Routine upset and disturbance, otherwise known as 'relationship,' is so common that probably, it is hardly even noticed most of the time. But the emotions involved so completely occupy the attention that the actual fact of life is obscured. Where ever is the opportunity, then, to wonder, "What is this actually all about?"
What is this actually all about? The sheep provide a clue. They spend all their time eating. For humans, too, eating and drinking are the main meaning. You carry on eating so that you can experience... what? Pleasure? But pleasure is fleeting. Pain? But that, too, must pass, if only into unconsciousness.
You begin to realize that there is nothing in this existence, really.
"People think that's terrible, that you're being nihilistic, defeatist, etc. But that's nonsense! It's the most marvellous thing you can realize, that there is nothing in this existence at all! I can say this, and look what I am surrounded with!" (A very orderly, cultured front room, with a Persian carpet and a roaring fire.)
Once again take the example of the sheep, who are constantly eating. Humans have put them to work, and they put in a full day, with no overtime! But in wilder pasture, sheep spend much more time resting. They like to find a good vantage point and just be. Their neurotic eating when contained together in a field is similar to the activities of people in cities.
It's true that the sensations of romance are strong and compelling. That's what keeps everyone hoping and waiting for the appearance of their dream, so that there is no chance of seeing through it, any more than the sheep!
But it is the finest thing in the world to realize that there is nothing in this existence! It doesn't stop one from doing and appreciating anything at all. But it clears away all the drama about 'me' and 'my life,' not to mention all the other people agonizing over their lives. It is a very profound perception - goes to the root of one's motivations, of one's being.
Observations
People don’t know about interacting these days. They are like machines, in which your presence is like a coin. You put in the coin and the machine starts up!
- People feel immensely insecure. And no wonder. A person's security is entirely social. Each person consists of other people. A person has to be given an inordinate amount of attention just to be there at all!
- It is amazing how rubbishy the assumed separate individual is!! (This is something for deep personal honesty, not public confession.)
- Humanity is a condition. You find yourself in a condition of humanity in which there appear to be too many of you.
- But you see, the BBC knows that people don’t want things to go right anymore, because they are absolutely addicted to things going wrong.
- People feel immensely insecure. And no wonder. A person's security is entirely social. Each person consists of other people. A person has to be given an inordinate amount of attention just to be there at all!
- It is amazing how rubbishy the assumed separate individual is!! (This is something for deep personal honesty, not public confession.)
- Humanity is a condition. You find yourself in a condition of humanity in which there appear to be too many of you.
- But you see, the BBC knows that people don’t want things to go right anymore, because they are absolutely addicted to things going wrong.
WANTED: CASTLE
Mixed group studying the dynamics of enlightenment at second remove. Reliable tenants. For how long? The only time is infinity. You pay by the kalpa!
The notion of selfhood
Selfhood is greedy. If it thinks there is anything in truth, it wants to get it. That won't do it any good! If it could get truth, that would only result in more puffed-up selfhood, which is in fact the whole problem - the notion of selfhood.
So what is the TRUTH?
The solution to this is surely the last thing one could possibly think of, and then not that!
Intellect tries to work at it, but truth is not to be found in its workings, as it suspects. One thinks it must be something contactable - it has to be for it to make sense. So a struggle persists until it is realized that the struggle can be abandoned. Why would INFINITE MIND be concerned with one tiny section of a dreaming humanity?
Intellect tries to work at it, but truth is not to be found in its workings, as it suspects. One thinks it must be something contactable - it has to be for it to make sense. So a struggle persists until it is realized that the struggle can be abandoned. Why would INFINITE MIND be concerned with one tiny section of a dreaming humanity?
Disease
Why not find out what awareness IS, look into the truth of life, rather than the endless ramifications of this dream*? The ramifications (of disease, etc.) are always 'out there.' They don't strike the immediacy of presence.
Clearly, that does not interfere with the freedom to explore the ramifications to one's heart's content. However, there comes a time when the sphere of human argument is relinquished and there is sensitive exploration without regard to stories.
*[=e.g., the world, our life, as we know it]
Clearly, that does not interfere with the freedom to explore the ramifications to one's heart's content. However, there comes a time when the sphere of human argument is relinquished and there is sensitive exploration without regard to stories.
*[=e.g., the world, our life, as we know it]
Concepts Running Out
Aren't stories all about making a way in society? They are concepts, really, and they all run out in now. They are all just running out, like tributaries wriggling away into the ocean of being.
Thought - just cut it out!
Awareness is bliss, but only if thought is not in operation. Thought just assumes the mantle of awareness. Thought is pretense.
But note that thought is totally tied up with the whole body and all its sensations. One cannot try and cut off thought so that the body would then be able to go around in a blissful state! And when we say 'body,' that means my body, your body. To cut out thought - who would do that, anyway?
Thought can lapse.
One can become aware of thoughts, but one cannot be aware of their absence. That must be because their absence is what awareness is.
But note that thought is totally tied up with the whole body and all its sensations. One cannot try and cut off thought so that the body would then be able to go around in a blissful state! And when we say 'body,' that means my body, your body. To cut out thought - who would do that, anyway?
Thought can lapse.
One can become aware of thoughts, but one cannot be aware of their absence. That must be because their absence is what awareness is.
A Good Show
One's self seems to be entirely bogus, just a theatrical notion. Given that, the best thing one can do, is put on a good show.
A good show doesn't foist itself on anyone, any more than a flower does. It is busy being itself.
A good show doesn't foist itself on anyone, any more than a flower does. It is busy being itself.
"Beware of beatified individuality."
This should be imprinted on the inside of every psychenaut's skull! (Quote from Wei Wu Wei)
This is the age of cleverness
This is the age of cleverness, but commensurate with cleverness is stupidity. They come bundled together.
Premature Divine Being Syndrome
What we can do is very much dependent on where our feet come to rest and how we answer for it. You have got to fully acknowledge the earthly before you can be heavenly. Otherwise, you will be standing on mental stilts! (NB: the 'earthly' and the 'heavenly' are both concepts. Get stuck into reality and be honest about it - the fantasies and dreams are never real!!)
Modern Civilization
From ancient times, either people fight when they get together, or they exchange goods.
What's the point?!
This lament is no good! 'The point' is all around us. But life is not pointy! Life is not sharp. Life is not in bondage to anything at all.
Dung Beetle
We push our knowledge forward, in order to create the next moment - rather like a dung beetle, with its little bolus of dung! That's all the future is. We create it from our knowledge as we go, pushing it ahead of us. One thinks, "This will really get me places!" It doesn't matter how big the ball is, it's still dung. The dung-ball is like one's little store of knowledge - and one has to leave it by the wayside.
Being Still
Being still should be easy, shouldn't it? But it isn't. Even after years. What can you do about it?
It isn't easy to play a musical instrument, either. What can you do about it? Practise!
But no, one wants to be a virtuoso immediately, without any prior work to play brilliantly so that everyone claps! It's just that infantile desire which only has to sit back and be spoon-fed, a mere smile and everyone applauds. It (the baby) thinks that the hard slog of PRACTICE is a waste of its potential, its brilliancy!
Practise!
It isn't easy to play a musical instrument, either. What can you do about it? Practise!
But no, one wants to be a virtuoso immediately, without any prior work to play brilliantly so that everyone claps! It's just that infantile desire which only has to sit back and be spoon-fed, a mere smile and everyone applauds. It (the baby) thinks that the hard slog of PRACTICE is a waste of its potential, its brilliancy!
The Body
M: I wonder what on earth Alfred Aiken means by "You are not the body." The body seems so real.
W: I think the operative term there is 'earth'! ...on earth as it is in heaven? Heaven meaning, 'how things actually are.' Consciousness, awareness is not the body. The body is social! We think we are bodies relating to one another. Which is fine, but it's not the truth.
m: That's very good to hear, because a person's mood tends to swing up or down according to the success rate in society.
W: At some point, everyone has to leave society, and forget and be forgotten - you can't have everyone on the stage at once!
W: I think the operative term there is 'earth'! ...on earth as it is in heaven? Heaven meaning, 'how things actually are.' Consciousness, awareness is not the body. The body is social! We think we are bodies relating to one another. Which is fine, but it's not the truth.
m: That's very good to hear, because a person's mood tends to swing up or down according to the success rate in society.
W: At some point, everyone has to leave society, and forget and be forgotten - you can't have everyone on the stage at once!
Accomodation
We have been feeling rather frustrated at the increasing cost of living, an inevitable result of global and local overpopulation:-
"Disused foxhole, with 4sq yards of land, only £50,000. Buy now and get a boot up the bracket thrown in, free."
"Disused foxhole, with 4sq yards of land, only £50,000. Buy now and get a boot up the bracket thrown in, free."
Anxiety and Dullness
There is a tremendous amount of anxiety in being alive. Often the simplest way to assuage anxiety is to eat, which makes one very dull.
But what is the root of anxiety? The real basis of this worry is the feeling that one is stuck in a body, which really is a very dangerous place to be!
But what is the root of anxiety? The real basis of this worry is the feeling that one is stuck in a body, which really is a very dangerous place to be!
Straightforward Intimacy
There is a curious idea that life is all about people! That the whole earth and all that is in it exists solely so that people can relate! This is the assumption everyone is bred to believe in - it is so basic that mostly it wouldn’t even be noticed. And when you go out and relate, what do you find? That generally speaking, there are just three types of relationship:-
(1) the exchange of goods, services or information;
(2) chat, the sort of speech that consists of cliché, banality and
obsession with detail;
(3) argument of one sort or another, even amongst supposed friends.
None of these has any soul to it - they are spiritually bankrupt, and useless for really finding out about the meaning of life.
The only correct basis can be straightforward intimacy. Simple straightforwardness and natural affection is to be completely present in actuality. It is essential to give up self-centred neurotic dreaming and wake up to actuality and live in simple presence.
(1) the exchange of goods, services or information;
(2) chat, the sort of speech that consists of cliché, banality and
obsession with detail;
(3) argument of one sort or another, even amongst supposed friends.
None of these has any soul to it - they are spiritually bankrupt, and useless for really finding out about the meaning of life.
The only correct basis can be straightforward intimacy. Simple straightforwardness and natural affection is to be completely present in actuality. It is essential to give up self-centred neurotic dreaming and wake up to actuality and live in simple presence.
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