My birthday, December 4th, is a month away and I've been thinking about what to get for myself. My birthday will be the beginning of my 61rst year on the planet. A transition year. The beginning of the winter of my life. (Not the dead of winter)
There is an ancient Chinese Taoist story about a wise sage who gave his daughter three gifts for her birthday during a transition year. I'm going to give myself the same three gifts or as close as I can get to the real thing. A small mirror, a pure crystal skull, and a small Buddha statue.
The mirror represents the Present Me. When I see myself in it, I will see me in the present. I am reminded to live in the present. To live mindfully and to be mindful of my actions and reactions.
On another level the mirror is symbolic of self reflection. Were my actions constructive, beneficial, or empowering? Or just the opposite? Were my actions in accordance with the Tao? Did I cause positive or negative consequences? If negative, what will I learn, and what will I correct?
The crystal skull is obvious. It is the Future Me. It represents my mortality. Everyone has a finite amount of time on this planet. Once you become mindful of and fully accept this, you can focus on what you are going to do with your remaining time here. I am cultivating my Tao. The skull will be a great reminder.
The Buddha figurine is the Eternal Me. Buddha is not a god. Buddha was a real living person who achieved enlightenment (actualized his divinity). A spiritual goal for me to strive for. The statue will be a 3-D metaphor for the divinity in me (in all of us). My inner Tao. My real, true Self. The ultimate goal of my spiritual quest is to find my way back to my pure true Self.
I'll keep these gifts in my office to keep me on point. They will be daily reminders of where to keep my focus.
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