Comments on: Questioning What We’re Supposed to Feel

By: Fabian | The Friendly Anarchist

Fabian | The Friendly Anarchist — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:56:24 +0000

True words. I wrote about "knowing who you are" right at the beginning of FA, and you’re right that this answer never really is clear enough. BUT what I notice is that it is mostly clear what you are NOT. So if I find myself spending time on stuff that doesn’t really matter too much, although I won’t have an answer to the question "Who are you?", I certainly know I am NOT the guy spending hours reading about productivity hacks online. In this sense, "looking inside" helps a lot, even though it may not be clear what we see! .-= Fabian | The Friendly Anarchist´s last blog ..How to Live Life at Your Own Pace: An Introduction =-.

By: Nate

Nate — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:45:28 +0000

That’s just it Fabian. Most of us think we know who we are, but we don’t, right? Instead of looking ‘out there’ for answers or finding solutions, I’m suggesting that it might be more beneficial to start looking within. Start questioning the thoughts. Where do they come from? Are we really the thoughts, or are we separate from that? Can we accept that we might not actually know who we really are? Strip away your body, all the labels (name, religion, nationality, etc.), and even your thoughts and beliefs. What’s left? It’s certainly not nothing.

By: Fabian | The Friendly Anarchist

Fabian | The Friendly Anarchist — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:00:25 +0000

So the thing would be to keep moving comfortably without knowing who we are, or not? If so, it’s a hard thing to do, but probably also our only option in many cases… because, as you write, just labeling yourself will never really do it. There is just ONE of you… .-= Fabian | The Friendly Anarchist´s last blog ..Blogging in Tempo Giusto =-.

By: Nate

Nate — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:16:01 +0000

Marguerite – Thanks so much for stopping by! Yes, I agree and it’s part of the reason I took up this practice. I’ve spent years focusing on ‘outside’ factors (not necessarily bad), however, I’ve done little in reflecting inward…examining my thoughts and such. I’m now starting to ask the question ‘Who am I?’ ‘What is my true intention?’ Not easy questions to answer, but ones that are definitely worth pondering.

By: Marguerite Manteau-Rao

Marguerite Manteau-Rao — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:49:36 +0000

Thanks Nate. The answer to all of your questions is very simple, at least in my mind. Mindfulness. The more we become adept at mindfulness, the more we become aware of our habitual mind’s thoughts, and the more we can bypass it, going straight to place of bare awareness, where real insight can take place. This is one of the compelling reasons, for committing to hard work of sustained mindfulness, and setting in place all favorable conditions for it to unfold.

It is such a joy to witness your journey! Thank you for sharing it so freely.

With much metta,

marguerite
.-= Marguerite Manteau-Rao´s last blog ..Unruly Mind and Self-Discipline =-.