The Wayfarer's Guide to Troubling Shooting Life: Part 2– Finding Sense
Look! Shiny
Why Are We So Intrigued By Transience?
Our collective fascination seems to be fixated on the world around us and the fleeting artifacts we create.
The allure of all shiny objects fades with time. Perhaps one day, when we sense the earth has had enough of our presence, we might erect a museum on the moon to chronicle our human legacy. The ‘Museum of Human History’, it might be called, serving as a testament for any intergalactic traveler who stumbles upon our planet and wonders about its previous inhabitants. This museum might house a plethora of artifacts — however, the one thing this museum would notably lack is a living human.
This, too, shall pass. But do we truly comprehend the destructive nature of attachment when it comes to the health of our relationships? Or are we still captivated by the magic trick, trying to decipher its mechanics? We’re aware it’s an illusion; we know we’re being tricked — which might be part of the appeal — but isn’t it fair for someone in the audience to stand up and say, “Y’all realize this isn’t real… right?”
Why do we obsess over the external world when we’ve barely begun to unravel the mysteries of our internal universe? I think I inadvertently answered my own question, but I’ll refrain from chiming in until the end… don’t want to spoil the magic trick. But the internal world has just as many trappings as the external world. We’ve dedicated entire sections of our mind’s library to the past: to nostalgia, to trauma, to that one chapter we all have, to a section fondly labeled ‘The World of Tomorrow’. These, too, are shiny objects. We’re caught in their allure, hook, line, and reefer.
Our mental lives, no matter how peaceful or chaotic, have a stranglehold on our attention. We find ourselves possessed by our possessions. A thought can become a possession, as can a belief. Are you starting to see how our inner world mirrors our external one? We’re like fish enticed by the glittering lure. But, unlike the fish that immediately realizes its mistake upon biting the bait, we remain unaware. We don’t realize we’re watching a magic show.
Act quickly! Close your eyes before you too get hooked. These aren’t the droids you’re looking for. It appears to make sense, but look closer… it’s nonsense.
Step Right up!
You’re the Next Contestant On the Price is Right!
But what, precisely, is the cost we’re paying for these distractions, Mr. Barker?
We often find ourselves tangled in the threads of our past, caught in our personal narratives that seem to endlessly resurrect themselves, as if we are perpetually dating the same person, just with a different face. Now that’s a magic trick to behold. And there we sit, disheartened and bewildered, questioning why this is happening… yet again.
What’s truly required is the nurturing of awareness to such a degree that wisdom can function autonomously from the illusion. Once this occurs, the weights of the past naturally drop away, paving the way for a state of neutrality. A new existence emerges where wisdom takes center stage. The impersonal self — free from ego and the compulsion to narrate stories — steps forward, enabling our liberation from the mental confines that once held us captive.
Abracadabra! The illusionist is revealed, the magic trick is unmasked. Now, surely, we can all share a hearty laugh and engage in a lively lobby discussion. Right? However, some prefer to remain within the illusion, whether it brings fear or pleasure. The Known, even if a delusion, is often deemed safer than venturing into the Unknown.
What will happen when I discover it’s all a magic trick? Will I still find enjoyment? Will the mystery still captivate me? Will I continue to be… entertained?
Perhaps. But one thing is certain… you will move on. And that’s a profound realization worth holding onto. It makes a whole lotta sense.
The Great Escape
Becoming Your Own Houdini
Cultivating awareness requires practice and effort, along with correct knowledge. Essentially, the task is simple: sit quietly and attentively observe what’s happening within your mind and body right at this moment, without any interference. This demands discipline.
We should aim to watch and understand the emergence, existence, and fading of our thoughts, feelings, images, and inner narratives. This is nature’s cycle, displaying the principle of impermanence. We’ll realize we cannot control this cycle.
Any desire for things to remain constant, or for things to disappear, will only generate suffering.
An education in this awareness comes from within our own mind-body framework. By observing the body and mind, we develop present-moment awareness, appreciating things as they truly are, not as we wish or fear them to be. Try to penetrate beyond the surface of events to grasp their deeper significance.
Certainly, a regular practice of meditation, particularly vipassana or ‘insight meditation,’ which teaches us to see things as they truly are, can be very helpful. This practice offers an opportunity to delve deeper into your mind and body, unveiling the subtle attachments we have forged.
True meditation, however, doesn’t require effort or a specific intention to transform into a better person, or to attain some high spiritual state or manifestation ability. The real value lies in unmasking the mysteries of your own mind-body mechanism and understanding the natural law that governs it.
As we continue to observe the transition of day into night and night into day, we’ll see the universal truth of all physical life: things arise, linger, fade, and diminish.
Recognizing nature’s law of impermanence clearly will hasten the process of detachment and alleviate suffering. That shiny lure is not your friend! This insight leads us to understand the true nature of the living moment.
Isn’t it a universal plea that we all want to be embraced? “Inclusion!” we shout out! Yet again, we look to the world, to each other, seeking acceptance. But are we including ourselves? We often raise alarms of injustice, and at times our grievances are not unfounded, but let’s get to the heart of the matter. If we aren’t willing to accept and integrate ourselves into life, why seek validation from others when we haven’t yet granted it to ourselves? Yes, close your eyes… be still… wait for it… wisdom rising.
In the end, present-moment awareness or meditation isn’t about avoiding anything that arises in the moment, but staying awake and aware of what IS. This allows the right action to naturally unfold.
We are, in essence, inner scientists, with the body and mind being the fields of our study.
That makes a lot of sense.
Final Findings
Over to You, Dear Reader
The questions posed are universal in nature, but they are personal ones, open to introspection:
Is nonsense, Evil? Are we unwilling to see the shiny illusion for what it is?
Is sense, Nonsense? Are we the magician bedazzling ourselves with our own tricks?
Is sense, Self? Have we learned to be in the illusion, but not of it.
To be honest, I don’t have a clear-cut answer. But I do want to leave you with something, so I’ll let the title of another book, this one by Nisargadatta Maharaj, be my voice: I AM THAT.
If liked what you’ve read, be sure to look for The Wayfarer’s Guide to Troubleshooting Life: Part 3. Finding Self.
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