Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 4:04pm
I'm angry-there's got to be a better way to live!
Column: PERFECTBALANCELIFE
There has got to be a better way to live life on this earth. Let’s stop being bamboozled. We can never experience authentic inner happiness and fulfillment by any sources outside of our own mind and heart. I’m compelled to write about this because of two tragic events that recently occurred in the city where I work. I don’t’ want to read about such things anymore.
Last week, 20-year old top fashion model, Ruslana Korshunova, ended her life by jumping from her ninth floor Manhattan apartment building. A few days later, Dr. Douglas Meyer, 44, plunged to his death after jumping 17 stories from a hospital window where he was working. Signs of hopelessness, depression, fear, doubt, and loneliness shadowed both victims. Yet, a quick look on the surface of both their lives gave a shallow appearance of success, wealth, friendships, and contentment.
Both Eastern and Western religious and spiritual traditions encourage human beings to seek inner wisdom and understanding. Why is this? Because when we are led to believe that sources outside of ourselves will duplicate this inner satisfaction we are being deluded, really. We all need to spend more time communing with this interior dimension of our lives. This is very important.
Science points to the fact that human beings have physiological, emotional, and physical triggers that help ensure survival. In other words, we are created to live life, not to kill ourselves. Having a healthy perspective on the meaning and purpose of human life is a key here, isn’t it?
I hope that you are willing to do the hard work that is necessary in order to experience this deep inner awareness and wisdom. Outer circumstances, including people, will eventually come up short for you. You can always depend on this inner source of wisdom. Discover it. Use it. Cultivate it. In this way you will be assured of genuine fulfillment and inner peace.
Jack LaValley is a practitioner of the martial arts, physical cultivation exercises, and sitting meditation. Although currently working in the hospitality industry, he spends much of his free time helping and working together with those who are pursuing the spiritual path. Jack and his wife, Wha-ja Oh-LaValley, a native of South Korea, reside in Westchester County, New York, and are the proud parents of three beautiful children. Jack is completing his book manuscript, "A Perfectly Balanced Life: Living Each Day with Wisdom and Strength," and expects publication to be in October 2008. You can reach Jack at: perfectbalance1@optimum.net © Copyright 2008 by Jack LaValley.
Last week, 20-year old top fashion model, Ruslana Korshunova, ended her life by jumping from her ninth floor Manhattan apartment building. A few days later, Dr. Douglas Meyer, 44, plunged to his death after jumping 17 stories from a hospital window where he was working. Signs of hopelessness, depression, fear, doubt, and loneliness shadowed both victims. Yet, a quick look on the surface of both their lives gave a shallow appearance of success, wealth, friendships, and contentment.
Both Eastern and Western religious and spiritual traditions encourage human beings to seek inner wisdom and understanding. Why is this? Because when we are led to believe that sources outside of ourselves will duplicate this inner satisfaction we are being deluded, really. We all need to spend more time communing with this interior dimension of our lives. This is very important.
Science points to the fact that human beings have physiological, emotional, and physical triggers that help ensure survival. In other words, we are created to live life, not to kill ourselves. Having a healthy perspective on the meaning and purpose of human life is a key here, isn’t it?
I hope that you are willing to do the hard work that is necessary in order to experience this deep inner awareness and wisdom. Outer circumstances, including people, will eventually come up short for you. You can always depend on this inner source of wisdom. Discover it. Use it. Cultivate it. In this way you will be assured of genuine fulfillment and inner peace.
Jack LaValley is a practitioner of the martial arts, physical cultivation exercises, and sitting meditation. Although currently working in the hospitality industry, he spends much of his free time helping and working together with those who are pursuing the spiritual path. Jack and his wife, Wha-ja Oh-LaValley, a native of South Korea, reside in Westchester County, New York, and are the proud parents of three beautiful children. Jack is completing his book manuscript, "A Perfectly Balanced Life: Living Each Day with Wisdom and Strength," and expects publication to be in October 2008. You can reach Jack at: perfectbalance1@optimum.net © Copyright 2008 by Jack LaValley.