It Is In The What And How That The Playful Truth Of Understanding Is Revealed
As the Buddhist teachings tell us, the real meaning of the Buddha’s appearance in this world lies in his behaviour as a human being. In other words, though everything is an expression of the underlying reality, where this is consciously recognised, there is the natural desire to express the life-affirming nature of reality in every way through the relative interactions in society, and it is in this doing that the understanding being is revealed.
The task is not to avoid society or social duties but to see these as a practical framework for the truth that has been realised. Choices of career are not determined by what their ego says, influenced by appearances or social status, but rather by the practical skills of the body and mind that are discerned. The need for balance between work, rest and play is respected. The why is universally to share the impersonal life-affirming qualities fearlessly in whatever chosen career path occurs for its own sake, as aliveness is its own motivation. In fact, as this strong impersonal motivation is the guiding intention, there is less indecision and self-consciousness when faced with the challenges of the practical frameworks that have occurred, as the egoic need for status or the security of outcomes does not guide events. This motivation is one of fundamental innocence and purity, sometimes characterised by some as playfulness, not to be confused with activities but the spirit in which activity is carried out.
What matters most is what can be done with the mind and body available and how it is done, the why having been resolved by the realisation of the very innocent, playful (creative) life-affirming nature of reality itself. It is in the natural order that all minds and bodies, as expressions of the one reality, have the same patterns of needs and naturally work for mutual benefit. This is the impersonal way. Appreciating the impersonal nature of existence is essential when interacting in daily life. Win-win is the only logical outcome, for win-lose would presuppose separate consciousness exists. (I remember Hazel Henderson wrote about this in her book “Building A Win-Win Society” - https://www.amazon.com/Building-Win-Win-World-Economic-Warfare/dp/1881052907) Our relative doing becomes a reflection of our essential being, notwithstanding that, as this is expressed in human form, it may always fall short to some extent. However, the best is good enough, for there is no judge.
The inner guidance of life-affirming nature, flowing through the rational intelligence and the instinctual intelligence of the body, is the best guidance there can be. If the peace of true nature is being experienced, then the discernment of discomfort in the mind and body will tell us if there is something amis on the relative level. We must also be aware that this discomfort may be caused by old habitual patterns of perceiving separateness (which will naturally dissolve in the light of understanding of the oneness of reality), injuries to our mind and body such as psychological trauma (which therapy can assist in healing), being differently abled due to physiological difference (which psych-education can help with managing), as well as toxicity from the environment of the mind and body (which experience and the help of other minds can assist with understanding).
Love
Freyja