Loving What Is

Shawn Smith - September 23, 2005

If I want other than what I have now
If I desire to be other that what I am now
If I long to be somewhere other than where I am now
If I wish that my current situation to be other than what it is now
And if I yearn to change what I cannot change
Then I am not a "lover of what is"

All my suffering begins and ends within me
Wanting, desiring, longing, wishing and yearning, these all bring about great inner pain, turmoil and agony
Can I stop the wind?
Can I still the ocean's waves?
Can I control the rising and setting of the sun?
Can I determine the movement of the clouds in the sky?

The many thoughts that swirl about in my mind, are they true, are they really true?
How do I re-eact when I think those thoughts?
Who or what would I be without them?
And, most importantly, is there any peaceful reason for me to retain those thoughts which cause me pain?

I have learned that there are three kinds of business in the world:
My business, your business and God's business
"What is" is God's business
If I am in someone else's business - either yours or God's - then I suffer
When I remain in my own business and appreciate my own reality, then my suffering ends and I become a "lover of what is"

The words "should or shouldn't" bring suffering
The acceptance of "what is" brings peace and tranquility
As long as I fight against reality I will suffer
But when I embrace reality and allow it to be my teacher and guide, it is then that my suffering turns into joy

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Many thanks to  Byron Katie- www.thework.org