Todayland

After reading last week's post on fear, a friend sent this wonderful message (with a few small edits):

Fear can't exist in the present or past, only [in] the future - even a few seconds into the future.

Have to be prepared, you know, so my present is always in the future?

Hmmmmm.

FANTASYLAND, Disney had it right, there was a Tomorrowland, and Adventureland, Frontierland. [But] I don't remember any Todayland - no money in that.

The present can be difficult because of the reality, the future can be a great fantasy but FEAR is always raising his ugly head there (and Death you know), so the only safe haven is the past - which we have survived.

We know how to survive . . . so I got that going for me.

I laughed really hard at this, especially at the phrase that there's no money in Todayland. Ask any Buddhist teacher - they'll confirm it!

And the hard laughter doesn't disguise the uncomfortable truth that, in our efforts to survive via habitual behaviors, we pay an enormous price.

Comments

[Steve]

Mickey & Minnie look so inviting - come on everyone, lets live in a fantasy!

[David Clark]

Do you think it's fair to say that fear is doubt mixed with anxiety? When we meet something we've been fearing in the present moment, it becomes something else, something me must deal with rather than just dread. Often it turns out not to be nearly as awful as the thing we feared.

Sometimes, however, our worst fears can be realized. When this happens, that fear and the resulting trauma certainly can leave lasting ill effects, such as PTSD.

Our practice is one very effective way of dealing with these past traumas. That dealing/healing only takes place in the present moment. Anyone wanna go to Recoveryland?

[Joseph]

Dave, that's funny! (Recoveryland)
I wonder if we haven't all been there since puberty?? ^^

[Barry Briggs]

Oh, yes! Recoveryland sounds just right. We could create an entire Buddhist theme park.

Of course, very few people would pay the admission fee. In fact, even if we gave away the rides for free, we probably wouldn't get many takers.

Thanks, Everyone!