What is self-mastery according to Shaolin teachings?
The reality is we have pleasant moments, we have joyful moments, we have healthy moments, we have enriching moments, but at the same time, we're also facing something where we could absolutely live without it if we would have the choice. The fact of losing people, The fact of being betrayed, the fact of being judged, being insulted, being discriminated, being hurt. Many ways.
Many ways that do not feel pleasant. And there is the question, isn't there a way how to find a proper perspective upon life to understand what is it that I am embedded in, in order to still try my best and reduce the amount of unpleasant or suffering, what we refer to it. This is the whole idea about it.
So also meaning, because I do think it's a very, very valid question if somebody is watching this episode and he's just happy. He has a perfect life. He is happy. There is nothing he's asking for. He's simply fulfilled. There is really no reason to continue listening to this conversation.
But I do think that either it hasn't been like this all the time, that person, first of all, went through some type of development or process, or the winning streak is going to end at some point.
It's interesting thinking about how lots of the work that we do is able to take place when times are good, but is needed most when times are bad. That if you are trying to develop a meditation practice, if you're trying to become more aware of your thoughts, if you're trying to become more peaceful while you're in the middle of some catastrophe or challenge that's going on in your life,
you're playing on hard mode there. But when things are good by design, you don't want to spend so much time having to prepare for when times are bad. You think, well, everything's going great. I don't need to do that. And yeah, increasingly when it comes to a mindfulness practice or Journaling, gratitude, breathwork, anything that sort of steals your resolve.
I think the best time to do it is when you don't need it because it allows you to be prepared for the times when you do.
Yes, and I mean, nowadays, if you want to calm your mind, the first practice that is being recommended to you is like meditation practices, most probably, yes. You know, if you come, for example, to any type of retreat place, to a temple, to a secluded place, somewhere in the nature, somewhere in the forest,
and you spend some time there, and by nature already, let's say, it's very calm, the surrounding is very calm. It definitely helps for you to calm your mind and to start developing how does it feel to be peaceful. But the reality at the same time is also that from all the people living nowadays in this world,
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