Observe the self

Everybody has their own bubbles and some people are so wrapped up in their bubbles, they can't get out.  The condition is called "bubble wrap."  They believe they are their bubbles. In other words, they think they are their feelings, thoughts, values, symptoms, behavior and body.

To go beyond this thinking and become enlightened of the fact that you are none of those things is to think nothing of thoughts. Don't take your thoughts seriously. Allowing all of that stuff to pass by and not be attached is to live in a world without worry, anxiety, desires, depression, distress, apprehension and all the other physiological and psychological phenomena that is usually accepted as part of life.  If you don't wake up from this endemic unawareness and self-absorption you can very easily end up like 99% of all the other people on this planet, blinded by your own mercurial thoughts, living your entire life not knowing the true nature of the Self. What a pity that would be.

Is there a magic pill for getting out of this horror show?  Yes there is. It's called meditation and mindfulness. Meditation is the ability to sit quietly and view one's thoughts. Just observe them without getting caught up in their antics. If you sit down to meditate and a thought comes up such as, "Oh, I better go call Mom before I forget," and you get up; you just got caught up in the antics of the thought. Thoughts are very, very tricky. Watch out for their antics.

You can do the same thing with the body. Meditate on it. Sit or lie down and simply feel the whole, entire body - its aches, pains, sounds, pulses, energy and whatever else it might exude. When you begin to notice your thoughts quieting and settling down into calming silence, begin mindful inquiry by dropping this question into the silence. . . "Who is doing the observing?"  Notice what answer comes to you. Continue to be in the silence and when you are ready, ask the question again. . . "Who is doing the observing?"  Sit in silence and continue to listen. Be in the silence and softly repeat the question two or three more times.  This is the healing power of mindfulness.

On the next post I will discuss the Teacher Within.