"Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking."
— Marcus Aurelius
________________________
A lot of people in my social circles passed away when I was young.
Accidents, bad luck, mis-adventure, disease … it quickly became obvious that I could not guarantee my three score years and ten.
Hence I didn’t merely want to survive but thrive in the time I had available; I wanted to make every single moment full and rich, complete in itself.
Part of that became doing the thing more than I talked about it – leaving the dishes and heading out on adventures when they called.
This meant I didn’t do as well in my studies, that my laundry basket overflowed, but it also meant my soul did too.
Meaningful engagement –
Filling your time with the right things (for you) is significant. Important. Crucial even.
Brad Stulberg, author, recently wrote about what he saw as ‘zombie burnout’. This isn’t the burnout that comes from too much life admin, the busy rut of the endless life stuff, but the lack of doing what truly nourishes your soul.
We’re burning out at higher and higher rates because we’re doing too much, yes, but also because we’re not feeding ourselves meaningfully.
I well know how easily it can happen.
Now I have a family, despite those who declare “everyone has the same 24 hours in a day”, my stack of (freely chosen) responsibilities comes into conflict with the ability to drop everything and go.
But!
Just because it’s not so convenient, doesn’t make it any less important.
My soul nourishment simply takes scheduling, it takes more give and take with Sumati. It also may not be the quantity I had when I was in my mid-twenties, so I have to make it quality.
Today constantly chasing the highs isn’t an option. That famous spiritual expression to do with bringing more zen into everyday life is even more key:
"Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."
Today I know how important it is to not merely endure the ‘down times’ – the moments between adventure: That I make time to do what I love, but that I also love everything that I do.
This was the missing piece of the puzzle from when I was young –
Back then I’d get antsy and constantly look forward to what I hoped was the next amazing thing. The present moment could slip by easily as I looked for something else. The result? I missed the simple and profound beauty of what was right in front of me.
Meaningful engagement in each and every moment: Life is not only about what you do but how you do it.
This takes present moment awareness. This one, simple, beautiful skill means all of life can transform.
This is the whole reason I took vows as a monk – to publicly declare my devotion to more Life. This is why I close my eyes and do my Ascension meditation every single day (every day for 22 years now) …
Because I know how my mind can be.
It’s always searching for better, and more; it never knows enough. It’s always comparing now to what has been or what could be, and generally finding now insufficient. It is always attempting to define reality for me, and so I need to know from experience that thoughts are optional and not the truth.
You know this!
FOMO and FOPO (the Fear of Other People’s Opinions) and “I’m too busy” and “I don’t have enough time” … these thoughts create our lives. If you look, you’ll know the truth of what Buddha once said: "The mind is everything. What you think you become."
You take your mind with you up the mountain and back down. Doesn’t matter if you retire to your perfect desert island, you still have your head attached. Wherever you go, there you are.
Want more meaningful engagement in your life, exactly as it is?
Train your mind. Actually, find a way to the whole end goal of a spiritual or inner practice – to truly get out of your mind. Not so hard once you find the right tools and understandings – like those in Ascension. That’s my practice, what helps you?
It is truly, truly important. You really don’t know how much time you have left. Make the most of it!
Go well,
Arjuna
PS.
Ready to find this deeper sense of meaningful engagement? So many say this Ascension meditation course is the missing link they've been searching for.
You've still got time to plan ahead! Here's what's coming up:
+++ Ascension Courses +++
— October 17-19 and November 21-23, 2025 (already learned? You can repeat for free!)
— 5-Day Retreat (September 24-28): For those who've taken a course and want to accelerate their journey. Experience profound engagement, meaning, peace and presence in a stunning setting.
There are limited places. Want to know more or ready to dive in?
Drop me a line and let me know what you're looking for – I can help you find it.