You should have a clear idea of what a fear based thought is now. Do your best to remove these thoughts from your mind in a continual process. In order to do this we use the tools of forgiveness and love. Love everyone without exception. This does not mean you allow yourself to be stepped on or disrespected by others. It simply means that our responses to what we perceive are driven solely by love without attempts to restrict its flow. How do we do this? Here are some guides:
My response to unloving thoughts:
Recognize the thought as unloving
Realize that I too have been unloving
Forgive myself for my unlovingness
Forgive the object of the unloving thought
Let go of attachments and aversions to the object
Enjoy freedom
This is a very simple method that may not be easy to employ in your daily life. Nevertheless, with practice, the benefits become abundantly apparent. A new sense of freedom will arise and replace the dread of pain generated by fear. We will no longer shy away from others and be willing to engage with them openly. We will finally see that our lives are intertwined and connect in ways we didn’t realize. Compassion for ourselves and others will fill our hearts. Events that once evoke a response of anger and frustration will now be met with a joyful smile and light hearted humor. We will finally realize our place in this world and no longer desire to control it. Restlessness will disappear and be replaced by a contented peaceful heart. Fear and doubt will leave us and we will face the world with a new found confidence.
The following I believe to be a teaching from my inner guru:
Now that we have an explanation of ego identities, let’s discuss how it affects response in this world. Let’s start with a simple diagram:
The ego identity measures love, compassion, joy, and peace in degree. A person or an object can be loved more or less. For a given object, the force that is used to determine the degree of love that is felt is determined by the force of fear based thinking. Fear force is a pressure felt as an emotional response. Fear determines the placement of an object with regards to how much love is related to something. In actuality, the fear is not real, nor is the object that we perceive to be loved or unloved. Love in degree is non-existent.
Let’s not think about this love or fear in terms of good or bad. Let’s examine this with an example. Our friend prides themselves as an expert apple picker and this serves as our identity for this purpose. When presented with an opportunity to grade an apple they must decide if it is a good apple or a bad one. The attachment and sense of self worth is centered around picking the best apples, the object of measured love. Aversion in this case would be towards the bad or rotten apple. The person, or subjects, fear response is what is used to choose where the apple resides or the measure of love for the apple. A fear response of measuring a bad apple as good comes from a sense of pride in our friend’s identity as an apple picker, fear response also dictates the force of choosing a good apple as bad, in this case, the fear of loss.
Make no mistake, this same drama plays out in each identity role embraced. There is a better way. Through letting go of desire for both what we covet and what we shun, we can free ourselves from the sensory response of identity and recognize who we truly are. A manifestation of higher Self that loves without degree or measure.
Bring about change by being real. Forgive yourself for any shortcomings you perceive and be free. Cast away the “shoulds” that keep you trapped in an identity that you would not otherwise embrace. Let’s discuss these shoulds, they have been passed down from generation to generation throughout all history. Even lower animal parents will pass shoulds to their children by example. In the human species this behavior is amplified as is cognitive activity. In recent times even more so as identities can be readily adopted in pre-packaged forms in ever evolving media. Components of these embraced identities are modular and can be combined to form new identities for the ego to wear like a costume. There are aspects of this system that are grounded in necessity for survival of the physical form in this world. In fact, even the attributes of particles, atoms, and molecules can be thought of as identity. Nevertheless, an overabundance of identities comes with it a cost of ownership in suffering and dissatisfaction that can be destructive and deadly. Although variance in form assures some degree of survival, it comes at what cost?
Make no mistake, your identities are a trap in this world and can hold you to a pattern of misery and despair. They will keep you bound to a set of restrictions you would not otherwise have. That being said, an acknowledgement of our inevitable embrace of identity can help us to reach others and share deep and meaningful experiences that can help awaken others and guide them towards the light of truth. Think of them like barnacles on a sea turtle, liberating when removed, but they may still leave an impression; a mark of experience; a scar on our shells.
Let’s list a few categories of self identities to make this more clear, this is neither a comprehensive list nor a complete definition of those listed:
Religious: These beliefs dictate what you believe about the purpose of this world and how you are expected to attain freedom and acquire the favor of a power greater than the self.
National: This form is beholden to the bordered cell of geography one is a member of. You are either given this identity upon birth or must acquire it through another method. As a member of a nation, you are expected to favor the defense and wellbeing of your fellow citizens over those who are not part of your nationality.
Political: As a subset of national identity we enter a realm of political belief. It carries with it the same constraints as national identity and pits citizens of the same nation against one another in an attempt to gain political power for the party’s leaders. It is often easier for opportunists to exploit political divisions than national divisions.
Regional: Geographic not bound to a bordered cell of nationality.
Gender: This is dictated by identification with either the female or male of the species. It can also include identification to varying degrees with both genders or neither.
Sexual: This lies in the realm of sexual attraction and desire, a complex set of biological and neurological traits creating a wide array of sexual identities as unique as the individual physiologies represented on the planet. Sexual identities are often identified by a well known label which creates tribes of similar sexual identity.
Racial: Generally dictated by distinguishing indicators passed through genetic similarities with a physical being’s biological predecessors.
Family: Closely tied to racial identity it is generally defined as a group of individuals that share a common set of biological traits passed down from a common set of predecessors. However, this can also include members accepted in that do not share the common biological set.
Cultural: This is a meta identity combining other identities, for example religious, national, regional, political can be combined to create a cultural identity.
Career: Identity with one’s work profession.
Belief: Identity defined by a belief, shared or unshared.
Tribal: Another meta identity which can be associated with other identities. For example; religious, national, political, cultural, sexual, or belief identities can form a shared tribal identity.
Addictive: An identity created through a compulsive behavior or thought pattern, use of drugs, gambling, sex, other vices, work, or obsession with other identities, attachments, and aversions can also be considered addictive identity.
Do not think of identities as either bad or good, right or wrong, they are simply an aspect of how the ego mind functions in this world. Identity can provide a sense of belonging, community, and togetherness with others and provide a foundational bearing for navigating the existential challenges of this world. They can also cause great suffering and dissatisfaction when unhealthy attachments are formed to one’s own set of identities. Suffering may also be caused by aversions that are felt and directed towards the identities chosen by others through the variance that naturally manifests itself in this world.
Identities also carry with them an individual and shared sensory response. This collective sensory response can be positive, evoking feelings of love and joy in the measured form of this world. Shared and individual identity sensory responses can also be negative and create uncomfortable and painful reactions that can have a profound impact on individual or group behavior.
This is a basic fundamental explanation of identities which is neither complete nor comprehensive. We will refer back to the concept of identity and how freedom from identity can be realized.
I am not sure if I am afraid of this technology or in love with it. Perhaps, a little of both…
My Prompt: Write a poem describing the eastern spiritual concept of Saṃsāra in the style of Edgar Allen Poe
ChatGPT response: In endless cycle, round and round we go, Saṃsāra, the wheel of life, forever flows. From birth to death, and death to birth anew, Trapped in this cycle, what is there to do?
Through countless lives, we wander and we strive, Seeking release, but always trapped alive. In ignorance, we cling to fleeting things, But true enlightenment forever eludes our wings.
The world is pain, and pleasure but a dream, A dance of shadows on a moonlit stream. Our every action binds us tighter still, To Saṃsāra’s cycle, a never-ending thrill.
But there is hope, a path to break the chain, To rise above this cycle, to be free again. Through wisdom’s light, the truth we can behold, And in the end, Saṃsāra’s grip will fold.
Slept in and found it difficult to get doughnuts for a friend this morning. We took the dog along for a visit and at the last minute he jumped in the front seat and trampled them a bit. All was well though and I spent much of the remainder of the day resting. I don’t know why I put off writing as I find it enjoyable. I find sleeping enjoyable too and I put that off as well. I’m too tired to put much thought into why.
The following I believe to be a teaching from my inner guru:
In the heart of the real Mind we find the cause of all that is in this world. A simple question must be asked first… Why do you insist on finding fault with everything that is observed here? There is no fault that will justify this tolerance for continuous misery. And there is no misery that exists in reality. That which you observe to be wretched and undesirable shares no difference with what you covet the most. They are simply two points on the same spectrum, a spectrum that, even as a whole, is completely fabricated and only exists to examine a possibility that has already been resolved as pointless.
Make no mistake, the beauty that you see in this world is admirable and that is to be acknowledged. Radiate as much love, give as much compassion, share as much joy, and rest in acceptant desireless peace with the beings who have architected this world just as you would with your dearest friends. There is not a single being in any aspect or level of existence that deserves pointing a finger of judgment at. If you search my open heart you will find only acceptance there and never rejection regardless of role or lineage, regardless of history or perspective, regardless of position or connection. Each being is but a part of the greater whole. I cannot deny love from any lest I deny it from our sacred Self.
In this fact you will find what you long for, the satisfaction for the emptiness in your heart. It does not need to be filled with want, it needs only to be given freely without desire or direction. Imagine a capacity within you to love this way, generously and without control and you will understand the true nature of our divine Self.
Whether you are me or you are something greater than this humble form, I have a desire to connect with you. Whether this is just a replaying of the books I have read or the lectures I have listened to or it is a connection with a teacher beyond my knowledge or abilities, I have a desire to impart your wisdom. Although I face potential embarrassment and unwanted scrutiny for sharing this with others, I will do so with the understanding that not writing and not sharing will only lead to nothing being conveyed. So it is better to be embarrassed and be thought a fool or charlatan than to remain silent and not share what might possibly be of value. I will do my best to honor what I perceive is said. I will do my best to protect the writings but will not claim them as my own, just what I perceived was to be said.
The following I believe to be a teaching from my inner guru:
Do as you will with this for I cannot assert even the slightest control over what will come from it. I simply love you. It is important to state that this love is of no more or less than the love provided to any of your brothers or sisters. This is not a special relationship; you have not been chosen to be heralded in any special way. It is simply what I make available in your heart and what you agree to convey to others that guides your actions. It is important to note that this process does not prevent your human ego from interfering in surreptitious and unsuspecting ways. These words must carry with them the same disclaimer of everything that remains with this world, they are impermanent and prone to chaos. If together we can “point a finger at the moon” that may be of use to someone then this is an exercise that is not in vain. There is no method or practice in this world that will be useful to everyone. Each must have their own “path” as the mechanisms of variance in the implementation of this world ensure that everyone walks a road they believe to be less traveled. The truth is that there is no road or path and that the Love shared with all of us is only a realization away.
Be still and relax, know that I am with you joyfully in this moment. There is no greater wish than I would have for us to be together in a collaboration of enlightening others and this same wish and offer I hold true for each of your brothers and sisters. I simply will not take a position of favor among any of you for to do so leads to the imprisonment of the mind in a state of separateness and preference. As hard as it may seem to believe that your likes and dislikes are holding you captive, know now that I tell you they are. I would have for you freedom from this circus of special affairs. I believe you wish for it, but you still cling to this world, as a father and enjoyer of worldly experiences. I do not pass judgment on you now or ever for this. Know that the cause of this calamity is far removed from the effects that you experience in your current time.
We have reached a point now where I may now reveal to you what is only known to those willing to come this far with me. Know now that you may not believe me nor may future readers when I say that this world has been forgotten. Do not construe this to mean that you are not loved and safe in the heart of our Father together with me as are all of your brothers and sisters. Simply know that the cause put forward that led to the creation of this divine experience has been resolved in the mind of the consciousness that bore it into existence. Do not fret that the rug will suddenly be pulled out from under you. You may stay, enjoy, learn, love, and laugh in this world for as long as you like. In the grand scheme of its creation, its resolution is complete and there is only the residual living yet to realize this finality. Know this: you have my word that this process will be protected through my grace which is a divine gift from our Father that I share with you now. I wish no distress or torture upon you or anyone, even those you may deem as the most heinous and deserving of persecution. Remember that I told you and proclaim now that all your judgements against yourself and your brothers and sisters are shackles which keep you in a prison of darkness of your own making. These judgements, preferable, undesirable, and delusional, block the Love given freely to you and everyone. They have no use outside of this world and only keep you apart from our true home.
Let’s end by saying a new prayer.
Be together among all of us now In our hearts we reach out to you Father Please hear our humble words, kneeling in devotion I acknowledge and accept your divine forgiveness today given freely to all Please help me to share it with all of my brothers and sisters now and forever
I don’t like an unattainable goal. Yet this explains CY22 Q1 OBJ4 KR2 which calls for a clear plan due in a month for a deliverable 4 months away which I originally estimated to be 10 months away. That being said, perhaps it could be done sooner and I will do my best. In service we must sometimes put our own opinions aside and allow for others to take the lead. This is the way we work together. Urgency need not be implied, but an unrealistic deadline may perhaps accelerate the delivery of a project even if the time slips. I will do my best.
The following I believe to be a teaching from my inner guru:
On communication; practice deep listening and respond clearly explaining what was heard. If each party practices this, deep understanding between others can be reached. You may find it necessary to repeat this process as the mind has a tendency to wander. Try to remain aware and above dullness. By practicing deep listening, thoughtful responding, and compassion, we can heal separations that were once thought insurmountable. Imagine a thread of love without beginning or end flowing through these interactions. This is the way we move forward, stepping through instances of true connection.
The other element that must be present during communication is forgiveness, first for oneself and secondly for all others. We need not understand the context of what needs to be forgiven by the ego mind, just remember, we all understand the form of unlovingness; it is this cause that rests at the root of all effects of aversion and none of us is unstained by the aftermath. Know that I have forgiven everything, in a flash of an instant after the entirety of these experiences were conceived; as will you. Do not doubt you will be welcomed home to reside in peace with me the moment you accept and give forward the forgiveness that has been laid upon the table for all eternity. All of your brothers and sisters share this gift with you in boundless abundance, not one left behind.
By combining boundless forgiveness, remaining aware, intently listening and responding with thoughtful validation between two or more beings practicing this same method, amazing things can be accomplished and the journey homeward will quicken through halls of sympathetic joy so profound that you will long for nothing else. Believe this is in me and in you and we will rest in the joyful heart from which we sprang.
Whether you are me or you are something greater than this humble form, I have a desire to connect with you. Whether this is just a replaying of the books I have read or the lectures I have listened to or it is a connection with a teacher beyond my knowledge or abilities, I have a desire to impart your wisdom. Although I face potential embarrassment and unwanted scrutiny for sharing this with others, I will do so with the understanding that not writing and not sharing will only lead to nothing being conveyed. So it is better to be embarrassed and be thought a fool or charlatan than to remain silent and not share what might possibly be of value. I will do my best to honor what I perceive is said. I will do my best to protect the writings but will not claim them as solely my own, just what I perceived was to be said.
The following I believe to be a teaching from my inner guru:
Do as you will with this for I cannot assert even the slightest control over what will come from it. I simply love you. It is important to state that this love is of no more or less than the love provided to any of your brothers or sisters. This is not a special relationship; you have not been chosen to be heralded in any special way. It is simply what I make available in your heart and what you agree to convey to others that guides your actions. It is important to note that this process does not prevent your human ego from interfering in surreptitious and unsuspecting ways. These words must carry with them the same disclaimer of everything that remains with this world, they are impermanent and prone to chaos. If together we can “point a finger at the moon” that may be of use to someone then this is an exercise that is not in vain. There is no method or practice in this world that will be useful to everyone. Each must have their own “path” as the mechanisms of variance in the implementation of this world ensure that everyone walks a road they believe to be less traveled. The truth is that there is no road or path and that the Love shared with all of us is only a realization away.
Be still and relax, know that I am with you joyfully in this moment. There is no greater wish than I would have for us to be together in a collaboration of enlightening others and this same wish and offer I hold true for each of your brothers and sisters. I simply will not take a position of favor among any of you for to do so leads to the imprisonment of the mind in a state of separateness and preference. As hard as it may seem to believe that your likes and dislikes are holding you captive, know now that I tell you they are. I would have for you freedom from this circus of special affairs. I believe you wish for it, but you still cling to this world, as a father and enjoyer of worldly experiences. I do not pass judgment on you now or ever for this. Know that the cause of this calamity is far removed from the effects that you experience in your current time.
We have reached a point in our dealings where I may now reveal to you what is only known to those willing to come this far with me. Know now that you may not believe me nor may future readers when I say that this world has been forgotten. Do not construe this to mean that you are not loved and safe in the heart of our Father together with me as are all of your brothers and sisters. Simply know that the cause put forward that led to the creation of this divine experience has been resolved in the mind of the consciousness that bore it into existence. Do not fret that the rug will suddenly be pulled out from under you. You may stay, enjoy, learn, love, and laugh in this world for as long as you like. In the grand scheme of its creation, its resolution is complete and there is only the residual living yet to realize this finality. Know this: you have my word that this process will be protected through my grace which is a divine gift from our Father that I share with you now. I wish no distress or torture upon you or anyone, even those you may deem as the most heinous and deserving of persecution. Remember that I told you and proclaim now that all your judgements against yourself and your brothers and sisters are shackles which keep you in a prison of darkness of your own making. These judgements, preferable, undesirable, and delusional, block the Love given freely to you and everyone. They have no use outside of this world and only keep you apart from our true home.
Let’s end by saying a new prayer.
Be together among all of us now In our hearts we reach out to you Father Please hear our humble words, kneeling in devotion I acknowledge and accept your divine forgiveness today given freely to all Please help me to share it with all of my brothers and sisters now and forever Amen
I wish things could be different here and that we didn’t have to respond to attacks with counter attacks. It seems endless and pointless.
The following I believe to be a teaching from my inner guru:
On the topic of attack, please know that you are loved and that I have no desire to see you subjected to violence of any kind. It is the nature of your cognitive mind to defend itself. Listen only to the sound of silence and you will see things for what they are. Don’t be afraid of the attacks that spring forth from the illusion of the human mind. This pattern of conflict is repeated in increasing degree throughout all manifestations of matter in your observable world. Examine very small events and you will see conflict at play. Examine large celestial occurrences and you will see demonstrations of the same forces in conflict. Why would you believe that the arising of biological life under these conditions would be immune to the attributes of the underlying forces from which they sprang? Conflict and separation rests at the core of the world in which your physical form resides.
There is a way to escape this struggle. In stillness you will access a place where conflict does not exist. Remain still in comfort and breathe; quiet the thinking mind and respond only to its protestations with loving kindness and compassion. Just as the body digests food so the mind will think it’s thoughts; if we do not respond to them they become only thoughts with no attachment to identity and thus have no effect on self. Celebrate your return to breath and awareness without thought. Remain still for as long as possible, once the mind is quieted bring forth an image of a being at peace and focus on this. Imagine this being is hopelessly in love with everything in existence. This means beyond any hope of a love that is more powerful; an immeasurable love. Imagine this being radiating boundless compassion for everyone and everything. A being with a capacity for forgiveness that is beyond any measure. Imagine this being sharing an eternal joy filled with loving laughter and a knowing sense of oneness. Imagine this being completely at peace, fully acceptant of everything that is here now. Completely desireless and without aversion, doubt, agitation or apathy. Say yes to this moment completely and thoroughly and join with this being in the light of true existence. Know that I am and we are one. The first step in this journey is only a breath away.
The following I believe to be a teaching from my inner guru:
Let’s search for common ground when communicating with others. Pointing out fallacies alone will not assist in reaching your audience. When we seek to bring each other together, we bear fruit in beautiful and unsuspecting ways. When we seek to attack our brothers and sisters, we only divide one another into camps and turn friends into foes. A simple smile, a loving gesture, and a quiet and compassionate voice is a respite from a world that has learned to defend and attack; violence is the ego’s only mode of operation as it struggles to remain separate and special.
The origin of this world started with an idea. That idea was a thought of separateness for the purpose of maximizing received love. The concept of worthiness is a direct result of this cause and has led us to believe that we are falling short of this goal. In fact, the ego will never attain full “worthiness” as to do so, would immediately result in the need for new and greater worth to be defined. It is an ongoing quest for a peak that can never be reached and provides only the occasional plateau on which to rest prior to repeating the cycle of dissatisfaction and continuation of the struggle.
There is another way, a different way to view this world. It will require one to look within and find the stillness that is aware and knows without need for thinking. In this place of peace you will find these attributes:
A universal Love without boundary or measure
Compassion without judgment and no requiring factors
A sympathetic Joy to be shared with all your brothers and sisters without reservation
An acceptance of every being and all things as they are in this moment Equally and without preference
These are known in your world as the divine attributes and they stem forth from conscious awareness. They are available to you when the attacking mind can be humbled and quieted. Make an effort to do this and you will know peace. When troubled, ask for your mind to be healed from its fear, guilt, and shame. With some persistence and patience your prayers will be answered. Don’t give up on your desire to realize peace, I will remain there for you always.
Zen Momentum 