Seeker's thoughts ...

8. Meditate regularly

Meditation isn't just about sitting with eyes closed in the padmasana position. Meditation is all about what is thought about ... or not thought about. Thinking in retrospect about past scenarios is good, applying them to present conditions is even better. Meditation isn't to be done on a particular day or in a particular time slot in a day ... it is to be done always.

It is now or never. It is not something in the future, it is definitely not in the past ... it is right here in the present moment and then when the moment turns it is in that one and so on.

Observe the present ... that is all there is to meditation. Being watchful is meditation. Nothing more, nothing less.

The things which cause us grief later on are almost always the things which weren't made in a conscious state of mind. If made while one is aware, they can still go sideways but they won't disturb one's peace of mind. And the vice-versa is also true. Any activity done while one isn't aware is sure to hurt and make one lose one's peace of mind.

Peace is lost once when one isn't aware.

By meditating one is making sure that he/she is in present and hence peace of mind is also right there ... in the present ... along with the awareness.

7. Do not bite more than you can chew

The above one is one of the simplest commandments to understand but provided one knows his limit (true limit ... is there one?). In it's simplest form it means that don't get involved with something that you can't handle. If you exceed your limit you are bound to get hurt.

Also, I think the bite and chew here are pretty symbolic.

They can be interpreted in a couple of different ways:
1. Biting is more reactive while chewing is a more prolonged process. So, only bite what you can chew can potentially mean that indulge in things which even after "chewing" you won't feel wrong about.
2. Biting can also mean temporary pleasures while chewing mean a longer lasting pleasure. So, don't lose your in transient happiness which doesn't result in a longer lasting joyous state.

And finally if one doesn't bite more than one can chew, he will truly find peace of mind as he will be looking at lasting happiness and mulling over things for them being wrong or right before doing them.

All our masks are donned because we want to save relationships for a few more days, few more months or a few more years.

If we think about it, every relation has a life of about 4-5 years tops except familial ties and close friends. And those too are there until one of the two parties concerned makes an exit from Planet Earth.

And to save those always-fleeting relations what do we do? We project ourselves as per what the relation demands. I am a "good" guy, "rough-n-tough" one, "cool" dude, practical, emotional ... depending on the opposite person and the situation. The real me is just lost in all this. And all of this just to look good and save relationships.

I am not saying that I should just freely act my mind and feelings and start abusing/kicking everyone in their crotches just because I feel like it but I think I am sensible enough to make the distinction that which feeling to act upon and which not to. The most important thing to consider is that the distinction shouldn't be based on whether I will look good as a result of saying/doing this or donning any masks.

It's always better to have people accept you for what you are and not for what they think you are. Also, this way you don't have to worry about remembering which mask to don and worrying about your mask falling off.

Best to be oneself.

No one's like that and also one cannot be like somebody else.

Especially not for something as fleeting as a few years worth of good relations.