram.
If we are really honest, we can say that their activity is more or less out of control. The mind wants one thing. The intellect pulls in another direction. The action of the subconscious is apparently random, producing our experiences and perceptions. Most people believe that it is not even possible to control this interaction.
It is possible, but to do this we have to strengthen the inner self.
In order to explain this, I want to use the image of a beach. I especially remember a beach that was about a hundred metres from my parents’ house, 500 km south of Sydney, Australia. As it was quite deserted, I used to go and sit there and become fascinated by the incessant breaking waves.
The mind is like the beach. It is the passive receiver of all sorts of images, sensations and ideas that are recorded in the subconscious sea of experiences.
The waves break on the beach in the form of thoughts and feelings. The waves can be gentle or can come thundering down. The big question is: can we control the waves?
So, imagine someone sitting on the beach just watching the waves. It is through the intellect that we can observe the thoughts and feelings that break on the beach of the mind. But this is where the analogy ends. We can observe whatever appears. But we can also control the flow. We can determine the waves we would like to have or feel, instead of just being passive victims of whatever comes.
As we practise this observation and control, with the help of meditation, we can better deal with any circumstances that may arise. We stop being tossed around by uncontrollable waves in an apparently random world. We start to have real control over our lives instead of being pushed and pulled by external circumstances.
Understanding this process and working on it is probably the best thing we can do for ourselves in these crazy times.
Ken O’Donnell is an author and the director of Brahma Kumaris’ services in South America.
