Clarity
Sometimes in the ‘not getting’ something- the entire answer reveals itself, then and there. Answers float quietly about; so delicate, so silent- yet we are so caught up in the ‘not getting it’ state of mind that we can’t see or hear the tiny wings of emancipation fluttering about us.
Only when we are quiet and the mind is stilled and unadulterated by either thought or substance do we begin the process of realizing our freedom.
The axiom is true..."we really have no problems whatsoever- we only think we do, and that’s the problem."
Only when we stop thinking with the same mind that creates our ‘problems’ can we realize the answers all about us, here and now.
It is really…….this simple.
posted by isaiah @ 11:40 AM
12 Comments:
Hey Big Tom,
Yes Clarity is in the “not getting” but it also can be in “the getting”.
Everyone’s clarity is there own and to me it’s not simple. Even if I was to will myself to think that there is no problems (in my mind) there still will be huge problems that left unattended can lead to major consequences.
Maybe it’s more that we should simply understand that problems are a part of life. Not something we need to dismiss or even try to understand but instead embrace.
(There is a lesson for me somewhere in that statement that I need to be applying in my life. I need to take my own ideas and embrace my recent problems instead of getting pist-off at the world. Hmmmmmmm ill have to get on that with thinking.)
Problems force me to solve them. Solving problems teaches me how to learn and learning is enlightenment. And In enlightenment, I find more problems. This sets the cycle in motion again. There is no controlling it. I am just caught in its current. Only hoping that I’m navigating it correctly. And unfortunately the current changes from moment to moment. This constant change can force one person to solve a problem one way and anther to solve, the same problem, differently. Yet the problems are still being solved. And in the solution anther problem will always arise. Mind numbing isn’t it. Who is right? Who is wrong? Is irrelevant. Problems are real and must be addressed and sometimes the answers aren’t kind or pretty. And yes, sometimes they are.
Of course I only know what’s in my reality. So, there for, I do not pretend to express that this is right or wrong. it is simply anther simple way of viewing it.
Man I love thought-provoking posts. They force me to withdraw my ideas and view them 3 -dimensionally. this helps me better understand my own ideas.And yes gives me clarity.
The mind creates problems. It’s a fundamental job of evolution. we would not evolve without problems.
Thanks for this post it gave me a degree of clarity. Something I have desprately been searching for.
I'm not saying there aren't situations that arise that cause us problems- what I’m alluding to here is that…everything, including our problems exist within the space that we call our mind. Nothing exists –“out there”…things and situations just are and we take them on as joy, suffering, distress, peace, sorrow, liberation or imprisonment. We give situations meaning, calling those situation problems or joys.
Funny how we always say, “I’ve got problems,” and never, “I’ve got an opportunity ( to grow or learn something)” or “ what am I not understanding here that is causing me suffering.”
“Everyone’s clarity is their own- and to me it’s not simple.” Yes, but it can become simple when one understands (by learning some control over their thoughts and actions) that ‘problems’ only exist…in the space we give them to exist.
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj said, “In my world, nothing ever goes wrong.” Imagine the thought process he adopted to see the world this way. He also said, "If you are angry or in pain, separate yourself from anger and pain and watch them (become a witness.) Externalization (seeing them not as YOU- but something you are going through that you can emerge from) is the first step to liberation."
T--I'm not saying there aren't situations that arise that cause us problems- what I’m alluding to here is that…everything, including our problems exist within the space that we call our mind. Nothing exists –“out there”…things and situations just are and we take them on as joy, suffering, distress, peace, sorrow, liberation or imprisonment. We give situations meaning, calling those situation problems or joys.
J----I do not agree. Problems exist. They are real. They are not illusions conjured up by our minds. We must give situations good and bad titles other wise they are meaningless. Joy is different than suffering the distinction must be made.
T----Funny how we always say, “I’ve got problems,” and never, “I’ve got an opportunity ( to grow or learn something)” or “ what am I not understanding here that is causing me suffering.”
J---I do say, at times,” this is an opportunity to grow and learn”. I am struggling everyday to understand this anger I feel towards the powers that be and what they represent to me. But in saying, ”I’ve got an opportunity” you also by default have a problem. Attempting to solve problems is say “what don’t I understand.”
T----“Everyone’s clarity is their own- and to me it’s not simple.” Yes, but it can become simple when one understands (by learning some control over their thoughts and actions) that ‘problems’ only exist…in the space we give them to exist.
J---- Yes, I agree problems and situations can become easier to handle once we understand them. But, once again, I do not agree that problems only exist in the space we give them. Tell that to a Jew in World War II, tell that to a mom whose child has been murdered, tell that to the innocent man jailed for years for doing nothing. I am not saying these things can not be over come and learned from. Even good can come from things such as this. But to these people their problems did not just exist in the space they gave it to exist. Their problems were real and tangible and no amount of rational could change that.
T----Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj said, “In my world, nothing ever goes wrong.” Imagine the thought process he adopted to see the world this way. He also said, "If you are angry or in pain, separate yourself from anger and pain and watch them (become a witness.) Externalization (seeing them not as YOU- but something you are going through that you can emerge from) is the first step to liberation."
J----To me this is a very self-deceiving and somewhat foolish way to live. Things do go wrong in this world and things go wrong in his world He chooses to react by not reacting. I’m not saying there isn’t good advice here, on the contrary, there is. But I do not feel we should separate from pain and anger because these emotions are a part of us just as pleasure and happiness are also. To be liberated we must make room for every emotion not externalize and detach from them.
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T--I'm not saying there aren't situations that arise that cause us problems- what I’m alluding to here is that…everything, including our problems exist within the space that we call our mind. Nothing exists –“out there”…things and situations just are and we take them on as joy, suffering, distress, peace, sorrow, liberation or imprisonment. We give situations meaning, calling those situation problems or joys.
J----I do not agree. Problems exist. They are real. They are not illusions conjured up by our minds. We must give situations good and bad titles other wise they are meaningless. Joy is different than suffering the distinction must be made.
T---Yes, our problems are real, but they exist in our mind, where everything exists. Yes, they are illusionary, conjured up by our mind- we agree. So, if they’re illusionary, why do we take them to be so matter of fact- because of how we think. Distinctions CAN be made as to “is this joy, is this pain, is this suffering.” All this is meaningless when one realizes…it’s just labels WE give them. It is better to have more labeled joy & peace than suffering and pain, but even in suffering and pain there can be joy and peace. In joy and peace states o consciousness - it’s hard to ‘feel’- suffering and pain.
T----Funny how we always say, “I’ve got problems,” and never, “I’ve got an opportunity ( to grow or learn something)” or “ what am I not understanding here that is causing me suffering.”
J---I do say, at times,” this is an opportunity to grow and learn”. I am struggling everyday to understand this anger I feel towards the powers that be and what they represent to me. But in saying, ”I’ve got an opportunity” you also by default have a problem. Attempting to solve problems is say “what don’t I understand.”
T--- How about, “What can I remove, strip away from what I think to help me ‘see’ this in it’s most basic, truest light.
T----“Everyone’s clarity is their own- and to me it’s not simple.” Yes, but it can become simple when one understands (by learning some control over their thoughts and actions) that ‘problems’ only exist…in the space we give them to exist.
J---- Yes, I agree problems and situations can become easier to handle once we understand them. But, once again, I do not agree that problems only exist in the space we give them. Tell that to a Jew in World War II, tell that to a mom whose child has been murdered, tell that to the innocent man jailed for years for doing nothing. I am not saying these things can not be over come and learned from. Even good can come from things such as this. But to these people their problems did not just exist in the space they gave it to exist. Their problems were real and tangible and no amount of rational could change that.
T--- Now we arrive at the part that requires ‘evolution.’ When one evolves, through experience and/or Grace to the realization that the body passes away and not the energy or Spirit that sustains the body and that through surrendering to the concept of a higher power continuously creating itself over and over again…suffering need only be that which we give it the space to exist in. History is filled with horrible examples of people experiencing pain and suffering. Who’s to say you or me will not face devastating pain and suffering in our lifetime- it is almost assured we will. But by how we choose to look at this pain and suffering we will define what we experience. There isn’t a wrong or right way to experience anything except by way of asking yourself, would I rather experience more or less pain & suffering.
Look- the Jews in WWII experienced devastating pain and suffering, people everywhere right now are experiencing pain & suffering that is ‘real.’ How we choose to experience anything is our choice and we do have choices as to how we will integrate our experiences. I’m not saying blindly turn away from pain and suffering, ours or another’s but if you have the capacity- choose to experience all of life’s situations with less pain and suffering and with more compassion for others and well as yourself.
T----Sri Nisargadatta’ Maharaj said, “In my world, nothing ever goes wrong.” Imagine the thought process he adopted to see the world this way. He also said, "If you are angry or in pain, separate yourself from anger and pain and watch them (become a witness.) Externalization (seeing them not as YOU- but something you are going through that you can emerge from) is the first step to liberation."
J----To me this is a very self-deceiving and somewhat foolish way to live. Things do go wrong in this world and things go wrong in his world He chooses to react by not reacting. I’m not saying there isn’t good advice here, on the contrary, there is. But I do not feel we should separate from pain and anger because these emotions are a part of us just as pleasure and happiness are also. To be liberated we must make room for every emotion not externalize and detach from them.
T--- What Sri Maharaji is saying here is ‘… I understand and I am one with Divine Order so that whatever happens (be it painful or joyful) is suppose to be (otherwise something else would have happened) and therefore…it cannot be any way other than how it is.’ Yes, things probably go wrong for him…but he doesn’t see this way…it’s all a part of Divine Order. All things are either in Divine Order all the time- or they’re not.
By making yourself a witness to a problem or your emotions- you release the grip they have on you so you can see them from a different perspective. Freeing the Witness or ego allows you to be unattached to your problem or emotion and to realize it doesn’t define who you are- you are more than your problem or emotions. When one undergoes therapy with either a psychiatrist or therapist the goal is to see the ‘problem’ from another perspective and once it is objectively witnessed instead of subjectively experienced- healing can begin. Instead of embracing the problems or emotion (which I’m sure is known well enough) embrace the solution to the problem or emotion (yourself) and experience it from outside your normal framework of reference.
J--- “To be liberated we must make room for every emotion not externalize and detach from them.”
T--- To be liberated we must make room for every emotion and detach our ‘self’ from them and see them from the ‘Self” point of view.
James, my entire reference and view comes from how I see the world- as does yours. Behind my eyes I cannot separate myself from Spirit, “I-I”, Atman, Buddha Nature, Christ Consciousness, Mother Nature, God, Gaia, Goddess anymore- and it influences how I see and experience the world. I now realize that there is no attaining enlightenment because if there is a starting point to enlightenment, it isn’t real. There is no beginning, no ending to Spirit, to our original face…to who we truly are…just as there is no other place we will ever exist other than the here and now.
Don’t think there's something you’re missing because you’re not missing anything at all. Everything you are witnessing and experiencing in life is enlightenment.
“There is neither creation nor destruction,
Neither destiny nor free will;
Neither path nor achievement;
This is the final truth.”
“You hear the birds? You see the sun? Who is not enlightened?”
“Awareness- is God” “There is nothing you can try to do, or try not to do, to get awareness, because it already and fully is.”
“And tell me: is the story, sung by mystics and sages the world over, any crazier that the scientific materialism story, which is that the entire sequence is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying absolutely nothing? Listen very carefully: just which of those two stories actually sounds totally insane?”
“Why are you unhappy?
Because 99.9% of everything you think,
And everything you do,
Is for yourself,
And there isn’t one.”
“I came to realize clearly that Mind
Is no other than mountains and Rivers and
Great wide earth,
The sun and the moon and the stars.”
Yes, it is very simple but we like to make it as hard as we possibly can. I don't know why this is exactly but I have a feeling that it has something to do with our complicated lives. Thus, we believe that EVERYTHING must be complicated which is the ultimate delusion.
Does this relate to the html problem?
Smile!
I'm not sure of the question you're asking M-
Tommy,
I was just being silly. In the last post the html problem was driving you MAD. But here, in this post, (which is a lovely post, by the way) you sweetly write that
"Sometimes in the ‘not getting’ something- the entire answer reveals itself, then and there. Answers float quietly about; so delicate, so silent- yet we are so caught up in the ‘not getting it’ state of mind that we can’t see or hear the tiny wings of emancipation fluttering about us." and I was immediately reminded of your problem with the website. I wondered, did the answer come to you?
Oh, yes- no...the answer was above me, that's why I turned to an expert (Jon!)
With html- I'm like a lost little boy.
Yes, in the not getting it...I got Jon! who got it for me, so yes- I did get it!
Got it?
Yes, I do.
I smile with you.
M
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