The path to Tranquility (spring)
34. Acceptance without hesitation
Don't hesitate between resistance and acceptance, because we need to exert our
power in a timely manner. If we waste time in hesitation, we are wasting our
lives. Perhaps we choose resistance in the end, but we may also miss an
opportunity to achieve a better life. All resistance should be directed toward
the future, not the past or present, because what has happened is
irresistible.
Nothing is unacceptable, including death. The more we fear death, the easier it is to die, because fear is a form of resistance and also an unconscious way of doing things. Not only does it fail to provide protection, it also causes us to lose the rational basis for doing things. Some things may seem difficult to accept, such as losing loved ones or being hurt, but we always have to accept it, so the sooner we accept it, the faster we can start a new life.
No matter what we resist, the more we resist, the more it will strengthen its effect and solidify our perception of it. The more we resist, the more we will get stuck in it. If we deny the existence of certain things, they will become more attractive. Since things can exist, there must be a reason for their existence. So accepting and allowing them to develop is a more reasonable approach.
Stop the inner struggle, stop the thoughts and practices of denial and resistance, allow ourselves to accept reality, and obey what naturally exists. This means going with nature, so our hearts are at ease and not entangled. Accepting and obeying does not mean giving up the opportunity to change, but it means being more powerful to seize the opportunity, because we will not waste our strength on meaningless resistance. All things will develop and change, and only by accepting the foundation of the present can we create a new future.
We can often pay attention to our inner attachments, which can produce extreme things. If we are attached to saving, it will cause waste. If we are attached to telling the truth, it will attract lies. Even if we are attached to acceptance, it will also produce resistance, making it difficult for us to accept.
Fear can also cause resistance, but acceptance can make fear disappear. If we can understand this, we will accept everything that life brings without hesitation, including acceptance of resistance and attachment. This is the most thorough and least conflicting acceptance.
Accept the shortcomings of the past, otherwise it is equivalent to denying them, which will prevent us from making progress. This is because accepting our ignorance can help us know more, and accepting our needs will make us satisfy them. Only by accepting everything can we increase our consciousness and cultivate a healthy true self.
33. Treating all things equally
35. Distinguish between needs and desires
