I think of change and i think of the image of the monk Thich Quang Duc. I think of the ability for one man to make such an impact, something that will never be forgotten. One man that would show such self discipline, such strength and devotion to his cause. We are all flawed, but we are all capable of controlling our inner selves to these extents. We all fall from grace in our own eyes, in the eyes of others. We all stumble and then try to get up. some do and others don't. Some talk about changing their lives, but never do a damn thing about it. Just look at this image...look at the pain he must be in. If one man can control this his pain, his stance, his soul under conditions which he has done onto himself, then we should all take a good hard look into what controls us. Who controls us and what we let control us and our actions. This man obviously knew who he was, what he stood for, and the message he wanted all of us to remember. I remember. Even though this was to protest war it carrie through to the core of who we are and what we fight for; Freedom from those things, all things that have imprisoned our soul. He showed us that we all had the power to do something, to change the way that we live in this world and what we do in it.
We as humans hurt each other for no reason. With all the bad that is going on in this world, all the excuses that we hear each day of why someone hurt us or the excuses we make for ourselves as to why we hurt someone. It's all bullshit. Our lame excuses. For those that can't control their bad habits, their self destructive ways... just look at this image and see what resides inside you. we are all capable of change and exercising self discipline. We are all capable of self control, we are all capable of reason, logic and have an ability to change the worst in us . We can all change the world around us if we just stop making excuses for ourselves.
Sad truth is that we see something this shocking and all say beautiful things about it, just to go on about our days and get sucked into the black hole of life and all the primal shit it has to offer our weak egos. I guess if we don't live by these images, if we live off the daily hollywood-make-me-famous-rockstar- mentality that grinds us like some nasty porn star, we will never strip that old crack house wall paper off our soul.
There is such beauty in simplicity. Such power and control from things that are so simple. Don't hurt yourself anymore and don't hurt those that love you. start there. change the small things around you and you will see the ripple that spreads. if temptation reaches our it's shallow hand, don't take it, walk away and think of the burning monk. if he could sit still through flames, I'm sure you can walk away from your vice. Where do we draw the line? When do we flip the switch of realization and tell ourselves that we cannot continue to exist like this any longer? Why drive the car off the cliff when you don't have to.
We all stand for something if we want to. I fight here in these cyber pages, with all that resides in me, with all that i have to get out so that it doesn't eat me from the inside out. I write because it is not mine. all i think and all i say i owe to those that have changed my mind and the way that i think. those that inspire me daily to fight for what i love, to fight for people that need me more than i need them at the moment perhaps. Otherwise what is the point of this life? why bother being here. to self indulge if we can and when we can? to be bitter about what we don't have? To go on in ignorance and bliss? None of this interests me. I don't resonate on the 3 dimension. I threw the trash out of my life a while ago. I enjoy the thrill of clean and empty spaces in which i can freely dance and let love and passion and music of life penetrate my existence.
I sit like this monk. My flames inside burn me, torture me, but i sit still. i endure, i grow stronger through my flames... i am lit, i will fight for that which i hold close to my heart.
Thank you Thich Quang Duc.
