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Nicely put. This is similar to the idea of "support", of choosing our path based in part on how others and the world are responding to our actions. Is the way supported? Is it going (relatively) smoothly? Or are there road-blocks? If there are blocks, are they a signal to seek a different route? Or are they places we need to work through so support can flow? What is the feel or flavour of the block? Life has a flow to it. If we can step into the flow of life, we'll find surprising support shows up to help us progress in all areas of life.

Beautiful, Afton! From my experience, I would add that our consciousness, souls, and selves are subtly different things. If we can let go of those little selves, allow them to shatter, we will fall back into our souls, our pure consciousness, our essential being. We would indeed then be without burden but we would continue in our infinite, eternal nature. We would fulfill your vision, and more. Thank you for sharing.

Well said. However, there's a bit of an implied contradiction between two and three. As you mention, it's the mind's nature to be thinking thoughts. By "dropping thought", I don't think you intend to imply try to stop thinking. Instead, it's dropping the attachment to the babble. As you then mention "unhook, unhook..." Then it aligns with three. Not knowing is really about softening the minds need to know, to feel in control. This is an effect of the identified ego. It knows it's not in charge but wants to give us the illusion that it is. That way, it can maintain it's position. When clarity arises, it can even try to thwart that so it doesn't lose it's position. I'd suggest there's also a 4th. The Yoga Sutra tells us the key is samadhi. (transcendence, turiya) By going beyond the mind, we touch into presence. Plus the deep rest allows purification. This is the key for culturing presence, on which the three above depend. For samadhi, I recommend an effortless meditation.

Quite enjoyed this article. I would not say our thoughts create the ego. Rather it is identification with our sense of individuality that creates the "I" sense ( which forms naturally in the process of separation from mother). That then drives the self-interest and mental narratives which in turn reinforce the ego. When we awaken to our true nature, that identification breaks. Then all the narratives fall away and we begin to see the world much more as it is. Then we can have a much more harmonious relationship with the world and those around us. I agree that, in a sense, we create our own world. But it's not a separate world the same way, except in certain cases of mental illness. Rather, it's something of a shared narrative that overlaps a lot with others.

Blessings for his seeing through and following you out. It's difficult when self-destruction is seen as autonomy. Bravo that you found a way to sit with that.

One of the things about the current time is that consciousness is rising. What this is doing collectively is pushing what is unhealed to the surface for resolution. But because most people don't understand this and how to release, they sit in fear or anxiety or worse, they act out their discomfort. Key is allowing whatever is arising to be there so it can be felt and resolved. Not taking it personally or giving it special weight or resisting the experience, but simply allowing it to be there. Then we can move through it quickly and help the collective.

Wonderful. For awhile, I carried a small round rock around in my pocket. When I noticed it there, I thought of something different to be grateful for. In time, it shifted the whole tone of my attention. I dwelled on more positive things naturally. Life got easier and smoother. And things opened up within.

Love this and quite agree. We have to filter for relevance but so often, those filters get distorted by past misperceptions and such. The heavier we filter, the greater the distortion. As Blake told us, we should cleanse the doors of perception so we can see what is here more clearly. Often, this clear view is more enjoyable and uplifting, unconstrained by our past fears. One minor quibble - our memory space is not limited. But our processing capacity is. Especially when we have excess filters. Shedding the surplus narratives makes many things so much simpler...