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Be the Monarch of your Life
Life is available only in the present moment, yet habit energy often pulls us back to the past or pushes us into the future. We lack the strength to exercise sovereignty over ourselves, resembling a king who holds a title but cannot rule his kingdom. Although we claim rights over our body and consciousness, we often obey a blind energy, becoming victims of ourselves. There is a wanderer within who goes in circles, moving from place to place without finding peace, unable to settle in the here and the now.
To change this, one takes refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. The Buddha is defined as the energy of mindfulness, concentration, and insight; the Dharma is the practice offered in many ways; and the Sangha provides necessary support and protection. Clinging to images of the past—whether of trauma or happiness—causes suffering because images are not reality. Like a sheet of paper that is burned and becomes a cloud, forms change. The practice involves looking deeply to recognize beloved ones and reality in their new manifestations in the here and the now, rather than holding onto static images.
Sovereignty is restored by cultivating freedom in daily activities, such as eating or cooking like a real king, with full power and enjoyment, rather than as a slave to anger or haste. The practice must be constantly evaluated; if it does not bring lightness, freedom, and better relationships, it must be adjusted. Intellectual study alone is insufficient without the transformation of anger, pride, and jealousy. The Sangha is invited to collaborate on a book telling stories of this transformation and healing, serving as a testament that peace and harmony are possible.