by Chan Lee | Jun 9, 2021 | Should you be doing more?
“I venture to say that we should all be ‘doing more’. Perhaps this is a turn-off, but I firmly believe that it is true. Doing ‘more’ – not in the sense of getting more work done, but of doing more of what’s truly important. For each of us, this is slightly different, but basically under the same few umbrellas. I believe these umbrellas are that we each want happiness and to minimize our suffering, we all want a healthier society and planet, and we all want to feel like we made the most of our precious lives. I prefer to stay away from generalizations, but if we honestly reflect on our lives, how many of us are truly doing what we can to satisfy these big three desires? Everyday experiences, such as boredom, afflictive emotions, meaningless work, numbness, and countless distractions of all kinds, all dominate our waking hours. Are these really the ‘best’ use of our lives?”
by Chan Lee | Jun 2, 2021 | To what extent do "highs" lead us to truth?
“These ‘high’ moments should not be disregarded in the game of truth, nor should they be sought after and mistaken for ‘truth’ itself. There is a middle ground here, which recognizes ‘highs’ as both expository, fun, and interesting, and ALSO transient, impermanent, and full of suffering. Whether we speak of ‘high’ in connection to a substance, or from our own volition is not the main issue. There is often truth embedded in these transitory ‘highs’ – whether that be the shining through of our potential, a moment of un-debilitated bliss, or an epiphany of some kind (or something else altogether). However, given the fleeting nature of these experiences, they are more ‘fingers pointing to the moon, than they are the moon itself’ – to steal a zen phrase. As long as we have the wisdom to enter these spaces recognizing this fact, we can gain tremendous benefit from them. However, like any delicious meal, without the wisdom to know when it has filled us successfully, we will keep consuming until we are sick.”
by Chan Lee | Jan 3, 2021 | What can we learn from solitude?
“Periods of solitude are vitally important for every human being out there – whether they identify as an introvert or extrovert. Here’s why: Our identities are conglomerates of external projections that we have internalized and confused with ‘self’. When we are around people, we naturally fall prey to our habits of accepting and becoming these projections of others… So much so, that it is quite easy to completely lose sight of the being that lies naked beneath. In solitude, this being has the conditions to emerge – intentionally or not. With solitude often comes immense discomfort – a natural reaction similar to baby skin being exposed to the cold.
Our often intense reaction to solitude is most significantly based in the fact that the ‘self’ that emerges in these conditions is full of shadow elements. It is a blend of traits, thoughts, and tendencies that are rejected by society, and thus rejected by ourselves. They are the darkest of the dark. Naturally, these are not pretty to look at, let alone with engage with. However, as much as we may seek to be free of them, we cannot do so without escorting them out the door.
As Ram Dass said,
“If we are to be free, there is nothing we can push away.”
The only way to emancipate this pent up darkness is through direct contact, interest, reflection, and intentionality. We must embrace ‘what is’ truly and deeply, without judgment and prioritization. It is ALL valid – the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
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