Meditate to Gain Clarity, then Act with Courage
When you are in doubt, be still, and wait;
When doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.
So long as mists envelop you, be still;
Be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists, as it surely will.
Then act with courage.
- Ponca Chief White Eagle (1800's to 1914)
This verse almost seems to suggest some form of meditation - sitting in silence - so it was particularly surprising to me.
When clouds exist within our mind, we have no way of knowing what the right action is to take. When we act during moments such as these, it can lead us to a lot of trouble.
Clarity in life is priceless, as without it you’re “flying blind” and are subject to the winds of chance. It’s wise to devote a part of your life to cultivating and maintaining great clarity, as this itself is what will lead you to peace and happiness.
And when you get there? Don’t hesitate. Know that you have the truth within you. Know that you’re ‘right’, and that what you’re doing is good. Stand up, move forward, and act with courage.
[From a blog post by Matt Valentine at Buddhaimonia.com]
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Commentary: While the quote itself seems to speak well to the old adage "Think before you Act", it is a bit deeper than that still. The OP links it to meditation. I do not completely see meditation as the sitting in a dark room, back straight, legs crossed, etc., etc., ... at least not always. But if we consider this quote, and apply it to how our own minds tend to work, we may find that it speaks more to active meditation, attention, focus, and being fully engaged with all our senses, constantly, and not allowing ourselves to be so easily influenced in "the moment" by the "emotions" or other factors surrounding us. When we do this, we can avoid fear. Fear of making a bad choice, fear of not acting quickly enough, or in the right way. Fear of doing something we might regret, or not doing something when we should have. These are the clouds which breed doubt. Courage breeds confidence.
