The Question:
“But what if we cannot find this self-satisfying reality?”
The Answer:
“I laugh when I hear that the fish swimming in the water is thirsty.” -Kabir.
The question and answer clearly state, it is here, right in this moment. The fact that you can’t see it means you have work to do on yourself. Remember, it is fun to discover new things about yourself. The old you, the false self, wants nothing to do with discovering what will put it out of employment, so proceed without it. Sure, fear will arise, but that’s only the same false part in a different mask, so continue to walk away from this useless part that has brought you nothing but grief. Let all those doubts be there as you notice them there, and continue to walk away. As you walk away, you are also walking towards something which you won’t recognize at first, but soon will. Just do the necessary work and forget about results. There is so much to learn and see.
The false part will only lead you to more falseness, so snap out of it and discover the new.
Discovering this “Other World” gives your life purpose. You become an expert on “fool’s gold” and on “Real Genuine Gold.” Quit believing in experts, who is a better expert on your life than you?
Yes Steve, this is so clear. With the exception of purely practical things, I only believe in experts to try and avoid taking responsibility for my own life. There is no other reason.
I must know from myself. What good does it do me to hear beautiful ideas, but not experience them.
It’s like seeing pictures about a wonderful feast of foods without being able to taste and enjoy any of them.
While it’s necessary to start with information/ideas, that is where the work begins.
Just read this in Vernon’s Mystic Masters Speak and it connects…
#749.
Q. There must be a good reason why we are instructed to go beyond a mere collection of spiritual facts and plunge into a deep and personal experience with truth.
A. A hundred thousand tongues may discourse to you about the sweetness of honey, but you can never have knowledge of it except by taste. -Caussin.
Like you said, Tim, “I must know from myself.”
It IS fun to discover new things about yourself. I like how this blog post unmasks the criminal – what is that part of me that resists so strongly seeing or trying anything new? Isn’t that suspicious?
Why don’t I love learning? What is that voice that thinks even investigating something new and true is an admission of defeat? It’s amazing how quickly my mind will harden into the fixed attitude of being a ‘knower’ on any subject, and viciously reject any suggestion it now does not know. Could it be that my carefully curated (to myself) image of knowing what life is all about is telling me no, don’t go there? I no longer have to listen to this no, it is powerless.
This means I can question the gloom my colleagues and I work under every day. This means I can ask that angry person a question and challenge the idea that I must be cowed by their anger. This means that every time I go into a shop I can ask the assistant for anything I want without fear. After all, I am the one paying them! Isn’t that strange that even in a shop where customers should hold all the power, they act terrified and afraid!!?? And the shop assistants are equally afraid!
I also don’t have to be afraid of any reaction from fearful people to anything I do in challenging fear. If I can only progress with tiny 1 inch baby steps I will do that, because they are still steps.
God please destroy MY life and MY ideas.
Yes Leo, I found this in my notes from VH’s Classes…
“Get reckless with your life, it’s not your life and it’s not worth saving.”
We truly belong to newness, not a daily repeat of the same old life. What a ball and chain this kind of existence is, and will always be. The alternative? Newness is fun, seek it.