SACRED COWS

The beginning of the new year is a good time to take a closer look at our sacred cows.

I am not talking about bovines revered in India as holy reminders of the value of mothers in our society. These cows are sacred because the nutritious milk cows freely provide has prevented countless deaths due to starvation over the centuries. Killing cows for their meat, using arable land for grazing to feed a few rather than using it to grow rice that can feed many, makes no sense in India (some would argue that it makes no sense at all).

I am talking about Western sacred cows, those things or people that are too highly regarded to be open to criticism, or as Merriam-Webster states are "unreasonably immune from criticism or opposition".

It is good to reflect about the ways we have learned to think about things and people in our lives. How often do we make memories of past events our prison and other people are jailers?

A Zen master sagely advised, "If you meet Buddha on the road, kill him!" This is not a blatant call to commit murder. It is a reminder that we need to rid ourselves of the habit of looking outside ourselves for others who seemingly have all the answers.

We also need to begin looking within ourselves to find mental road blocks. It is time to question the "shoulds" that we think we must obey to become perfect, little Buddhas. It is time to accept our own worth right now.