World Peace

Posted on October 21, 2017 by Helen C

World peace —
is it possible?

One day a month or two ago, there was a golf game scheduled to be shown on TV, which I knew my husband would enjoy watching. That morning, with a soft (and loving – I thought) voice, I said to my husband, “I will cook tonight, so you can watch your golf game. And I will use the meat in the refrigerator that you have defrosted.”

“No, you can’t,” he said with an upsetting tone. “Whenever you want to cook, you have to defrost the meat yourself!”

We have this problem: W likes to defrost meat 3 days ahead. Sometime our plan changed and we ended up throwing spoiled meat away. I, on the other hand, like to defrost meat 1 hour before cooking (maybe trying to defrost is more accurate.)

“You know what? It’s perfectly fine with me if you want to cook,” I said in a calm and soft voice (no longer “loving”, I am sure.)

I walked back to my room, feeling unjustifiable. Immediately, I asked myself why I wasn’t happy. I didn’t have to cook, did I?

I have been studying LamRim (Tibetan: “stages of the path”) for two years. I have learned that most of our troubles, distresses… come from how we focusing on “I”, “ME”, and “MYSELF”, like “my opinion has to be heard”, “my effort has to be recognized”, “I deserve more”… etc. LimRim says, “If we can emphasize less on “I”, “ME”, “MYSELF”, we will have a better chance to find happiness.”

I have been doing well since I started studying LimRim, feeling more peaceful, content, and compassionate. Still, when W didn’t respond the way “I” thought he should, everything I’ve learned, practiced and believed in wasn’t being reflected on how I felt or behaved at that moment. I was a little disappointed with myself.

And here I am, thinking world peace.

Word peace —
I will continue praying for it anyway.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

About Helen C

A retired computer programmer who loves writing and photographing, and has managed to publish a YA novel "Jin-Ling’s Two Left".
This entry was posted in photo and thoughts, random thoughts, Writing. Bookmark the permalink.

16 Responses to World Peace

  1. loisajay says:
    October 21, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    Ha! ‘no longer loving.’ They only get one chance, Helen. Oh, does LamRim not say that….?

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. lensandpensbysally says:
    October 21, 2017 at 6:48 pm

    Strong tribute to caring for ourselves and others as well as the hope for a better world.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. teandpaper says:
    October 21, 2017 at 6:59 pm

    Hi Helen, love this post! Exactly, is our reaction that need to change not the reaction of others. I’ll check out this book, I think I need it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Amy says:
    October 22, 2017 at 9:18 am

    Good morning, Helen. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We all agree that man are “men are from mars women are from venus”. But, if we spend time to explain that may help the other person see things from another perspective, that may not be a self-centered react (depending on how we communicate, I guess). And, I sometimes explain days later…
    My humble opinion.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Lady Oscar says:
    October 25, 2017 at 8:37 am

    Ah, totally understand, my dear.
    Sometimes I feel that few of my musician friends are helping me with the Dharma practice… — being alert and patient. my students as well…
    Stay on the path~ ^^

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. prior.. says:
    October 28, 2017 at 7:12 pm

    Enjoyed this snapshot into your life and the stuff your studying sounds interesting and I have heard of many books or food who teach similar approaches to the shift from us and me to others – and it does help especially for those who demand and have expectations that leave everyone wanting – not the case in your fun post – but Larry Crab wrote a bunch of books reflecting on his decades of counseling (he is one of my least favorite authors to read – ugh) but a special term I love of his was what he called the problem of “demandingness” – and that sounds similar to what u are reflecting on a bit….
    And another side note is that I always remind folks that we still have to have times of focusing on self because if we don’t stay full we have little to pull from to think of others and serve and give – but usually humans – esp in our individualistic culture – have that problem with self -me – I – etc.
    —-
    Anyhow –
    My hubs defrosts meat the night before and sometimes me pet peeve is if he leaves it out on counter to defrost – I worry about germs –

    Liked by 1 person

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  7. Helen C says:
    October 30, 2017 at 11:33 am

    Thank you for taking time to comment, Yvette.
    I, too, worry about germs, but not everyone does 😉
    I agree with you that we have to have time focusing on ourselves. It took me a long time to learn that. I don’t want to go in details; I just want to say that life is kind of boring if you don’t take time focusing on yourself. 😉
    Why can’t people treat you the way you treat them? I just don’t get it… ;-(
    Have a wonderful day.

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