The weekly quote is from James Allen and reads: ‘Serenity of mind is one of the most beautiful jewels of wisdom.’
When the mind can be serene, you realise that everything that happens only happens in a limited time and will also pass again. It’s like the weather. When it rains, you get wet, when the sun shines, you can get burnt, when there is thunderstorms, you can even get hurt as energy is discharged, when the wind blows, you can be shaken. But what all the weather fronts have in common is that they pass. It’s annoying to get wet, it hurts to get burnt, it’s normal to seek shelter in thunderstorms, and it’s normal to have to fight against a headwind to reach your destination. But when it comes to the weather, we realise that the next weather front will come, and then it can get better or worse. This is serenity in relation to our own situation.
Serenity in relation to another person is, when you accept that everyone reacts differently to an identical situation. People react based on their experiences and interpretations of situations. Situations are initially neutral. They are neither good nor bad, they are simply there. What makes them bad or good is our interpretation and the meaning we give to the situation.
A simple example, in Chinese culture the number four has the meaning of misfortune and death, which is why the number four is not used in public buildings. On the other hand, it also signifies the holistic and the four seasons. The number four shows that one and the same thing can have two meanings. (▷ Was bedeutet die Zahl 4 für die Chinesen? | (entdeckechina.com))
For me, serenity of mind means recognising both sides of a situation and accepting serene that other people may only perceive one side or even recognise something undiscovered for oneself. Being serene also means accepting that someone knows or can do more, or that someone knows and can do less and yet enjoys more prestige than you.
If you look at the world in this relaxed way, you stop comparing yourself and imitating others and start going your own way.
You understand that the fulfilment of life or your destiny in life does not lie in your profession, but in yourself. The greatest jewel in life lies within yourself.
