Everything in samsara 

exists in a constant state of flux, 

ever-changing, continuously moving. 

In our comfort with the known and worries over the unknown, we often wish things, even though far from ideal, would just stay the way they are. But life has no pause button.

We cannot stop things from changing.

For example, take in a deep breath and hold it. Do not let it out, do not exhale. How do you feel? In a matter of seconds, holding our breath becomes alarmingly uncomfortable. At some point, we need to take our next breath.

Just as we cannot stop our breathing, there is no stopping change. Change is as natural as our inhaling and exhaling. It might be helpful here to remind ourselves that Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

Also, change can be for the better. We can stop our usual harmful reactions and replace them with good ones.

Thus, change can be positive.

Repairing the harm we have done. (Part One)

The clarity we need to resolve a problem 

is never found in anger. 

“Wait a minute. Won’t righteous outrage strengthen my resolve and provide the energy I need to remedy a bad situation?”

Sounds reasonable, but no. In our cultivation, we’re supposed to manage negative feelings by detecting when they arise and eliminating them.

“Okay then, what am I supposed to do when I’m tempted, and encouraged, to act on my righteous indignation?”

Recognize that under that need to act is seething and at-times uncontrollable anger. The energy that comes from anger is blind—not insightful. It burns through good intentions and leaves us exhausted. Not the “something” we are looking for.

With insight, we will be able to understand better the karmic causality unfolding before us. And remind ourselves that there’s already too much anger in the world. Our adding more fuel to the fire won’t fix anything.

Only with a clear, rational mind will we discern the wisest way to react. And have the confidence to do what we know to be right.