Notice and Accept Things Just as They Are
The heart of meditation lies in noticing things just as they are. It is the practice of looking carefully with concentration and noticing what is arising now, exactly as it is.
This attitude is not needed only on the meditation seat. As we live in the world, we also need the strength to see, accept, and acknowledge things as they are.
We want many things to go our own way. Yet nature, the seasons, the world, and other people do not move only according to our wishes.
Just as we cannot make autumn come immediately after spring, life has its own flow and principles. When we try to force that flow into our grasp, conflict and collision arise.
Today, before putting likes and dislikes first, try first to notice what is here just as it is. Acceptance is not giving up. It is a wise beginning that frees us from unnecessary unhappiness.
The heart of meditation is noticing things just as they are. The world and other people do not move only according to my wishes. Like the laws of nature and the flow of the seasons, life has its own flow; when we first notice and accept it, we can gradually step away from conflict and unhappiness.
