thoughts for Contemplation

So often esoteric thought follows two distinct patterns: one of duality in which the apparent Outer World appears to exist in pairs of opposites, and non-duality which focuses on a transcendent perception in which all that is, is One.

But, what is all boils down to is your perspective; the boundaries that define how you want to see the world around you. We know this is true because a consciously-aware person will see the world one way and then smoke some pot or take a mood-altering prescription drug and experience a totally different perspective. So, what changed? What altered the person's perspective? It's all in the mind.

People often wait for something or someone to alter their perspective instead of taking charge of this decision and initiating the change by oneself.  This passive approach is more apparent when a person just accepts "what is" even if he/she is not wanting to stay in this state of being. But, it takes effort to change your perspective and it is easier to leave the changing to others. It is far easier to be passive and accepting of where you are in life at this very moment.

If you see duality as your reality, then you are seeing the present moment in relationship to some other time that is not in existence at this time....except in your mind. Your conditioned mind may tell you that you deserve better, or more...or different. You will feel hopeless or fearful or angry...all feelings that destabilize our internal ability to sit quietly and really realize that "I don't know what ought to be." You can meditate or do some exercise to involve yourself in a project so you distract yourself away from these uncomfortable feelings. Doing so, will make them disappear from your conscious mind, but your fears/hopes/dreams  will still be wandering around in the lower levels of your consciousness. These unresolved issues will the themes of your dreams and nightmares. They will become the imbalance in your physical body that plagues you as a headache or pain in the back.

You will begin to wonder what is wrong with me?

And then, you will go looking for answers: a new perspective. This is when you run into the concept of non-duality: seeing everything as one. You realize there is no one single source of your aches and pains, your mental anguish...it is all rolled into one.....as you in your present moment of being.

When you get to this place of Oneness, there is no place to go, no place to be that is better than where you are right now. You realize you are an invited guest here on this planet, and you may as well watch what is happening and stay present with "what is" so you can respond with gratitude towards the experience you are having because you know it's going to change. You are just on the wave of being in the Time/Space Continuum that was in motion before you arrived and it will continue to flow no matter what you do or how you try to influence IT. 

The way to relieve your restless, angry, disappointed perspective on Life is to let go. Quit trying to control what you can't control. Step back and watch Life unfold. If you hear it, follow your Inner Voice. Then, you will see Life in its wholeness as the macro-organic experience it is, and also in its micro-organic experience which it also is. 

Once you see both as projected illusions of your mind upon the Absolute Reality, you may decide to sit down some where in a safe place and empty your mind of all thought. Then, you will know peace.

OM Shanti

Melinda