One question every ‘seeker’ needs to ask themselves is what their motivation is for finding truth, awakening or whatever label we prefer. Truth is simply the way it is. How could it be anything else? If we’re trying to escape suffering, avoid unpleasant mind states or find some blissed out mode of being, then we’re […]
Category Archives: self awareness
We talk about the ‘illusion of self’ or ‘sense of self’ but where does it come from and how does it begin? In most cases the sense of self is created in reverse or perhaps it’s more accurate to say it arises by implication. In childhood we are shown things and learn their names: this […]
So much of what can trip us up when we try to see, to awaken to the way it is, comes from our expectations. At times, when negative thoughts and feelings arise, if we’re not careful we can fall into the trap of thinking, ‘I shouldn’t be feeling this’, or ‘I shouldn’t have these thoughts.’ […]
Those engaged with trying to realise or see the illusion of self are often no strangers to frustration. So many apparent contradictions arise. This ‘path’ is full of them. We can easily and quickly lose sight that the truth is simple – so simple; just what is here, in this moment right now. But how […]
Suppose we’re trying to see; trying to realise truth. We’ve spent time looking and we feel like we have a handle, at least intellectually, on there being no real ‘self’. It’s an idea we’re getting our heads round but there are still a few obstacles to overcome. One of these obstacles can be thinking about […]
You might recognise the title as the question posed to Alice by the enigmatic caterpillar upon their first meeting. It raises the question of identity and identification, and here the shallow waters we step into can soon lead us into the depths. Like all questions the question of identification may lead us in many directions. […]
One of the aspects of searching for truth that contains any number of potential stumbling blocks is our expectations. Thoughts can arise such as, ‘If I see there’s no separate self, will I become like a Buddha? Will I be enlightenened? Will all suffering cease? Will I get rid of all my hang-ups? Will I […]
The realisation of no-self leads inexorably to the realisation of no selves. Empty boats, as Chuang Tzu called them. So all around we see patterns of behaviour, forms through which these arise, no selves. All is arising supported by its causes. There is no purpose in this, no higher Self directing it. To search for […]
Patterns. Making links, joining up the dots, creating connections – it’s an important aspect of our intelligence isn’t it? The ability to look at a small amount of detail and infer what is not seen from what can be seen. Perhaps this evolved with us as a survival mechanism, but there’s no doubt it’s a […]
Sometimes it can seem like that; we look at our lives and we instinctively want to fix, repair or change it around to make it all better. In our society there are a number of industry sectors that profit from just this desire. They try to sell us self help solutions to change your life […]
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