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Werner Erhard said there internal things going on that we human beings have nothing to do with. Primarily these are human biological design such as age, the functions of our brain, and other human design functions. The inevitable consequence of age is that we all grow older. We experience fear from the survival centers of our brains. That’s just what it is to be human. There’s nothing we can do about that.
Werner said that there are external things going on for us: some we have something to do with; others we have nothing to do with.
A lot of my suffering arises in the illusion that I can actually control what goes on in life. At best I have something to do with what goes on internal to and external to me. Basically, what happens, happens. Good happens. Shit happens. It’s beyond my control.
Werner’s epiphany: We choose who we are going to be in any given moment. When I got this, I gained the freedom to be. Maybe that freedom is the possibility of peace. Perhaps we’re the ones who define our own peace.
Granted, I don’t always practice being present. When I choose who I’m going to be, I can give up being right and making others wrong. Neither is useful in the bigger picture: To become greater than I know myself to be. Bruce Lee said, “Empty your mind. Be like water…” We can only reinvent ourselves from nothing. Sensei Dan constantly reminded in Aikido practice, “Have no preconceived notions.” I believe he intended that for life, too.
When I choose who I’m going to be in any moment, then making a difference for others becomes my authentic self-expression. I have the freedom to be. Peace arises as the distinct possibility for everyone. I get keeping that present requires practice. “Just train” as Sensei would say.
Not being enlightened, I continue to let go and let me be. Werner said, “What you can let be, lets you be.” Practice peace so it becomes natural, part of me.
Choosing who I am in this often unkind world is the challenge. Circumstances arise right and left. Often, I find it difficult to distinguish me from my circumstance. It’s easy to surrender to: “It’s not fair,” or to “I suck.” Yet, my circumstance does not define me; I define me. We’re all human.
I always remember Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”: “To thine own self, be true.” Really, being true to ourselves is the best we can all do. When I fail, then I choose what’s next. Circumstance doesn’t define me. I believe we all define our own peace.
Sensei Dan said to me in Aikido practice, “Everything natural.” Really he was saying, “Jon, you gotta work your ass off to make something natural for you.” So I’ve got to create my peace and my freedom for me. For no one else.
War and terrorism occur throughout the world. This is the reality we all live. Really, I have nothing to do with that.
Yet, of the war that wages within me, of my doubt and my fears, I have something to do with that. True victory within me is accepting my fear and doubt. I create who I’m going to be in the presence of no peace, no agreement.
I dare to be the greater than me. When I win, I move on. When I fail, I learn and invent what’s next. In acceptance, I have the possibility of peace. I have a start. So I keep practicing.
I practice continually letting go of me, and choosing who I’m going to be. I accept both my lightness and darkness, my strengths and frailties. I think accepting ourselves is the source of peace both personally, and in the bigger picture.
“Just train” is ingrained from Sensei. Not like I’m going anywhere. I just practice, just because. Make the world work. In a way, Sensei taught me the possibility of peace.
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Photo credit: Pixabay