'Never in this world does hatred cease by hatred: hatred ceases by love, and this according to a law which has existed forever.'
A few minutes spent playing around with my camera in the garden led to these images, which have since made me ponder about the nature of our thoughts, and how they influence the world around us and our perception of it. I have always felt that when I am in a positive mood, people I encounter and things around me reflect my positive state; as though I attract what I feel. During unhappy spells, it has felt the opposite: like the world is against me and everyone in it is miserable.
Our minds have come to be "deluded" as a result of years of conditioning and experience, which have encouraged fear, hatred, craving and selfishness to become the 'normal' state of mind. But these negative emotions and thoughts have no valid foundation and work against our natural instinct and the oneness of humanity.
Everyday life had become laden with anxieties, regrets, doubt and paranoia due to the overwhelming pressures of consumerist culture and the political climate, which constantly work towards ridding us of our individuality, our liberties and our feeling of self-worth. The result is a constant want for something more; something better, bigger and more expensive, and a worrying cycle of self-destruction on an internal and external level. All these negative influences that constantly surround us have inevitably led to a increasing trend in negative mind patterns, manifesting themselves in forms of depression and anxiety.
'All that we are is the result
of what we have thought.
It is founded on our thoughts,
It is made up of our thoughts.' (The Dhammapada)
By cultivating positive thoughts and emotions we can begin to change the basic perspectives on which our feelings depend, so that we can gradually reorient the way we perceive ourselves and others. If we become mindful of our thoughts, noting our emotional reactions to them, then it will become obvious what makes us feel good and happy. Using this knowledge, we can encourage and call upon these thoughts at times when we need relief from feelings of anger, impatience, lust, hatred and so on.
'Our positive states of mind can act as antidotes to our negative tendencies... So that as you enhance the capacity of these antidotal factors, the greater their force, the more you will be able to reduce the force of the mental and emotional afflictions.' (The Dalai Lama)
By making a conscious effort at first, we can be mindful of our thoughts, our perceptions, our speech and our actions so that those around us experience the positive energy created from positive thoughts. Developing a warm heart ourselves can also help transform others, encouraging them to become more compassionate and harmonious with the world around them. A sense of community and a positive atmosphere will then develop based on mutual trust, respect, love and kindness. By sharing one another's suffering and working towards eradicating hatred and anger from our minds, a profound change can begin; leading to inner and outward peace, and lasting happiness.
Listening to: 'After the War' - Steve Reich
For their debut performance, The Holy Vessels, composed of five friends and musicians from Brighton, gave a soulful set at Soho's Evaristo Club. Down in the dark, sweaty basement their sweet melodies felt uplifting and pure, and I found my feet incessantly stomping to their rhythmic lines. I'll be looking out for these lovely gents in the future.
