When I was a little bit younger I loved a band called Faithless - I loved them even more when I read an interview with one of the members.
I knew he was a rapper and he loved to drive his racing car on track days, but I almost fell over when he talked about how he was a Buddhist.
See, I had thought the two worlds were separate.
On one hand you could choose to have all the good things in life - for me that extended to paddling rivers, snowboarding, cool music (well I thought so), telling dodgy jokes with my friends, having people over and nurturing them with good food and wine.
Or, you could have a spiritual life. You could find peace and purpose.
There wasn’t a crossover.
Yet here was a guy who was obviously enjoying driving fast and dancing all night who didn’t consider his spiritual self to be separate from that.
I remember him saying that his Buddhist practice meant he became more real, more authentic to himself.
There wasn’t a trying to become some one else, different. He enjoyed his life, his passions, even more.
I think that’s why I had no doubts about becoming an Ishaya monk.
The Ishayas lived both parts of life so fully.
I found them to be absolutely calm and centred, yet so passionate and excited, enjoying and unapologetic for their own personalities and tastes.
They were balanced people - busy and productive yet they made sure they took time out to rest and nurture.
If you want all of life, everything that it has to offer, follow their example.
You don’t have to give anything up. You can have it all.
You don’t need to change - you have everything you need, already within you.
You just need to remember. In that remembering, be balanced.
Can you remember now?
The more you remember, the more that becomes a habit. The more it becomes a habit, the more the best of life comes and gets you.
A great state to be in.
Have your cake and eat it too. Don’t go changing for peace.