Curled Thoughts

“I’m on the next coach, my love. Don’t fret, I'll come to pick you up when we reach our station.”  “Promise you won’t leave me, Papa.”  “I promise.” He squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead.   Sixteen-year-old Lydia gazed apprehensively at her father as he helped her board the last train leaving their war-struck country. Only the rich had afforded to flee the country. Her father had to bribe, threaten and beg for tickets so that they could move to a safe haven, away from the incessant gunfire and bombings.   A kind gentleman on the coach helped Lydia locate her seat. She looked out of the window and heaved a sigh of relief as she saw her father walk towards the adjoining coach. Leaning back against the dust-ridden headrest, she took in her surroundings.  The aforementioned gentleman sat reading a newspaper, a woman covered in a tattered veil attempted to hush a hungry child. They looked as if they hadn’t seen a solid meal for days. Suddenly, a comm...

We can’t find peace by escaping from human pain and suffering, but you can find peace in the midst of your pain, and t he present moment is the medicine that relieves you from mental and emotional suffering. As we stay centered in the present moment we can watch life unfold around us without having our minds freak out by the slightest disturbance it experiences. When we come into this moment there really are no problems, but what happens is that the more stillness that is introduced, the louder the ego voice gets, all in an attempt to pull you away from this moment. That’s when thoughts come in very strongly about all kinds of things that scream for your attention: “ I have to ____”, I should really think about _____”, I must take care of _____”, I need to solve/figure out _____” and so on. The mind  insists  and does all it can to draw you away from the present moment and into the future or past.  I t can be about what happened an hour ago or what will happen an hou...