While this friend agreed they also said that this in practicality is very difficult to deal with when you have people almost constantly trying to drag you back down into the den of conflict and drama. "Salt rubbed on an open wound still stings," as they said.
This is true. But the essence of pacifism is not that you are to avoid pain. Pain and suffering are will always try to batter down the walls of your happiness. Pacifism is painful, trust me. But the key, the real key to unlocking a better way, is to not react.
In other words:
This is much, much easier said than done, especially when our fight instinct is telling us that we could win if we tried. But that is the trap of it. If we give into that instinct to react in a hurtful way, the person who is originally causing the pain then wins. They have effectively gotten the response which they desired, and have thus transformed you into the aggressor.
Nothing in life is fair. No one ever said it should be, had to be, or needs to be. By getting even, you only involve yourself and make yourself into no better than the person who attacked. This is not a world where getting even is our motivation for life. That path leads to destruction.
Our goal, ultimately everyone's goal, is to live a good and happy life which they can enjoy doing the things they love. We all want happiness. But the false and temporary happiness gained from aggression and response to violence never lasts and never leads to anywhere better than more suffering.
Never.
This is the path of true pacifism, and one which is much harder walked than said. I do not ask others to follow this, but it is one which I will be talking about more and more, as it is the only path I can see that really works the best.
As said, there will always be suffering, always someone to take umbrage against your actions, always someone who, for whatever reason, decided to pick on you, whether it is justified or not. The only thing you can do is live truthfully, bear the pain, and not let it hurt anyone else. And there is a lot of pain in this little world of ours. But it is like the old saying goes:
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups white sugar
8 cups water
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup water. Bring to boil and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until chilled.
2. Remove seeds from lemon juice, but leave pulp. In pitcher, stir together chilled syrup, lemon juice and remaining 7 cups water.
Yield: 20 4 oz. servings
No comments:
Post a Comment