How can Sri Lanka do away with its dated identity?

Out dated identity?

We all feel anger,frustration,resentment and many other unwanted feelings especially since the Easter tragedy in our land. 

We now see in the media daily about the financial problems people face.People without jobs,people losing jobs,  government trying all forms of incentives to promote confidence, tourism and trade.Perhaps, a lot negative,contracting and depressing. This is creating the problem to deepen,even further.

We are all now waiting for a miracle, at the forthcoming Presidential election to get us out of trouble and put us back on the road to recovery. A tall order.

Our mind seeks a planned,preferred routine, to bring back order out of chaos, so that when outside events seem uncertain, we feel less  threatened,insecure and fearful. 

No leader can bring about a change; that change must begin, first in our own minds.

How to let life be? 

  

"Where will we go, this is our home?" This is the cry not only in America today, but also in Sri Lanka?

Consider the political crisis brewing in Sri Lanka and the urgency to find a way out to arrest the situation.This is the search taking place.It is on top of our minds.

As Winston Churchill said years ago: " An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

To avoid the stress associated with our hard times, we need to have a fresh mind set. We can simply take the ball that has been thrown our way and run with it, or we can sit and do nothing but worry about it. The problem remains with us.

Meditation 

If we need to observe, before we judge, we open ourselves to possibilities.We acknowledge that our opinion, is not a fact. "When we judge someone,it affects us more than the other person.It says more about us,than the other person. We convey how we perceive the world. It shows the preconception of our mind?"

Instead of judgment, observation and being curious, we should seek more information. We need to expand the gap between observation and conclusion. 

It is not about whether we are right or wrong.Instead our perception has become our reality. 

When we embrace the difference between "us and them," maybe they don't see what we see? Maybe they don't want to see what we see? Maybe they don't want the same things as us? Maybe they have a different life philosophy and value life differently? 

I think you already know what I mean, I think you already know the answer.

If, however, you don't know the answer, then when we visit our Temples we may be able to seek the answer?

The answer is mediation and mindfulness?

We will clearly see the answer, when we detach ourselves from our judgments.We then take a step beyond and give someone the benefit of the doubt, not because we want to be charitable, but for our self satisfaction and our own peace of mind.

Another way to build confidence 

Besides, exercise of our mind, we need vigourous exercise of our body? In my opinion, people necessarily, don't need medicine against stress, if they would do physical exercise. Synchronicity of mind and body is by supplying our brain with oxygen and releasing endorphins, which in turn helps us find ourselves naturally confident.

Whether being a vegetarian or a vegan,is not as important,what quantity,quality,we put in our bodies that builds our body mass index?

Physical exercise helps to overcome uncertainty,with the built in trust in our own abilities. This is what Ayurveda is all about. This is what our sages preached and professed from ancient times.When we become active participants in the game of life with positive thinking,we generally are able to welcome uncertainty as we know that something even better is awaiting to be unraveled. 

What then is the paradox of our outdated identity?

Our outdated identity is that we have got used to thinking far too into the future rather than "living life in the here and now," "living life in the moment". This is important as it helps in times of continuous turbulence and unrelenting change. When we live in the moment and train our mind to focus on the present, we become more secure. It is generally true that we are perfectly well equipped to deal with the present moment. But when our mind wanders into "uncertain and uncharted territory" of the future, we become unsure of ourselves, worried and "lose our cool," we forfeit our inner peace and tranquility. 

That does not mean we should abandon a plan for our future.That does not mean we don't have a vision, a dream. Rather,we focus on the present, but have sight of our future.It is to regain our balance, "our Middle Path" which is part of our heritage. Let us stop judging life, but let it flow.

Whoever who becomes our next President has a duty to maintain this balance,

this "Middle Path," and show that he has the ability and command confidence of all, if not the large majority of the people of Sri Lanka, to deliver on his promises, to change our "inferiority mind set," by strong leadership,duty,dignity and discipline.

Victor Cherubim