Namaskar ("Greetings" if I do not assume the meaning wrongly) DrJi (if I may address you as such),
Your statement caught my attention. And I would like to share some thoughts with you.
I think your statement holds more truth to life than most of us will know, and maybe a key to the path of enlightenment too? :wink: "meet challenges with budo and then enjoy life like there is no tomorrow." will be my interpretation of what you just said. I apologise again, for I will again contribute my understanding to Morehei Ueshiba, founder of aikido. This little old man lead me to understand more about myself and my surroundings and life than any other. Only regret is that I was not able to meet this great man. It is funny how sometimes we find that we learn lifes' lesson from the most unlikely places. :D
Nonetheless, I learn this lesson the hard way. Up to about a couple of years ago, I thought that I died and gone to hell, but we just called it earth. I was tire and afraid to meet challanges and bed of roses was a fairy tale told to children before their bed time. Through aikido, I slowly began to understand that life is not complicated at all, in fact, life is the simplest thing that humans can experience. We are binded by chains of our own making, and the only one who has the key to unchain us, is we ourselves. And many people are simply blind to this simple fact. Ask anyone around the question, if life simple or complicated? A majority will answer complicated. But if you think a little harder, ponder a little deeper you will find that the answer is life is simple. (Drji, is life simple or complicated in your opinion? :) ) It is either a do or dont. Nothing more, nothing less. But I had to trash, stomp, burn my ego (which I am still doing) in order for me to start learning this lesson. Letting go of set perception/belief is not easy. To start listening and unlearning is harder still.
I guess what I am trying to share is that, we got to take up the challenges that life throw at us with a smile in our face and gladness in our hearts that we are able to meet such challenges. That we are able to learn, grow and bring ourselves to a higher level of existance. And at the same time, appreciate our surroundings, nature, family, friends, love, companionship. Explore all things that are simple and in front of us, within our grasps and appreciation. Seek the happiness that is already all around us.
The quote you made is simple but not easy to do. It is a worth task for humankind.
And to your question about who practices it? I do hope at the very end of my life, I can proudly claim that I was one of them. :wink:
love and peace, DrJi.