We all carry in our heads assumptions about how things are, how the world works etc. The assumptions we have does have its uses... we live with more certainty and conviction with them than we would live without them.
It takes courage to put your assumptions to the test because that would mean questioning the foundations of certainty that you rely so heavily on.
But don't mistake interpreting the courage I've written here with some kind of heroic quality that you need to possess or you need to build up in order to move to the next step and see the truth.
Rather the courage I'm talking about here is more like giving yourself a break from thinking/feeling in the same way and trying to approach things with a blank slate.
You're not to discard your previous assumptions and adopt new ones... that's not what it's about.
You're to just stop being dependent on assumptions. No more living off of assumptions, but only on what's real.
Be willing to see the world with fresh eyes.. even if for a moment.
That's what every man of wisdom has been trying to say since time immemorial... that although your knowledge is all well and good and helps you to carry on with your life, unless you become like children again... someone who's not prejudiced, someone who's willing to see things with a clean slate, you'll not be able to find the truth and the true joy in life.
It requires that you be willing to give up your cherished beliefs to come to the truth....
Now I'm not saying that you need to go through certain action steps or you need to live life a certain way before you're ELIGIBLE to see the truth.
That's bullshit.
You're ELIGIBLE to see the truth right now... all you need to remember is, that it's not a fight for which belief/assumption wins... you just need to see things as if you're seeing them for the first time without having any idea about what it is, how it is and how it should be... that's it.
It takes courage to test the assumption of having a self and seeing if it's real or not.
It takes courage to step off your routine path for a second.
Remember, you can always go back and take up your cherished beliefs, they're not going anywhere... but don't be so stubborn that you're not willing to take a peek into something just because you're not allowed to carry everything you own (your assumptions) with yourself.
One of the quotes that I really found interesting was by L Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, now although I've not heard many positive things about Scientology, the following quote does convey something meaningful regardless of its source.
Remember, you can always go back and take up your cherished beliefs, they're not going anywhere... but don't be so stubborn that you're not willing to take a peek into something just because you're not allowed to carry everything you own (your assumptions) with yourself.
One of the quotes that I really found interesting was by L Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, now although I've not heard many positive things about Scientology, the following quote does convey something meaningful regardless of its source.
"There is a condition worse than blindness, and that is, seeing something that isn't there."
- L Ron Hubbard
Not seeing something isn't the worse condition, but seeing something never existed, is.
This is how the assumption of a 'self' comes across.... it's an assumption of the existence of something that never existed.... it can be a little bit confusing, but once you see the truth of it, you'll see how simple it is.
Hope this helped a bit.... if you've any queries and would like my help for anything please don't hesitate to put on a comment below or reach me via twitter at twitter.com/RTMaverick.
Until next time,
Mav
