Hurt feelings or discomfort of any kind cannot be caused by another person. No one outside you can hurt you. That’s not possible. Only when you believe a story about them can you be hurt. So you’re the one who’s hurting yourself. This is very good news, because it means that you don’t have to get someone else to stop hurting you or to change in any way. You’re the one who can stop hurting you. You’re the only one.
You can argue with reality all you want, or you can stop arguing long enough to understand it and be free.
Inquiry doesn’t have a motive. It doesn’t teach a philosophy. It’s just investigation.
That’s what inquiry is for, to break through stressful mythology. These.
This is true freedom: a mind that is no longer deceived by itself. Ruth:.
As long as you think that the cause of your problem is “out there” – as long as you think that anyone or anything else is responsible for your suffering – the situation is hopeless. It.
Your story is your identity, and you’d do almost anything to prove that it’s true. Inquiry into self is the only thing that has the power to penetrate such ancient concepts. Even.
He is just like everyone else, except that he no longer believes that in this moment things should be different than they are. Therefore in all circumstances he remains at ease in the world, is efficient without the slightest effort, keeps his lightness of heart whatever happens, and, without intending to, acts with kindness toward himself and everyone else. He is who you are once you meet your mind with understanding.
And that goes not only for mothers but for every human being you haven’t forgiven yet. Every human being, every cat, dog, tree, thing – to be separate from anyone or anything goes against your heart. The only time those people or things are not okay is when you believe they’re not.
To make amends” means to right the perceived wrong. What I call “living amends” is more far-reaching. It applies not only to one particular incident but to all future incidents of that kind.
Reality doesn’t wait for our agreement or approval. It is what it is. You can count on it. Gary:.
If I believe I need something I don’t have I’m insane.
Nothing external can disturb us. We suffer only when we want things to be different from what they are.
Whatever happens is the best thing that could happen.
Whatever you get is what you need.
If you are living your life and I am mentally living your life, who is here living mine? We’re both over there. Being mentally in your business keeps me from being present in my own. I am separate from myself, wondering why my life doesn’t work.
The basic realization that other people can’t possibly be your problem, that it’s your thoughts about them that are the problem – this realization is huge. This one insight will shake your whole world, from top to bottom.
The irony is that the struggle to win love and approval makes it very difficult to experience them. Chronic.
When I listened within myself I saw that the world is what it is – nothing more, nothing less. Where reality is concerned, there is no “what should be.” There is only what is, just the way it is, right now. The truth is prior to every story. And every story, prior to investigation, prevents us from seeing what’s true.
Atheist, agnostic, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, pagan – we all have one thing in common: we want happiness and peace.