Buddha says "NOW!"

Today, Buddha wishes to speak of the power of now. 

No doubt you'll have come across countless articles, books, and Facebook posts that talk of the great gift of the present. So over-saturated is this topic that I felt there was little point in writing, but Buddha twisted my arm and urged that he may speak for himself.

So without further delay, I'll let Buddha have his say:

Many have spoken of the present and its gift to us, and while a number of them have embraced its power, there are still those who dwell in the illusion of past and future. They follow the counsel of their past, one who cannot adapt the the shifting shape of time. This false counsellor then advises the person on their future, offering an old map of lands now changed. Some blindly follow to discover the old ways won't work in the here and now. How many elders have been locked rigidly in a set way, one that served them years before?

The truth is that if we can understand every aspect of the present, we can make ourselves more fluid. We can shift shape to match the time itself, ensuring there is no place we cannot fit. We become adaptable because our eyes are open. We open ourselves to greater detail and external understanding. If you are constantly shifting focus from past to present, much of the detail around you goes unseen. An answer to your troubles could stand beside you, yet you seek it in the wrong directions. That which could bring you joy goes unseen.
  I have spoken already of the abundance you may receive from following your joys. Now, I ask you to apply it to present circumstances...Not your finances or career, but the world around you - as it is - right now...

What's in this space around you that makes you feel joyful? Be it something large or small, focus on it...are there any thoughts or feelings you have that could bring you joy? 

Do your clothes bring it? 
Your shoes? 
The seat you may be sat upon? 
The sensation of breath entering and exiting your lungs? 
Do you notice how good it can make you feel? 
Can you allow yourself to relax right now? 
Does relaxation bring you joy? 

Or... would you rather feel excitement at the possibilities open to you...believe it or not, but you can make a decision to do something great today. The potential opportunities are there! Liberate yourself! Do something NOW that you normally wouldn't! 

(even if that means closing this article and doing something this instant! You can always come back to it later!) 

Whatever it may be, know that you are allowed to do it. The universe will not stop you! Only your own fear, which is another illusion the past gave to you. 

That isn't to say that joy cannot be found using the past. However, it's wise to use it only as an indication that something can - or has - brought you joy. Does the past say something to you that seems wiser than usual? If it makes you feel GOOD inside, then you can trust it.

The same applies to the future. If something indicates joy and makes you feel good, then its a good idea to follow it.

However, know that the force holding the two together IS the present. Past and future may only indicate and guide, whereas the present can create. A future hope is not enough without present action. A past issue cannot intervene with your life without the permission of the present. Both are illusions you have created for yourself. Both can be made to serve the present, and rightfully should! They owe it to their existence!

Many others have spoken of the present, and this is good. I am one more among a sea of great voices, yet I add one important note. The past and present shouldn't necessarily be ignored, nor should they overpower. They should be considered as advisers, and their counsel may be accepted or denied based on what you feel will bring joy.

Until next time, blessings of joy upon you :-D

Introduction to Joy

Greetings and welcome!!

First of all, thank-you for coming here! It brings me joy to spread joy, as the laughing Buddha would say! Within this online space, I hope I can share with you many insights that will guide you to joyous living!

Before I begin however, I thought it would be a great start to explain where the idea came from. :-D

It's called "What's Buddha say!" with good reason!  
When I create these articles, I look upon an image of Laughing Buddha and ask for insight. The result is a flow of thought that I feel compelled to write down. So great were these kind words, that I felt they needed to be shared. Buddha agreed of course!

So, how did it start?

Well, there was a week of my life where I felt so miserable, I began to carry a Buddha around with me. I'd started a new job - one which raised my hopes high - only to find that it was unsuitable for me. I was basically a cold caller.

To me - and a lot of other people - this was the worst possible job I could imagine myself doing. To have the dis-pleasure of intruding on people's privacy, only to hassle them into signing up to our service, then receiving the impact of their anger...it was rapidly affecting my state of mind. I remember arriving home at night and keeping myself awake, simply because I knew sleep would fast forward me to another day of miserable work. I don't know if anyone has ever felt that kind of dread before, but you can imagine how deeply this was affecting me. I'd gone from being a joyous positive person, to an unpleasant, angry, potty-mouthed individual. (Yes, my swearing was getting pretty bad!)

So, I placed the laughing Buddha on my desk and reminded myself to look upon it whenever I felt down...The image had always been enough to brighten my spirits in the past.
It worked well for a while... but I began to realize that I'd be lying to myself. I couldn't FORCE myself to be happy doing something I hate. Not even Buddha could help me there... 

My team leader was picking up on my negative state, and would often offer motivation and kick me back into a positive attitude. He'd come over, place his hands on my shoulders and ask...

   "What's Buddha say?"




After a while, I began to ponder...if the laughing Buddha could say something...If he could reveal himself from the ether and smile down on me...could he guide me on the path of joy again...? What would he say? 

I looked at him, into the gleam of joy filled eyes and asked a question...in my thoughts, he answered. 

I don't know whether I was channeling, or if my subconscious streaming the insight. All I know is that his words brought me joy, insight, and inspiration. He had a way of speaking that was calm, beautiful and filled with wisdom. He also filled me with positive energy! I wanted to laugh, dive around, have fun and share it with everyone! 

Eventually, he told me this:

Many walk the narrow path in fear of going beyond the fence. Those fences were planted to protect the traveler, but also to deny them freedom. You have followed the flow of these fear-made fences... yet there is nothing to stop you climbing beyond fear right now. You cannot see what is out there - in the open lands - but there is excitement to be had for sure. There is always joy to be found in the great unknown! What is to stop you forging a path of your own? One that leads you to YOUR OWN joy?

I'd become trapped on this road because I'd given in to fear. 
I'd sold out my own dreams and ambitions for the sake of financial security. 
Because I felt my passions couldn't support my living. 

In the end, the choice was simple. Either continue to follow unhappy roads, or take a risk and opt out. I could find something wonderful out there, beyond fear! If I stayed on the path, the only destination was misery and more misery. I'd begin to accept misery as part of my life, and deny there was ever a possibility of escape. There'd be no chance to find a pot of gold, to do what I love, to live a joy-filled life...

I decided to take a chances, for the sake of my happiness! I cut my losses, got out of there, and haven't looked back since!

Laughing Buddha guided me away from that negative situation, and continues to guide me into positive scenarios that bring me happiness today. All he asks in return is that I spread MY joy unto others. So that's what I'm doing now! 

I hope that my future posts can enlighten, entertain and inspire you to follow one path...your OWN path...set the destination for JOY right now!

Until next time, blessings of love, laughter and life! :-D