Finding and filling the right place for us is often life’s biggest challenge. Like with an “inner trust” buoyed from being held up with sincerely where success can be measured. This inner trust is like riding in a boat across the lake knowing we are secure, that the boat won’t sink, and we won’t drown along the way. It is how we are to connect both our inner and outer lives returning to the spirit that brought us thus far. It is the lake that we cross over that takes us there.
It is this connection with and to spirit that allows us to become the harmonizing influence of what we find in nature. Once found we become like a pivot, or center point, linking both past and present with the future. What we find in this centering and connecting to the spirits becomes our ultimate attribute illustrated through and by our sincerity. The secret of how we live each day. Although in reality it is no secret at all.
For myself, the key to appreciating our place in the world is found in Eastern philosophy.
There is an ancient truism that goes that to be born a Taoist (coming in with the love and appreciation of all things found in nature), to live as a Confucian (where benevolence and virtue guide our daily activities), and to die as a Buddhist (with a complete understanding of what it means to live and die within the auspices of the bodhisattva vow) is the ultimate meaning of compassion and sincerity.
That our journey is not meant to be a solitary one, although at times it seems so. We are to live in the state of becoming our highest endeavor as we go forth for eternity’s sake.
Number 61 of the I Ching
The Ultimate Attribute
Sincerity is the ultimate commitment to nature and finding one’s purpose. The one attribute the dragons have long awaited as the true sign of the sacrifice to the never-ending journey.
Everything else simply secondary to the trust and good feelings inherently found in truly good intentions discovered only when one is sincere.
Endeavors coming easy like the morning sun with birds singing to let everyone know another day has arrived. Another chance to give everything our best effort knowing that’s all there really is to give. Keep to oneself in harmony with all things knowing that events allowed to get out of control can only lead to questioning the intent of otherwise good intentions. One’s true feeling worn on shirt sleeves for all to see makes it difficult to shelter true emotions inherently both good and bad for everyone to see again and again.
What is sincerity except a deep sense of caring and commitment of thoughts carried out through actions unthought out and unspoken. A sense of caring about the final outcome yet be determined. Yet an assured knowledge of how things will play out in the end for all to know and see.
Simply an enthusiasm for truth and a compassion for things set free to rise up as the phoenix from the ashes of desperate discontent. So simple to find, yet so difficult to keep. The attribute the dragons know without saying, so to speak. Clouds parting overhead as they peer down to make a final inspection only to find that you are well on your way.
An original composition and interpretation of the Chinese Classic the I Ching (61 SINCERITY / Wind over Lake). 3/27/94
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