Going nowhere fast
What I am about to tell you, is something many may wish not want to hear. You may choose to ignore it, you may even disagree with me. But it is THE absolute truth. There is no way around it. Unbiased and not an opinion. This may be a terrifying concept to try and conceive at first, but once it begins to resonate with you, it is something more beautiful and profound than you could ever imagine.
Simply put to start; You are not who you believe you are. In fact, the concept of what you believe to be “you” does not at all exist. Sure, your awareness exists, the perception you have of what you believe to be “you” exists. But that is a completely different concept of what I am going at.
There is a vast difference in who you are, and what you are. Who you are is based off of perception, and experience and ego. What you are is eternal consciousness, using this body as a garment for the “soul”. Two totally different concepts aren’t they? Well wait, this is where things start to get a bit intense. Have you ever stop and thought, “Why is there always a voice running through my head? What is is? Why is it there?” Have you noticed it never stops? Give yourself a moment, stop reading, close your eyes and listen to that voice in your mind. Really give yourself a second to try and perceive what it’s existence is.
That voice may sound like you, it may seem like your thoughts. But it isn’t. It’s the ego doing it’s job, annylizing and absorbing information. Telling “you” what is, an what is not. Trying to construct what existence is. Giving you a false understanding of information. Although this “machine” might seem as if it is a part of you, it’s only a cause and effect to external stimuli and internal analyzing.
The funny thing is, that the part of the mind that you actually are, is the one who is listening. There is a very thick line differentiating these two distinct parts. As confusing as it may be, the ego is a very vital part to our reality. It’s more then just a defense mechanism, it’s the “false self” reacting and fixating. The ego is a very strange and curious thing indeed.
When you think, when you feel, and when things arise, thoughts change. They come and go. But to understand the ego, we must understand why it reacts the way it does. That fact you are the one who is listening to these thoughts, and not the one who is thinking, can be a scary thing.
The ego brings about a virus inside of us. Obsession without being in the present, confusion without understanding. Emotions are just a part of the ego as thoughts are. What ever we feel, what ever we think, we fixate onto these, it is natural and we are programmed to believe they are real. When they are very much the opposite. But to really learn to take a step back and just listen, really listen to what is going on, and understand, to observe and see without reaction, is the freedom of suffering.
The ego is the false self, and our higher self seems to be hidden most of the time. Our ego does not want us to face it, to listen and be aware of it. It wants us to continue in this cycle of unaware self destruction. But do not judge it, do not fall into the trap.
When thoughts arise we react, when emotions arise we obsess. We judge ourselves. But do we really need to? Do we really need to allow this to continue?
Think about it, what if you could be free of collapse? What if you could be free of pain. It sounds very difficult. Even more me, who has suffered with Manic-Depression for most of my life. It is not impossible. Take a step back, and listen. Understand why these thoughts are arising. Why are these emotions building inside of you? Let them take it’s course, but without a need to dwell. Listen, observe, learn and understand. Let go. Anger may come, sadness may come, but they come due to reaction to a stimuli. What is that stimuli? Take a moment, breathe, be aware, and let it pass.
You may stand in a river. The current may be strong, but it does not need to pull you down stream. You can feel it, you can touch it, but you do not need to fall into it.(Source: paradoxical-matrix)
Do not try to become anything.
Do not make yourself into anything.
Do not be a meditator.
Do not become enlightened.
When you sit, let it be.
What you walk, let it be.
Grasp at nothing.
Resist nothing.Ajahn Chah
Sit down and Shut up. (Brad Warner.)
Punk rock commentaries on Buddhism, God, Truth, Sex and Death.
Hardcore Zen. :D
Great shot of the great man in Mexico this weekend.
(Source: let-it-remain)
Buddhist Global Relief: Walk to Feed The Hungry 9.11 Bay Area
Over 200 people came! Over $22,000 raised~!
Was awesome. (And very complicated seeing as my community put on the event for the bay area)
I got to run around with a flag in a special shirt and direct people. Who would have thought those years of color guard would actually be used after college? :)
I walked for 4 hours doing this! And I hadn’t slept! I only walked 7 miles, the total was 14 :( But that’s okay :)
I didn’t take a picture of myself, and I didn’t take a lot of photos. But I shall upload them!
it’s a shame I didn’t get to be there!
(Source: pumpkinpatchexpress)
I made my zafu today. I’ll probably decorate it with studs and patches soon.
