There is a lot we can learn from old wisdom to live without fear and regret. It has been there for a long time, hence been tested by time for its usefulness and application. In other words, it has a long survivability index; an ability to survive through thick and thin for a long period.
One such piece of wisdom comes from Buddha. He invites us to contemplate the following, as daily muses, to make our life easier.
- Old age will come upon me someday and I can not avoid it.
- Disease can come upon me someday and I can not avoid it.
- Death can come upon me someday and I can not avoid it.
- All things that I hold dear are subject to change and decay and separation, and I can not avoid it.
- I am outcome of my own deeds and whatever be my deeds, good or bad, I shall be heir to them.
Buddha, Anguttara Nikyaya.
By contemplating old age, the pride of youth can be curbed or at least reduced; by contemplating disease the pride of health (and fear of disease) can be curbed, or at least reduced; by contemplating death the pride of life can be curbed, or at least be reduced; and by contemplating that one is result of one’s own deeds, the evil propensities of thought, word and deed are curbed, or at least reduced.
One who contemplates these things can curb, or at least reduce his pride and passion and thus be able to tread the path of Nirvana (liberation or enlightenment).
Moving Beyond Fear & Regret
In short, what it asks us is to gracefully, but not in a defeatist manner, accept the inevitability of change in life. With this shift in mindset, we begin to appreciate the natural flow of life; not being self-congratulatory when tides are in your favour and not overly despondent when things are not going your way.
As Heraclitus would say, “you can’t step into same river twice”. Similarly, we can’t also step into the same moment twice. So, sit down and feast on your life, whatever may be in it now.
On a more scientific note, being present to your life is not just a good call from philosophers, accepting the present tends to improve mental well-being so that we can live without fear and regret.
