When Light Shines, Darkness Becomes The Light
Işık Parladığında, Karanlık Işık OlurThich Nhat Hanh
Zaman zaman kendinizi huzursuz olabilirsiniz ve bu huzursuzluk ortadan kaybolmayabilir. Böyle zamanlarda, sessizce oturun, nefesinizi izleyin, hafifçe gülümseyin ve farkındalığınızı huzursuzluğunuza verin. Onu yargılamayın ya da yok etmeye çalışmayın çünkü bu huzursuzluk kendinizsiniz. Doğar, bir süre var olur ve doğal bir şekilde kaybolur. Kaynağını bulmak için fazla aceleci olmayın. Ortadan kaybolması için fazla çaba göstermeyin. Sadece onu aydınlatın. Sizinle yani gözlemciyle bir araya gelerek, birleşerek ve bağlantı kurarak azar azar değişeceğini göreceksiniz. Bu aydınlatmaya bağlı olan herhangi bir psikolojik durum, sonunda yumuşayacak ve gözlemleyen zihinle aynı doğayı kazanacaktır.
Meditasyonunuz boyunca farkındalığınızın güneşini parlatın. Her yaprağı ve her çimi aydınlatan fiziksel Güneş gibi, farkındalığımız da her düşüncemizi ve hissimizi aydınlatır, onları tanımamıza, doğuşlarının, yaşam sürelerinin ve çözülüşleri, değerlendirmeden yasaklamadan farkına varmamızı sağlar. Farkındalığınızı asılsız düşünceleriniz olan “düşmanları” bastırmak için çağrılan “müttefikler” olarak düşünmemeniz önemlidir. Fikrinizi bir savaş alanına dönüştürmeyin. Orada savaşa girmeyin; tüm hisleriniz- neşe, keder, öfke, nefret - kendinizin bir parçasıdır. Farkındalık, rehberlik etmek ve aydınlatmak için orada olan nazik ve özenli bir ağabey ya da kız kardeş gibidir. Asla şiddet içermeyen veya ayrım gözetmeyen, hoşgörülü ve net bir varlıktır. Düşünceleri ve duyguları tanımak ve tanımlamak için oradadır. Onları iyi ya da kötü olarak değerlendirmek ya da birbirleriyle savaşmak için muhalif kamplara yerleştirmek için değil. İyi ve kötü arasındaki muhalefet çoğu zaman aydınlık ve karanlıkla karşılaştırılır, ancak ona farklı bir şekilde bakarsak, ışığın parladığında karanlığın kaybolmadığını görürüz. Karanlık bulunduğu yerden ayrılmaz sadece ışıkla birleşir. Işık olur.
Bir süre önce konuğumu gülümsemeye davet ettim. Meditasyon yapmak bir problemle savaşmak demek değildir. Meditasyon yapmak, gözlemlemek demektir. Gülüşün bunu kanıtlıyor. Kendine karşı nazik olduğunu, farkındalığın güneşinin senin için parladığını, durumun kontrolünü elinde tuttuğunu kanıtlar. Siz kendinizsiniz ve biraz huzur yakaladınız. Bu huzur, bir çocuğu size yakın olmaktan keyif almasını sağlar.
By Thich Nhat Hanh.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion that when light shines, darkness becomes the light? Can you share a personal story of a time you were able to observe your thoughts without judging or evaluating? What helps you be gentle with yourself?
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13 Past Reflections
On Jan 26, 2020 Ishwar wrote :
Darkness merges in to light. Does it mean my wrongs eg my ego becomes light? Then I might be rationalizing my bad in to good? Seems to be wrong interpretation!!
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On Sep 25, 2019 Subhash Garg wrote :
Darkness of Ignorance colors with Negative Thoughts. Self doubt.
light of Knowledge removes Darkness and turns into Positive Thoughts for Peace and Happiness !!
light of Knowledge removes Darkness and turns into Positive Thoughts for Peace and Happiness !!
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On Sep 25, 2019 RUBY wrote :
Thought provoking! True, darkness does become light only if when light arrives. However, light never become darkness. Darkness is always waiting for light to go away to manifest itself. So, it seems light is the stronger force that always conquers darkness. Without light, there would be no lives, no plants, no energy, no vision.That is about the physical light and darkness outside around me.
I used to meditate in the bushes and mountains a lot few years back. The darkness inside of me becomes light when I am happy for no reason. In the midst of a storm, i am calm, observing myself from far distance in the space, not sure from within this galaxy or another. I observe all my thoughts, aspirations, my existence, my body, my place in this universe. In eternity, somewhere in this vast universe, there I am alone, not wanting to know what i am doing there, why i am there; just enjoying that brief moment which will expire on its own.
I used to meditate in the bushes and mountains a lot few years back. The darkness inside of me becomes light when I am happy for no reason. In the midst of a storm, i am calm, observing myself from far distance in the space, not sure from within this galaxy or another. I observe all my thoughts, aspirations, my existence, my body, my place in this universe. In eternity, somewhere in this vast universe, there I am alone, not wanting to know what i am doing there, why i am there; just enjoying that brief moment which will expire on its own.
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On Sep 25, 2019 Rajul wrote :
When the light shines, darkness becomes the light. Darkness is absence of light, so when light shines, darkness is not there or we can say it has become the light. I am able to observe my thoughts without judging or evaluating , initially i learnt this when i learnt to meditate, now, when I am mindful and bring awareness in every action i do or thought or feeling i get, i am able to observe it for a while without judging or evaluating. The monkey mind becomes often one with it instead of observing it with a distance. Awareness helps me be gentle with myself.
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On Sep 24, 2019 Larissa wrote :
I love the simplicity of this statement, “To meditate means to observe.” This article reminds me to accept myself and all that I am exactly as I am. It’s easy to forget this simple act, in my desire to grow.
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On Sep 24, 2019 Debra J. Cox wrote :
Thank you for this insightful response. As I get older I too am finding myself striving to observe rather than judge. Creating quiet spaces for myself to breath, using mudras to enhance my practice and accepting what the day brings helps me to at least to strive to be kinder, to be calmer, to be my authentic self. Have a wonderful day. debbie cox
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On Sep 24, 2019 Claudia wrote :
Thank you for this beautiful reminder to not let my mind become a battlefield... to allow for all aspects of myself to be observed and possibly to merge. I need this gentle approach very much so that I can learn to live mindfully in stressful times.
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On Sep 24, 2019 Marc wrote :
Just what I needed this morning as a gentle reminder. The battlefield of the mind has been going for too long. During prayer the other day the idea that I don’t have to perform to earn or be loved came up; this reminds me of that. During meditation, I don’t have to try and succeed at finding the root of my recent and ongoing anxiety and stomach issues. Just by being present and trusting in that will eventually help.
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On Sep 20, 2019 david doane wrote :
When light shines, darkness lessens and goes away. I guess it's true that darkness becomes the light -- I hadn't thought of it that way -- since Thich Nhat Hanh says it, I will reflect on it further. I do believe everything becomes everything so it does make sense. I find it difficult to observe without judging or evaluating. I observe and drift in and out of judging and evaluating. I do more observing without judging and evaluating than I used to. For me to simply be present, be aware and observe without judging and evaluating, without a goal or agenda, is a joy and is enlightening. I have difficulty being gentle with myself. I become impatient and critical with myself. What helps me be gentle with myself is reminding myself that I am good, reminding myself that I have the right and responsibility and privilege to be me, knowing that I am learning and growing, paying attention, being gentle with others, seeing others being gentle, and reflection and meditation.
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On Sep 20, 2019 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
ThichNahtHanhhas bee a great spiritual teacher for me. I am very grateful to him to plant the seeds of learning how to live spiritually.This essay raises important questions in my mind. What is darkness? Where does it come from? What is light? Where does it come from? As I am reflecting on these questions quietly, following my breath, light of awareness shines from within. This nonjudgmental awareness enlightens me. Darkness is created by myself in my mind and heart. Restlessness is created by myself in my mind and heart.This illuminated knowing liberates me from my self-created darkness. Darkness merges with light. Darkness becomes light. Light of awareness guides me to live mindfully.
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