Connection

We are all connected. It’s a beautiful Buddhist believe and once you start seeing it, life becomes even more interesting. And you are able to be more compassionate towards others. And you are able to become more aware of everything that goes on in and around you.

We are all connected…. It might not seem that way, but think about this. And this is something the Dalai Lama said in his book “The Art of Happiness” (a must read by the way). Think of the shirt you’re wearing. That shirt only exists because tens of thousands of people were involved in making sure you are able to wear that shirt. And I know it may sound far-fetched, but think about it. The store you bought it in. The employees of that store, the factory it was made in, the shipping companies, the cotton growers, the manufacturers of the machines that made the shirt, the manufactures of the airplane that shipped the shirt, the designer of the shirt, the seamstress who made the shirt, etc. Think of EVERY single shackle in the supply chain of that shirt. We are connected. 

There’s another way in which we’re all connected as well. We all share the same thing… life. And the suffering life brings. No one is exempted from the suffering of life, Samsara. We all share the same emotions, anger, jealousy, pride, desire and ignorance. No one is better or worse that the other person because we are all  human beings. We are all the same. Think about this when you feel jealous of something a friend has, think of this when you think you’re better than someone else, and think of this before you judge.

A colleague of mine told me a story last week. Her husband walked down the street and an older couple was trying to cross and taking a long time. Older, not so fast and a bit terrified of the fast traffic. This guy comes on his bicycle and starts shouting at the old man. “You slow f***, can’t you move faster, what the hell are you doing slowing down traffic, etc.”. My colleague’s husband walks up to him and tells him to be respectful of the older people. “It’s someone’s grandfather, you should be respectful”. The young guy now starts shouting at my colleague’s husband. “What you want nigger, you’re nothing outside the hood, big mouthed black f***“.

When I heard this story it broke my heart.  The young man forgets that A) He, one day will become that older man. B) That young man probably goes to Spain every year to get a very dark, mocha colored tan….And who’s a black f*** then hey?

He forgets that by shouting at the old man, by calling my colleague’s husband bad names, he sets off this whole chain of negativity. The old man feels depressed and sad and might sleep really bad. My colleague’s husband now gets angry and might take it out on the next person who sets him off… We’re all connected. Everything we do in life, every person we encounter, and every discussion, fight or argument we have will not be without consequence.  It’s not only your Karma you’re playing with, but also with everybody else’s….

We’re all connected. It’s a beautiful thing. Let’s keep it that way. Show compassion, practice loving kindness, patience and peace.

Because no one is exempted from Samsara……