Inspiration from Osho: Three Truths About Life
September 13, 2009
1. “The beauty of facing life unprepared is tremendous. Then life has a newness, a youth; then life has a flow and freshness. Then life has so many surprises. And when life has so many surprises boredom never settles in you.”
This is pretty much the opposite of everything I ever learned.
In school, I was always taught to prepare for college. In college, I was preparing for “the real world”. While working, I had to prepare for retirement. When I was flying, I learned to be prepared for every possible outcome… even incredibly unlikely scenarios. I had always heard that it was best to be prepared.
Okey-doke, I thought. Be prepared for anything. Savings, insurance, backup plans, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”… all of these are ways to be prepared, ready for something to happen. But usually, nothing happens. I mean, Life happens, but IT doesn’t require any pre-planning. Life is going to happen no matter what we do.
Now I am facing life unprepared. I don’t know the right way to handle my current situation. I’m a little confused, a little scared, and feeling very alive. Each day is a surprise, a new set of variables to sort through and do something with. Being unprepared is definitely not boring, or terrifying… it’s intriguing. You never know what to expect!
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2. “You will find meaning in life only if you create it. It is not lying there somewhere behind the bushes, so you can go and you search a little bit and find it. It is not there like a rock that you will find. It is a poetry to be composed, it is a song to be sung, it is a dance to be danced.”
Everyone is on a search for happiness and fulfillment, thinking there is some combination of factors or circumstances that will make everything right. What we are all looking for is not “out there”. There is nothing to find, since we already have within us everything we need for a happy, fulfilling life. We have the raw materials, but we need to actively create the life we want.
There is no finished product, no moment when we’ll say, “There. I’m done. That’s exactly what I wanted.” Life is a work of art, a work in progress, an ever-changing representation of who we are inside. At different phases we’ll want different things, so we get to create and re-create… not settle and stagnate. Life is fluid, beautiful, full of possibilities, and waiting to be molded into exactly what we want.
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3. “Let this truth go as deep in you as possible: that life is already here, arrived. You are standing on the goal. Don’t ask about the path.”
So many of us wish life were this way or that way, or plan for a life we will have in the future, or dream of a day when life will be perfect. But most of us fail to realize THIS is life. This moment we’re in, whether it’s painful, uncertain, confusing, unfulfilling, boring, less than stellar, whatever it is… THIS is life.
Look around. If you don’t like what you see, NOW is the time to change it, and no one can do that but you. Every moment counts.
What about YOU?
Do you try to prepare for everything? Are you waiting to find happiness and the life you want? Or, are you willing to create it?
Thanks!!
Related posts:
- Inspiration from Kurt Vonnegut: Life Beyond Computers
- Inspiration from the Dalai Lama: In Every Moment
- Inspiration from Dr. Seuss: The Waiting Place
- Inspiration: Nobody Trips Over Mountains
- Inspiration from Paulo Coelho: Two Drops of Oil
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This is really beautiful. Like you, the first one goes pretty much against everything I’ve ever been taught, and everything I’ve ever believed in, but who am I to say that it’s not right? There’s just so much stuff that can happen that just comes out of nowhere, and there’s really no way to prepare for it. You can plan yourself to death, trying to fix the variables and make back-up plans, or you can remain open and flexible, and just go with the flow. I’ve spent far too much of my life trying to control outcomes. I’m ready to float along the river for a while, and see what life brings my way.
Jay Schryer´s last blog ..The Last Boy Scout
Lisis,
I tend to feel better if I’m prepared for possible scenarios. Although, they rarely come into play. And really over the last year or so – I’ve become much more “go with the flow”. And while this can feel a little unsettling ( I know you know this so much better than most, Lisis) – it is also very “in the moment” too. And there’s something about being in the moments of our life, that make them more real, more connected to them. Am I ready to give up on preparing? No. I’ll still do it at times. Still, I’m feeling much more how there’s a deep connection to the moment when I let that moment fully come over me.
The life I want: I am not waiting for that to happen. I’ve done that in the past, and it feels not like it’s my happiness that matters. And that’s why it’s important for us to fully go after our dreams and ambitions. Your third point is one that I just keep coming back to here. Life is NOW. I used to think – oh, I can’t wait until I graduate from college, or until I have kids, or until the kids are old enough to take care of themselves, or until retirement. And then one day it hit me – this point here. That life is happening now. It’s not something to wait for. And getting to that point was a deep realization in what life is all about – the daily living (LIVING) of our lives.
Lisis, I take much inspiration from these three truths. And I also take them directly from you and your family, too. To witness you living this, in very real ways – and the good and the bad along with it – has been so refreshing and real. Keep being a beacon of hope…
Lance´s last blog ..Sunday Thought For The Day
Hi Lisis,
What a lovely and insightful post. I love what youve written and your interpretation is just perfect.
I and my hubby are both go with the flow kind of people…so planning is really the last thing we ever do. The only planning we do is plan to pay the bills and then do it
I love the excitment and the suspense not knowing brings. Life is indeed wonderful when lived that way…
I dont think i have the patience to find happiness;) I prefer to be happy NOW..rather than wait for it to come along someday….I dont believe external factors bring happiness…its our own attitude and your choice to be happy that will truly bring you happiness that lasts.
To me every moment in life is magical and beautiful and so creating happiness is not an option…Being IN Happiness is the ONLY option
Loved all the sayings so much. Thank you for this truly inspirational post.
Big Hug.
Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..On Compassion{Inspirational Quote of the Week}
Hi Lisis
As for the third question, I believe that we co-create happiness with other people and I don’t only mean two legged animals. There is a sort of connection, a link with the whole, with God that means we cannot simply create life alone on our own.
And that surprise of the others, the fact that we aren’t alone in this path, it’s what makes it lovely.
Wonderful stuff! Being ‘unprepared’ is scary and exciting at the same time – but I would have it no other way.
Corinne Rodrigues´s last blog ..When Love Comes
Hey Lisis, these are so awesome, and your thoughts on them are priceless. I’m actually going to try something in the coming year (hopefully it will work out). I have no prior experience – all I have is passion. But if I let fear hold me back, I wouldn’t be anywhere right now.
This post is definitely getting stumbled – Ciao for now!
P.S. I’ll tell you what that something when I’m much closer to completion; keep your fingers crossed!
John´s last blog ..It’s Survey Time: Personal Goal Setting
Good Morning Happy People!
@ Jay: Me too! I just heard about the book “Flow” that is all about that, and I can’t wait to read it. It’s up there on the list with the water book Uzma told me about. As a side note, how vain am I, that I read the first line as, “This is really beautiful, like you”? Seriously, I probably think “this song” is about me!
@ Lance: If you learned only one thing from this post or this blog, let it be this: LIFE IS NOW. However great or awful the past was, doesn’t really matter. Having dreams and hopes for the future is lovely, and fun, and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy… but even those are not real (not yet). The only thing that IS real is THIS moment, so make the most of it.
@ Zeenat: I love the way you phrased that, “Creating happiness is not an option… being IN happiness is the ONLY option.” So true. Again, if only THIS moment really exists, then it is only IN this moment that happiness is even an option. We need to choose to embrace it. Thank you!
Lisis, this is so beautiful and so true.
Thank you for reminding us that we create our own happiness . The ‘now’ is our goal.
Lovely.
Do hope we all have the courage to first see the truth that we create our own happiness, and then have the courage to live and take action .
Thank you for these incredible words and your beautiful description of them. With your courage you will create an incredible poem, a gorgeous song. All the best. Keep walking, nay flying.
@ Miguel: You are absolutely right that having a sense of being connected is a vital piece of the puzzle. You know, I’ve been meaning to tell you, whenever I see your name here, or on other blogs, I get this secret sense of joy because it reminds me of my cousins in Spain, and my dad, who had one of those long Spanish names… Bryant Antonio de Jesus Monturiol. So when I see your name, the world just feels a little smaller… like we are all connected somehow. Does that make any sense?
@ Corinne: Funny how that works, huh? You would not believe how many times my husband and I have said that lately, “This feels kinda scary, but exciting!” Weird how it can be both, because it seems you’d want to avoid “scary” at all costs, but to do so you have to be willing to go without “exciting,” and I guess we’re just not.
@ John: Whatever “that something” is, I have no doubt that it will work out if you continue to want it with the same passion and determination. Alternately, you may find along the way to that goal that it doesn’t light your fire like you thought it would, but some other idea derived from it does. Then you’ll pursue it with the same drive. Whenever you come to a fork in the road, take the path that makes you feel more alive, more intrigued, more inspired and passionate. This way, things will always work out for the best.
@ Uzma: Thank you so much, my dear. Your comments are always a breath of fresh air for me. Everything you write seems so light and full of love and joy. The point you’ve brought up is an excellent one: the difference between our dreams and our actions. It was also the subject of Lance’s Sunday Thought today, so I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t been there yet, to head over and check it out.
Dear Lisis. Its my pleasure absolutely. Am trying very hard to go with the flow in thought, and action. So reading your post helped me so much. Thank you for your very kind words. Am glad I can be a breath of fresh air. It was your post that was the inspiration though. Sometimes things just touch us and then the ‘we’ is not there. Then the words just come…Thank you for the inspiration. Do wish me luck as I try to bridge the gap between my words and action
To become ‘love’ and flow, rather than just ‘think’ it.
Lisis sweetie,Your posts always bring out the right ME to say just the right thing. Your writing has a magical way of getting to my heart. And thats why your blog and you are my most favorite.
Lots and lots of love
Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s last blog ..On Compassion{Inspirational Quote of the Week}
Hi Lisis-
I love the photo of Jeff with bovine!
You are living the antithesis of what you were taught (re: being prepared) and it is inspiring! I can’t help but to prepare, I was a Blue Bird for goodness sake (the equivalent Boy Scouts for girls)!
I’m working on letting go, though, just a little bit every day.
You bring such spirit and love to your life – you always amaze me. Thanks for another beautiful and inspirational post today, Li!
Lori´s last blog ..Liking the Lichens
Hi Lisis! I love the three truths – and they ARE! While I always had Plan B, in case A didn’t fly, I also had C,D,E and so on. Mid-alphabet I’d just quit and “listen” since I had to realize I was not really in charge! I had the rug pulled out from under me so much, early on, I came to accept these truths as almost a relief!
And that 3rd one – precious! I don’t look for path, I AM the path, and life is now, this moment. YAY! No more poison oak from looking in the bushes!
Wonderful post!
suzen´s last blog ..Juggling Life
I’m working every day on creating happiness in my life. Sometimes it’s hard not to believe that I’ll someday “find” it when I’ve written a book… or am in a perfection relationship… or work from home… But I realize that happiness is a choice and it’s something that comes from within. If I want it, I have to create it. I can’t wait for it!
Positively Present´s last blog ..words to live by: send it on
Hi Lisis,
I make the most out of each second of every day. There is no way to prepare for every possibility. No one can be that prepared. The best thing is to live life based on love and what brings you joy. How things turn out depends on the moment. That said, life does throw curve balls now and then and usually they are blessings in disguise. So I am all for throwing caution to the wind and enjoying the ride. Life is too short to waste by playing it small.
Nadia – Happy Lotus´s last blog ..Sunday Song for September 13, 2009
@ Lori: Funny story about that picture… to me, it looks like a picture of Jeff standing with ME, instead of Costa Rican oxen! I think because I’m a 1973 Ox, and I’m a Libra (so I always feel like I’m actually two people in one body), this picture (in my twisted mind) symbolizes Jeff and me. He looks so happy out there in nature, doing adventure sports, while “Lisis” looks serene, content, at peace in those surroundings.
It’s weird… I know. Still, thought YOU might appreciate that little tidbit. Everyone else now officially knows I’m nuts, but I guess that’s OK, too.
@ Suzen: Beautifully stated, and that third one is the most important. I love the imagery of you (or any of us) getting poison oak from looking in the bushes for something that isn’t even there!
@ Dani: The thing about the “perfect scenarios” we come up with is, even if we achieve them, there is always “the other side”. For instance, you will never feel such joy as when you become a parent. It’s a whole new level of love that you didn’t even know was possible. But you also will never experience such pain… if your kids are hurting, or struggling in life, or something like that. That pain parents feel (like, when Hunter was in the hospital) is something I never thought a body could endure. Every scenario has pros and cons… and don’t even get me started on “perfect relationships”!
@ Nadia: You and Jacob are my constant inspiration for letting go and going with the “flow”. I have learned to expect and sometimes even appreciate the curve balls. They always introduce interesting variables I never could’ve dreamed up myself. No way I’m gonna play it small!
Hello Lisis, and dear readers.
Just wanted to share something. Today I woke up happy for no apparent reason. There was nothing different this morning, same house, same job, same spouse, same daily routines. But I was remarkably happy. Why?
In the “Secret” it’s called a “thought” (then comes the manifestation)
In Kabbalah it’s called a “kavana” (preliminary purpose, meaning) (then comes the deed, the creation)
In this post you refer to life as a work of art, a work in progress. It is the reality we live in, the reality we create.
When I combine these ideas together, I start getting that it’s all about what we, as free to choose, make of each day. If we choose to live happily – nothing can stop us. All life’s boundaries are within us, same as all happiness. That’s why I decide (consciously) to live without boundaries, do what I love to do, and connect DIRECTLY to this life’s source of energy of positivity, light and creation.
Thank you for this inspiring post.
Alex Hudish´s last blog ..Inspiration, Productivity, Success – Top Blogs [Part I]
@ Alex: Wow!!! There is nothing I’d rather hear than someone sharing that kind of news: TODAY I AM HAPPY! I think that’s beautiful, and I am so grateful to you for sharing that.
I’ve gotta say, I’m feeling happy today too!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tracy Brinkmann, Lance, Al Gates, Jay Schryer and others. Jay Schryer said: Inspiration from Osho via @Serene_Balance: Three Truths About Life http://bit.ly/rzFqy [...]
Lisis,
I admire your leaving what you know and going “unprepared” into a life of new surprises. You provide some great inspiration here at Quest for Balance. I do believe in times of real transformation, when we let go of what we know, what we’ve prepared for, we experience life with a greater sense of aliveness, of vitality.
Miche
Miche | SerenityHacker´s last blog ..25 iPhone Apps for Personal Development
Hi Lisis,
I love your words. I do agree. Planning can be good, but it’s those situations we don’t plan for where we often find the most joy. It’s like making life a “surprise party”, a grab bag of sorts.
As I was reading your words I was reminded of how some will save things or experiences for “later” – never knowing when and if “later” will ever arrive.
I’m with you. THIS is our life . It’s up to us to decide to take part in it or not.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..The 15 Minute Post
I absolutely loved what you said about the arrival factor. I very much used to (and sometimes still do) think that once I reached a certain goal, I’d feel (insert whatever satisfying and over-the-top emotion you’d like here). What I failed to realize and sometimes still get tripped up in is the fact that my egoic mind is addicted to DOING. Striving, reaching, furthering. I’m painting a room right now, and it looked pretty bad when I started. I thought, “Oh, it won’t matter how well I paint it, just the fact that I’m painting will be a huge improvement.” Well, the room is painted but in about an hour I’ll be going to the craft store to buy a tiny little paint brush to touch up the minuscule little areas I missed the first, second, and third times around! Yep, that’s right. I’ll probably always look at that room and think, “I should…(insert asinine improvement idea here).”
What you wrote here has inspired me today, Lisis. Thank you! (Maybe I won’t get that brush after all…!)
Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s last blog ..Runners, Bloggers and the Power of Applause
Hi Lisis,
As what people say, “let life unfold itself”. Sometimes we do not need to think too far away in the future and just do the best that we can at the present moment. The future will take care of itself.
Cheers,
Vincent
Vincent´s last blog ..Tony Robbins UPW In Singapore
Wow, the meaning of life is what we create? I guess you’re right about this. Many people are searching for meaning but can’t find any. I believe we have created our own world and in reality there can be no definite meaning in this life. True meaning goes beyond our existence.
Thank you for your new life view. I am in the state of confuse , no energy, no force. Coming back to real work life from one day off lets me feel so down. Yesterday was a kill-time day. Today, I want to change, but still no power. Your post gives me a little power to creat.
Hi Lisis.
I so am with you about us being taught a certain way of life, that it is hard to let go of what has been created in our mind about how life should be lived.
It has created core beliefs in us that are very hard to undo.
And it is all based on fear and if you look at what we prepare ourselves for it is always negative. Do we prepare for feasting on life or do we prepare for when things go wrong????
We always got to the negative side of what might happen.
We also have been taught we are going it alone and we are not.
We have physical friends here on earth who would help us when the worst comes to the worst and we have the universe. Nobody has taught us about how to work together with those resources.
We have to relearn a whole new way of living, we need to believe a whole lot of new things and we can only change by our experiences. Changing beliefs does not happen in an armchair reading a book.
We need rolemodels so we can see that that new way works out AND what that new way actually is. We need people who do it and then write about it so we can follow and learn from people like you.
As you can tell, I am so passionate about this, there is another way to live that makes us feel free, self expressed and is a life we truly love.
And I have said that before to you, you are doing all of us a great service to live as you do and then share it.
Lots of love, lets explore this garden of eden in a way it deserves.
wilma ham´s last blog ..My daughter and I on ‘why should you?’.
I love Osho, and I love the 2nd quote here in particular. When I read it I really focused in on what it means to create the ‘meaning’ in our life, not just our life itself. We all think in terms of ‘discovering the meaning of life’, and all the different religions, philosophies, and self-help regiments each present a certain view on what the meaning of life is. But Osho throws that up in the air – not only do we have the power to create our own external lives, we have the power to create our own meaning.
Lisa (Mommy Mystic)´s last blog ..Fingerprints of God: The Search for the Science of Spirituality
Thanks for this — I’ve definitely appreciated Osho’s work as well. The point about not looking for something meaningful outside yourself definitely resonates with me — my work and other aspects of my life flow much more easily when I see myself as expressing my inner peace to the world rather than trying to “get” peace by doing something “out there.”
Love these quotes, Lisis!
I used to be very much about goals and destinations and finding purpose. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s just realisation, but I find more and more I’m not preparing, I’m not searching and just getting on with life. And it’s much more relaxing and stress free.
Ian | Quantum Learning´s last blog ..You make a difference
I remembered an article on meditation by Osho that I had read a few weeks ago. I had read about meditation, tried to meditate, thought about it – but one look at Osho’s words removed all the drivel from my mind and suddenly made me feel peaceful even while I was reading his words…
Here’s the link to it – http://www.imamushin.com/images%20and%20docs/Meditation.doc