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Peaceful Ponderings
February 12, 2009 |
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Look Inside
Thailand is the home of the largest Golden Buddha Image in the world. It is made of pure gold. The Image measuring 12 feet 5 inches in diameter and is 15 feet 9 inches from the base to the crown and it weighs approximately 5 tons. Now more than 700 years old, it is a valuable treasure of Thailand and of Buddhism.
Over six hundred years ago, this golden Buddha image was completely covered with plaster to conceal it from the enemy then invading Thailand. Only when it was being moved in 1955 was it discovered that it was made of pure gold.
Almost 700 years passed before the treasure held beneath the surface of the statue was discovered.
As a coach I often feel that part of my job is to be the ever vigilant archaeologist slowly brushing away the outer surface to uncover the treasure that lies within my clients.
There is treasure, pure gold, within each and every one of us. Sometimes the plaster is thicker than others. Sometimes we keep adding layers making that inner treasure even more hidden from the outside world. Why do we do that? Often it is out of fear. Fear that others are planning to invade our territory and may damage or steal the treasure. Fear borne out of past injury or perceived danger.
However, the thicker the plaster the harder it is for us to remember the value that lies inside.
In The Power of Now Eckhart Tolle writes "Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy in Being and the deep, unshakable peace that comes with it, are beggars, even if they have great material wealth. They are looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love, while they have a treasure within that not only includes all those things but is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer."
Have you lived a great deal of your life honouring the mind? Living in your head? Valuing intellect and learning far more than feeling and being?
In order to truly know yourself you must be willing to find the crack in the plaster and peek inside. Once you start to reveal the treasure there, it becomes less frightening to chip away, to brush off, and to risk exposing to the world what lies inside.
Only when you are willing to look inside can you learn to share the true fullness of who you are with the ones you love, with all those around you... with the world. The world awaits. Look inside!
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