Posts Tagged ‘Idol’

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Decision-making is hard, not so much because of the options we face,
but because we have to deal with our own mind. We’re confused by
indecision. That agitation comes from opposing thoughts. We are
uncertain about what to do, and we are thrown off balance. Which
thought should we follow? Which line of reasoning is best?

The whole point of anything that is really, truly valuable to your soul, and
to your own growth, is not to attach to a teacher, but rather to find out
what the real deal is in the world itself. You become your own guide. The
teachings can help you, but really, we’re all here with the opportunity to
experience the reality of hereness. We all have that. I trust that.

Willingness to observe
our cocoon
of habitual fear
and defense mechanisms.

But the real core instruction is, whenever you’re feeling uncomfortable,
don’t believe what you’re saying to yourself. Right then is the time to not
believe what you’re saying to yourself.

And what we’re saying to ourselves at those times are really old habits.
We’re reinforcing really old habits. That’s what we do when we’re
uncomfortable. We don’t leave it with just hooked or triggered.

We seek to get the bubble back together— or whatever language you
want to use— by talking to ourselves, in a way that really strengthens
old habits. And they’re usually very self-destructive habits.

***

“I could feel that it made me sick
I said to myself
Why are you doing this?
Will you feel better? No.
So why are you doing this?”
Seductive pull to keep doing…
not in sync with what makes you happy.

The urge to do the same thing that you’ve already done.
IT IS SO HARD TO STOP but when you understand
that you’re doing it, that’s when you can start working with it.

Reach the positive bottom and things begin to open up to you.
Soften what is rigid in your heart, work on yourself.
Notice what you’re saying to yourself to escalate things.

Later - Look back at who you used to be.
The neuroris you carried for so many years
- otherwise you’ll lose your contact with other people who suffer.

I like the wild ones. Probabaly because I’ve invested so much in being a
good child and have always gotten great feedback from it. But my friends
and teachers have always been the wild ones and I love them. I’m bored with
the good ones. Not exactly bored, but they don’t stop my mind. I’m the
kind of person who only learns when they get thrown overboard and
the sharks are coming after me.

Things are not certain and they do not last and you do not know what is
going to happen. My teachers have always pushed me over the cliff, and that
is what has awakened my compassion for what human beings are up against.
I am afraid that because of where we come from as Westerners, with our
Judeo-Christian heritage, that if you get too focused on doctrine, on
codifying, or ethics as a major emphasis, it just turns into harsh judgment.
And then there is no genuine compassion.

Genuine compassion comes from the fact that
you see your own limitations: you wish to be
kind and you find that you aren’t kind.

All situations are workable.
That’s the nature of reality - it’s workable.

The very thing that causes us to harden and our suffering to intensify
can soften us and make us more decent and kinder people.
That takes a lot of courage. This is a teaching for people
who are willing to cultivate their courage.
What’s wonderful about it is that
you have plenty of material to work with.

I remember the day I really got it that we’re not
connected as human beings because of our
perfection, but because of our flaws.
That was such a relief.

No matter how simplified or complicated life gets,
it can make us miserable or it can wake us up.