Start Here Part I: Inner Space

8/3/2019 Start Here Part I: Inner Space

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Start Here

This book is dedicated to all the variousgraduating classes of 2011. Schools are bynature programmed, predictable and sheltered

environments. Now, as you enter the realworld, you will be faced with many options ofhow to perceive society and your place in it. Inactuality, it really just boils down to oneoverriding choice: Will you let love define yourworld and influence your actions, or fear?

The eyes of fear want you to put bigger lockson your doors, buy guns, close yourselvesoff. The eyes of love, instead, see all of usas one. Here's what you can do to changethe world, right now, to a better ride. Take allthat money that we spend on weapons anddefense each year, and instead spend itfeeding, clothing and educating the poor ofthe world, which it would many times over,not one human being excluded, and wecould explore space, together, both innerand outer, forever, in peace. - Bill Hicks

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Table of Contents

I. Introduction 4II. A Prison For Your Mind 7III. Dissatisfaction 10IV. Cultural Insecurity 14V. Impermanence and Attachment 17VI. Entitlement 22VII. Judgment of Self and Others 24VIII. Personality and Ego 26IX. Becoming Mindful of the

Thought Process 32X. Death of the Ego 43XI. Being in the Moment 51XII. Creating Your Reality 55XIII. Energies 60XIV. Dream Consciousness 68XV. Legal and Illegal Drugs 73XVI. Naturally Occurring Psychedelics 76XVII. Marijuana 89XVIII. Beauty and Art 95XIX. Religion vs. Spirituality 97XX. Controlling People With

Organized Religion 106

XXI. Mortality 110

Preview of Part II: Outer Space 113Chapter I: Understanding Energy

And Peak Oil


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Introduction

Perhaps you are a Seeker.

Seekers often feel empty and unfulfilledwhen existing in a world of underlying fear,routine and consumption. They are disillusionedwith the models of success and achievementthat have been promoted by Western society. Inthis age of uncertainty, many younger Seekersmay wonder if they will ever feel the peace or

security of their parents' generation. In the backof their minds, Seekers feel that there is somegreater purpose to their existence; somethingthat has been forgotten or lost in our culture thatis keeping us all from realizing our spiritualconnectedness and personal inner peace.

The spiritual journey of the Seeker must,by necessity, require the individual to ventureinto unfamiliar territory. The path is different foreveryone, but various life experiences will leadSeekers to open their eyes to the greaterworkings of the world, at least for fleeting

moments.

Some people will learn to keep their eyesopen. The walls of their egos will dissolve.They will discover how to objectively think forthemselves and draw their own conclusions

about all aspects of their reality. Before long,they will become active participants in thecreation of their own reality, rather than beingvictims of circumstance. This is easier said thandone, and requires a great deal of strength and


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integrity.

The journey itself is framed by a string ofrevelations that go straight from the heart to thehead. One of the most important of these

revelations can be encouraged by studying theillustration on the cover of this book.

When you look at it, what do you see?

Is it a man or a woman? Is the persondying, being consumed by the fire? Are they

being born, rising up from the flames? What isthe artists intention? What do the peoplearound you think? What does it all mean?

There is no correct answer. Whatevermeaning you are taking from the artwork, you

are creating for yourself. The artists intention ismere trivia, as are the opinions of those aroundyou.

You are solely in charge of your perceptionand interpretation of the world around you at alltimes. Understanding this fact forces you to

take responsibility for your own reality. You canno longer pretend to be a victim. Things will nothappen to you anymore, you will happen tothings. A Seeker who understands this crucialprinciple is already well on their way to findinginner peace and happiness.

The title of the book is also worth a closerinspection. To Seekers who are just beginningtheir journey, the title can be taken at facevalue. Just Start Here. Even if you find that


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you disagree with every philosophical conceptpresented herein, it is as good of a place to startthe conversation as any. If you find anythingoffensive, it is worth asking yourself, WHY? Youmay discover more, questioning an idea, thansomeone who read the text and has agreed withit. This book does not claim to have all theanswers its intention is to stimulate thoughtsand arguments in an ongoing search for truths.

For Seekers who are farther down theirrespective paths, the title takes on an all-

together different meaning. At some point, youwill have had a moment of clarity. It is a mentalstate without ego. In that moment, you feelbalanced, at peace, and connected to theenergies around you that make up your world. Ifyou are at a place in your journey where youunderstand your ability to recreate that pastperception of reality in any present moment, thetitle serves as a reminder to always consciouslyStart Here, if you find that you have slippedback into negative patterns.

This is version 1.0 of this book. You are

encouraged to visit the website, where eachindividual chapter awaits your comments andcontributions. The intention is to constantly beupdating and rereleasing this book as anongoing collaborative project. Whether youagree or disagree with the ideas presented here,your input is extremely valuable. Go tohttp://startherefreebook.blogspot.com/ to getstarted!


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A Prison For Your Mind

Morpheus: Let me tell you why you're here.You're here because you know something.What you know you can't explain, but you feelit. You've felt it your entire life, that there'ssomething wrong with the world. You don'tknow what it is, but it 's there, like a splinterin your mind, driving you mad. It is thisfeeling that has brought you to me. Do youknow what I 'm talking about? Neo: The Matrix. Morpheus: Do you want to know what it is? Neo: Yes. Morpheus: The Matrix is everywhere. It is allaround us. Even now, in this very room. Youcan see it when you look out your window orwhen you turn on your television. You canfeel it when you go to work.. . when you go tochurch... when you pay your taxes. It is theworld that has been pulled over your eyes toblind you from the truth. Neo: What truth? Morpheus: That you are a slave, Neo. Likeeveryone else you were born into bondage.Into a prison that you cannot taste or see ortouch. A prison for your mind. - The Matrix

In order to see beyond the prison for yourmind, you must first be conscious that you are ina prison - that your mind has never been entirelyfreed for whatever reason.

We are all raised in a culture that seemsvery normal to us most of the time. Not


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everyone feels the need to look for possibilitiesthat might exist outside of that box for findinghappiness or meaning. Some people may neversee the bars of their cages. For many who havefound success in the accepted system for manyyears, their routine seems stable and providesthem at least some of the opportunities theydesire. Many people are perfectly happy withthings staying the way they are. But what ifthings do not stay the same? What if the agreedupon reality was challenged or provenunsustainable? What would happen to their

happiness? What about the happiness ofpeople who haven't had traditionally easy orsuccessful lives?

The type of happiness and peace that isfound outside the prison of the mind isUNCONDITIONAL. It humbly arises from withinand is an endless source of strength, positiveenergy and love for all those around you. It isan existence that is mindful of the energies ofthe world. It is infinite and immortal. This stateof happiness is not dependent upon any desiresbeing met and is free from anger or worry.

Some have called it enlightenment, but thecondition is yours to name and understand inyour own terms. The path requires you toreevaluate your self image and your perceivedvalues. It involves taking responsibility not justfor your actions, but also for your habitualfeelings and your own personal patterns. All ofyour attachments, even to your own life, must bequestioned along the journey.

Seekers begin their journey at the point in


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their lives when they can start to see the barsand the boundaries of their mental cage. Thenext step is the realization that the prison has adoor, which is always unlocked and open. Theonly thing that keeps a person inside theirmental cage is a guard who blocks thedoorway. It is a classic case of schizophrenia -you are both the guard and the prisoner. This isthe source of some of life's greatest frustrations.The guard has as much power as you choose togive him. The guard is judgmental, loud andcritical. Most of all, he is afraid. He blocks the

doorway and offers thousands of excuses as towhy it is not a good idea to journey outside thecage:

You might not meet the expectations of yourfriends, family, or peers in society. It is easier toprocrastinate. It will require too much hard workand dedication. You might lose sight of who youare in the process.

The guard can not be overpowered. Hemust be reasoned with. At some point in thisprocess, you may be ready to take the next

step. Your internal argument will havedissipated and everything boils down to just onelast question. Do you believe that life outsidethe cage will be better or more rewarding thanstaying inside? If you have truly conquered yourfear and judgment, then your guard will nolonger have any power over you. Only then youcan look inside and answer this question foryourself honestly. If your answer is anunqualified yes, it is time to move forward.


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Dissatisfaction

Tyler: I see all this potential, and I seesquandering. God damn it , an entiregeneration pumping gas, waiting tables;slaves with white collars. Advertising has uschasing cars and clothes, working jobs wehate so we can buy shit we don't need. We'rethe middle children of history, man. Nopurpose or place. We have no Great War. NoGreat Depression. Our Great War's a spiritualwar... our Great Depression is our lives.We've all been raised on television to believethat one day we'd all be millionaires, andmovie gods, and rock stars. But we won't.And we're slowly learning that fact. And we'revery, very pissed off. Fight Club

Why do people find it so hard to besatisfied? Why do the little successes of lifenever seem to be enough? Why do the glories

of the larger successes fade so quickly? Whenwe are living at greater levels of luxury andopportunity than any generation that has comebefore us, why do we find ourselves unhappyand bored? Why do people who considerthemselves satisfied, often live in fear of losingwhat they have?

This egotistical and ungrateful mindset isnot human nature. It arises as a manifestationof our cultural attitude. Modern Western cultureis a complicated mixture of outlooks andapproaches to life, but it can be viewed at its

core as a culture based on consumption anddriven by dissatisfaction.


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Because it goes hand in hand withconsumption, dissatisfaction has evolved in ourculture to be our default state. Feelings ofdissatisfaction directly fuel our consumption. Ifeveryone suddenly became humbled and easilysatisfied overnight, no one would feel the needto consume and participate in such a culture asours. In order to discourage such a spiritualourney, our culture implies that we are alwayssupposed to be asking ourselves what we stillwant or think we need. We are constantlyattempting to make things better for ourselves,

and things could always be better. Peopledream about increasing their finances and abilityto consume. We are never supposed to finishthis race. We are never supposed to questionthat consumption and growth is the purpose ofour species.

Certain modern cultural memes that seemobvious and commonplace to us are actuallyvery unnatural in the scope of human history.We need to consider the implications of theserelatively new human behavior choices,especially in regard to how these practices

contribute to our personal isolation in society.Feelings of separateness and inadequacy haveevolved in our culture. Like dissatisfaction, theyencourage consumption and predictability.People who feel isolated in society, away fromcommunity or tribal support, feel empoweredinstead by their consumption and personalambition.

The idea that every individual should striveto have their own house for just them (and


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sometimes their immediate family) is really just arecent development in the grand scheme ofthings. The fact that extended families are oftenseparated across the country by great distancesis also taken for granted but this is also arelatively new concept in our society thatimpacts important relationships and personalsecurity. For most of humanitys tenure on thisplanet, to split up families or tribes or to go outcompletely on ones own was unheard of. Tribalcultures of the past would be shocked by theway in which we live today and would see

clearly the detrimental aspects that such choicesbring about. Societies that are tribal in natureoffer a sort of cradle-to-grave security for itsmembers, with special bonds formed in traditionas well as a stress upon cooperation overcompetition. These days, many people don'ttrust or even know their neighbors.

Instead, fueled by dissatisfaction andisolation, people feel that they have somethingto prove. Our society provides an outlet for thisdrive. People learn at an early age that theyshould work hard, find their place in the world

and accumulate wealth and power. Many aresuccessful in reaching the goals promoted byour society. Yet a good number of these peoplestill feel that they are unhappy or that they neverhave enough. Clearly, something is still missingfrom their lives. Others, who do feel legitimatelyhappy with their current situation, would quicklyfind their lives turned upside down if they losttheir wealth or power. Sometimes, just the fearof losing ones status is enough to wreck thefalse security that successful people have


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achieved. In other words, the path to happinessthat is provided by our culture is not very secureor successful, and yet is rarely questioned.

The recognition of the inherentdissatisfaction in our culture is an important stepin personal growth. The next step is to realizethat your level of participation in our culture isyour own choice.

You do not have to identify with any of theroles or expectations that society has for you.

You may choose to ignore all advertizing andtrends. You can discipline yourself not to seekhappiness through shopping or the procurementof wealth.

Ask yourself if your personal values arereflected in a society based upon consumption.Remember that the purpose behind such aculture is not to be peaceful, fair, or sustainable.The purpose of the culture is to make money forspecific groups of people and to subjugate therest. It does not contain a true path tohappiness for all participants.


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Cultural Insecurity

A simple renunciation of consumer cultureis not going to lead to happiness, though. Manyother aspects of our culture that we take for

granted are also contributing to our collectivedepression. There is a serious vibration ofinsecurity that resonates throughout ourexperiment in civilization. Our isolation from oneanother is a very visible component of thisinsecurity, but many other contributing aspectsof our society are not as easily observed. When

one becomes aware of the reasons for theinsecurity in our collective unconscious, theresulting fears can be understood andovercome.

Most people are unaware of how fragileour way of life really is - but they can feel it.Clearly, the structure of our society is verycomplex. This gives a false illusion of security.It seems like it would be very hard for the wholeof civilization to crumble overnight. However,what appears to be a very complex system isactually extremely organized and therefore has

a great deal of fragility.

An example of a more secure systemwould be the ecosystem of a swamp. The webof life is intricately connected and adaptable in aswamp. It is complex as well, but in a differentway. It is an example of organized chaos thathas evolved over a great deal of time. Oursituation in Western Civilization resemblessomething very different: painstakinglyorganized dominoes. This system is not chaotic,


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nor did it evolve naturally. All the work thathumanity has done in order to make our societyrun smoothly, especially over the last 200 yearsor so, has actually contributed to our instability.If one domino falls - for example, if we have aserious oil supply shortage everything elsegoes down almost immediately.

Other factors that lie just out of plain sightare also contributing to our cultural insecurity.In the not too distant past, almost all technologywas transparent. You might not be able to make

your own Colt Revolver, but anyone could lookat one and have a pretty good understanding ofhow the trigger worked the levers and causedthe bullet to fire. The same goes for most of thetools or inventions of the time. You could look ata shelter and comprehend on a working levelust about every aspect of technology used in itsconstruction, maintenance and everyday use. Intoday's society, the technologies and gadgetsthat we depend upon every day - the homecomputer, climate control, the automobile - areso complicated that most people are veryunlikely to understand exactly how everything is

working. In essence, we have become slaves toour contraptions and, at the same time, feel thatthere is no way to live without them. Without useven understanding exactly why, this fact alsocontributes to our modern insecurity. We feelmore helpless than ever when we can't dependon ourselves or our own knowledge base.

We live in a time of great luxury, withoutquestion. However, the sacrifices that havebeen made to obtain this lifestyle have cost us a


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great deal of our security. In order to continueliving in a way that most Americans would callnormal, constant continued growth is required.We need continued economic growth.Continued expansion of suburbs. More foodsupplies. More credit. And all of this requires agreater consumption of energy, which in turnrequires more non-renewable resources. Forvarious reasons, people are starting to wake upnow to the fact that this type of growth isunsustainable, even on a relatively shorttimeline. For some, it was the events of 9/11 (no

matter who was behind it) that first signaled thisfragility. For others, it came when the housingbubble burst and credit dried up at the banks.No matter how the conclusion has beenreached, though, our attachment to our lifestyleneeds to be questioned. Does more luxuryreally lead to more happiness? Can one reallyfind security, peace, and comfort by putting theirfaith into something that they know is inherentlyunsustainable?


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Impermanence and Attachment

Our culture cultivates personalattachments to possessions, self image, andperceptions of reality. All such attachments

provide unnecessary pre-requisites forhappiness. When someones attachments arechallenged if their possessions are takenaway, if their reputation is tarnished, or if theirbelief system is called into question theemotional impact is usually quite negative. Evenat other times, when the need created by an

attachment is actually being met, there is anunderlying insecurity that comes from the factthat nothing is ever permanent. We need toaccept impermanence in order to denyattachments their power over us and to have afreed mind.

Change is inevitable and is alwaysongoing. All matter is constantly in a state ofdecay. All monuments will someday crumble.We all continue to grow older and will all diesome day. There is no reason to mentally fightwith these simple, unchangeable facts. If you

give in to the changing flow of things, enjoyingwhen things go your way and quickly acceptingwhen they do not, happiness will always beyours to experience. If you fight against theflow, you will perceive your life as filled withstress and hardship.

People are also commonly attached tothings that they enjoy doing, in the form ofdiversions. We could be talking about just aboutanything; video games, sports, the internet,


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music, shopping, or food. Any judgment ofthese diversions has been reserved. Inmoderation, just about any experience can bean interesting and enriching part of life. Themain issue at hand is the attachmentto thesediversions. When a new technology orexperience becomes available and suddenlypeople cant live without it, they instantly forgetthat all of humanity prior to that moment inhistory somehow managed to do so.

This doesnt mean that people should

abandon all pursuit of new experiences or tostop taking pleasure from diversions. It justmeans that impermanence needs to be figuredin to the equation. In other words, enjoy yourgolf game in the moment as you are playing it.At the same time, let go of any thoughts that tellyou that your life would be miserable if younever played again. The same logic can beapplied to all your material possessions,including your money supply. Taking enjoymentfrom your possessions is not a problem, as longas you do not feel attachment to them or fear oftheir loss.

One of the strongest unconsciousattachments that is encouraged in our culture, isthat of the individual to his or her own self imageor ego. The attachment to the ego is theprimary obstacle one must overcome in order torealize the SINGULARITY. This is the term thatwe will be using to describe the understandingthat we are all one, exchanging energies, in amanifestation of a singular consciousness. Thisissue will be addressed in much greater detail in


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later sections, but it is worth mentioning here aswell.

We are attached to an idea of who weare. We are attached to stories of our past that

explain why things are. We are attached toprojections of the future that explain the waythings should be. We are attached to ourreligious beliefs, cultural morality, and to theopinions of others. It is important to learn toquestion all of these attachments without theinstantaneous fear that easily arises in such a

situation. The mind without ego attachmentscan see clearly that:

There is no reason we need to define who weare to anyone especially ourselves.

Our actions in the past do not have to beconnected to our choices in the present.

Fighting the natural unfolding of the future onlyleads to pain.

Religious or spiritual beliefs should not be fixed

in place. They need to constantly grow andevolve as things are learned through lifeexperiences.

It is not a good idea to just accept theconventional wisdom, nor is it a good idea to

never question your own learned values.

Your personal happiness comes from inside youand does not depend on the thoughts or actionsof others.


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Perhaps the hardest attachments toovercome are the ones we have to the lives ofour loved ones. It can initially be hard to seewhy this should be either necessary or even

desired. Isnt this one of the things that makesus human? For starters, it is absolutely crucialto note that loving without attachment is not alesser form of love, nor does it imply that thedeath of a loved one is insignificant. It simplyimplies that you are prepared to humbly acceptthe sometimes random or inevitable events of

the universe as they play out, and that you arewilling to maintain your responsibility to bothyourself and others in regards to putting outconstructive and positive energy. Even duringthe hardest initial periods of mourning, the livesof the departed can be celebrated by the peoplewho live on. The impact that loved people havehad during their life will reverberate through alltime. Comfort can be taken from this simplefact.

It is up to the individual to decide howquickly they wish to move through the stages of

grief and begin to celebrate the life of the personwho has passed, instead of just painfullymourning the loss. The grieving parties may feeldepressed and helpless. These emotions canbe very real - but how to act upon theseemotions can always be a mindful choice madeby the survivors.

Love without attachment is possible andnot as heartless as it may initially appear onpaper. In fact, it is a healthier form of love that is


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not co-dependent or possessive of others.Telling yourself that you can't be completewithout particular people in your life is going toset a condition for your happiness, as well asforce a denial of the inevitable flow of theuniverse. This is not a battle that can be wonand it need not be fought.


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Entitlement

In modern day America, we have a veryspecial attachment to our way of life and havedeveloped a dangerous sense of entitlement as

a result. Starting very early with school, wehave been conditioned to jump through hoops inorder to receive predictable awards.

In general, the mythology of our culture says:

If you get a good education

You can get good jobYou can get a good incomeYou can start a family if you wantAnd live out your personal version of theAmerican Dream

If at any stage in this process things arenot working out as planned, people tend to getvery frustrated. After all, they are doingeverything they are supposed to be doing andare therefore entitled to their version of theAmerican Dream. Other people who play bythese guidelines and are successful, feel that

they deserve their place in society. By thatlogic, those who have not been successful mustbe deserving of their failure in some way. In thismanner, feelings of entitlement lead to rampantelitism and conflict in America.

People usually feel entitled to a socialstatus equal to, or surpassing the one with whichthey grew up. They feel entitled to more luxurythan previous generations, more technology andmore security. Specifically in America, we feel


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entitled to our entire lifestyle. It is almostsacrilege to question the morality of ourcountrys disproportionate consumption ofresources and energy to the rest of the world.

The time has now come that we need toask serious questions about these feelings ofentitlement and where they are leading us.Satisfaction can be defined as a state of mind inwhich there are no unmet desires. When onehas a sense of entitlement, negative perceptionsof the world are encouraged based upon

unsatisfied desires. Such patterns clearly do notlead to happiness and should be abandonedwith mindful practice.

The current economic situation in the worldhas put the American Dream out of reach for

much of the younger generations. For the firsttime in decades, forthcoming generations willnot be able to expect the same economicconditions that their parents may have enjoyed.Holding on to beliefs of entitlement will only leadto further suffering.


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Judgment of Self and Others

All measurements of a successful andhappy life are relative. It is up to you to set yourown bar and standards. It is not up to your

family, friends, or society at large. Our culture,however, encourages constant critical andcompetitive judgment of both ourselves andeveryone around us. Like our sense ofentitlement, a judgmental approach to life canonly hurt our overall level of happiness.

We live in a very me oriented society.Individuality and personal achievement areheavily stressed when discussing personalgrowth, success and happiness. Competitionand subsequent comparison with others isencouraged. People become so used to judgingthemselves and others, that this method ofmeasurement can feel very real and important.Of course, it is only as real and as important andyou decide.

The ways in which we judge each otherare based on the DIFFERENCES we perceive

between people and is ignorant of the fact thateveryone's experience of life is almostcompletely the same across all time and allcultures. We all share the same set of feelings,desires for love and peace and all have thesame basic needs as human beings. Even thesociopath who makes constant negative choicesis still doing it in a selfish way to feel peace.

It is both possible and crucial to transcendthe shallow judgment of self and others and to


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focus instead on all that we have in common asliving beings. True peace of mind and spiritcomes in the realization that we are all onetogether and that there is no other no usand no them anywhere in human history.

In the end, how we choose to perceive thepeople in the world around us really comesdown to a choice at an individual level of love vs.fear. Do we love our fellow man and treat himas we would want to be treated as part of acommunity, or do we fear and judge the others

around us and throw ourselves into competitionfor power and resources? Which path leads totrue happiness?


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Personality and Ego

In American culture, a great deal ofemphasis is placed on individuality. People areencouraged to realize what makes them special

and then they are encouraged to make theirexistential mark on the world. The maindrawback of this type of thinking is that itstresses the DIFFERENCES between people,while ignoring the common existence andexperiences as human beings on planet Earth.The ego of the individual is being overly

stressed. Ones personality is not made up oflikes and dislikes or the predictability ofbehavior. This criterion reflects more of one'sego and individual experiences thanpersonality. Personality is more about oneschoices in life than it is about specificpreferences or actions.

No ones personality is set in stone. Onsome level people are choosing to feel and actin predictable ways, day after day. Peoplebecome addicted to their own patterns (andegos) and many moment to moment choices are

made unconsciously out of habit. A large step inthe realization of the Singularity is to becomemindful of all actions, to see beyond one's ego,and to stop acting without thinking.

Every action or reaction in life depends on

three intertwined factors that make up one'spersonality: Security, Awareness, and Integrity.

Security:


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Security is a measure on average of howmuch peace and balance the individual feelsmoment to moment. If one is living peacefully inthe moment, they are not concerningthemselves with things that have happened inthe past, nor are they worrying about the future.In a secure and humbled mind, the facade ofego becomes clear for what it really is. Thehighest levels of security are reachable throughfocused meditation.

An abundance of security is experienced

as love for others and peace in the mind. Lack ofit leads to fear, which leads to all negativeemotions. Insecurity and the subsequent fearare behind all negative, destructive, or selfishbehaviors. In fact, all emotions and the resultingbehaviors reflect one's security in one way oranother.

Security is derived from associations withpeople whom you love and care about, theability to not worry about that which can not bechanged, and the knowledge that one is doingtheir best in all situations. Security must always

come from within it can not be dependentupon the actions or approval of others.

Awareness:There are two types of awareness:

Awareness of inner space, and awareness ofouter space.

Your awareness of inner space is ameasurement of how you perceive reality behind


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the wall of your ego. Can you separate your egofrom what/who you really are? Are you in controlof your emotions? Are you a victim ofcircumstances, or do you approach everysituation in a peaceful, positive mood no matterwhat? Are you aware of your own attachments,desires, and hang ups? Are you aware of yourown powers to create the world around you andtake control of your attitude and choices everymoment of every day?

Awareness of outer space has to do with

the depth of your perceptions in regards toexternal stimuli. For example:

There is a book sitting on a shelf. When you lookat this book, you make an unconscious choicewhile observing it and determining what it is andwhat it represents. How deep do you want togo?

LEVEL 1: There is a book on the shelf.LEVEL 2: The book contains information orstories that some may find valuable orinteresting.

LEVEL 3: The paper on which it is printed andthe chemicals involved were likely damaging tothe environment during its manufacture.LEVEL 4: The system in place that prints books,distributes them worldwide, and then advertisesthem for mass consumption is energy intensiveand unsustainable.Etc

It is important to note that judgment hasbeen reserved at all levels. These are just


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factual observations and not conclusions. Thereis no right and wrong to debate and no rightlevel to reach. All arguments are subjective andcant possibly address all aspects of anything inits entirety. That doesnt mean that choices arenot being made by the observer, though.

Of course, we observe a lot more thanbooks on a shelf. We make choices about howdeeply we want to observe the fast foodindustry, Americas car culture, fashion trends,global politics, and everything else that makes

up modern life.

Integrity:Regardless of how secure one may feel,

how humble they may be, or how deeply they

choose to look while observing the world choices have been made and revelations havebeen had. Integrity is a measurement of how wechoose to act, knowing what we have chosen toknow. Are your thoughts, convictions, andactions in sync? Do you make excuses forbehavior you know to be in violation of your

principals?

People who are ignorant but living withintegrity are far more common than people whoare wise and are living by their convictions. In asociety that is so complex, integrity is not an

easy trait to maintain.

No one personality should be rankedagainst another. No judgment needs to ever bepassed. However, it can be understood that


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personal security, awareness, and integrity arewhat make up personality and are thereby thebasis for all our decisions and how we feelafterwards. It should also be noted that thesefactors are within our control when we choose todiscipline our minds and happiness awaits thosewho make the commitment to try and lose theirego and approach the world in a positive way.

Its getting hard to tell where what I am ends,and what theyre making me begins. - Eels

Many people believe that their ego exists,that their personality is predetermined to a largepart due to their genetics or environment, andthat their personality is eternal perhaps in theform of a soul. People nurture their ego as itdevelops. Growing up, this is heavily

encouraged in our culture. Find out who youare! Be yourself!

When certain negative thoughts, behaviors,or actions arise, people will just excuse theirpatterns by saying Thats just me and will takeno real responsibility. Often people are afraid to

question the origins or validity of their beliefsand also feel that their experiences have madethem who they are. On a certain level, this istrue. Our experiences certainly do play a majorrole in the development of our personalpatterns. However, you must take responsibility

for your thought patterns and realize that justbecause you can understand how your habitswere formed, does not mean that you cant putforward an effort to change for the better or takecontrol of your feelings. To do otherwise is to


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play a role as a victim of circumstance and tonot realize the full creative potential of yourmind.


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Becoming Mindful of the Thought Process

One of the first crucial steps that anintrospective Seeker must take towards greaterinsight is to become mindful of their thought

process. Our thinking habits and patterns are soingrained, that many are not even conscious ofthem at all. For example, consider taste inmusic. People will often make blanketdeclarations: I'll listen to anything but countrymusic. Rap music is stupid. etc... Not onlywill these people not seek out these genres of

music, but their prejudice will fulfill their ownprophecy by not even giving the music a chancewhen they do encounter it. The moment that asong sounds too country, they unconsciouslytell themselves that they don't like it. Inessence, they do not even make the effort tolisten. These people are involved in the processof defining themselves simply by their likes anddislikes and are filtering stimuli through thismental image.

Every song (and in the same vein, everystimulus that triggers thought) needs to be

evaluated and given a chance on the spot, inthat moment. Even if you have heard the exactsong before and didn't like it the first time doesnot mean that you should shut it out. It is part ofthe moment that you are in and should beexperienced anew every time. Tell yourself thatthere is someone else out in the world who lovesthat song (movie, book, sport, or ANYTHING)and try to discover something about it that theyappreciate. Let go of your expectations,udgments, and self image. Do not dismiss


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anything in the moment.When people define themselves based on

their preferences, they are not really showingwho they really are. Instead, they are simplyshowing the point where they close their mind tothings that they have learned to reject. Taste inmusic is hardly the key issue here. Many peoplefeel that in order to define themselves, theyneed to draw lines at what they find offensive.This is where it becomes especially important tobe mindful. Almost all offense is learned. The

emotions connected to it are real but whensomeone takes offense to something, it is reallyust evidence of a closed mind and a lack ofmindfulness. Occurrences in life may still beseen as having positive or negative influences,but just like the music example above, peoplehave to be careful to experience every idea orhappening anew in the moment.

A big part of being mindful of your thoughtprocess is to increase the time between taking inthe information or situation and reacting to it.Try to break the habit of having an instant or

automatic emotional reaction to anything. If afriend or relative is a victim of a violent crime,like a rape, it is easy to be offended and moveinstantly to an appropriate response of anger.Most people would not question this thoughtprocess in the least. However, when you slowdown the process long enough to avoid thisemotional habit, it becomes clear that there aremany other, more productive emotionalCHOICES to be consciously made in responseto this event or any negative event. In the


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case of rape, feelings of empathy, compassion,or concern for the victim are more valuable thananger. Someone who has been hurt in that wayis in need of healing and any form of love isgoing to be more valuable than an expression ofanger, fear, or hate. Anger in the moment rarelyserves any purpose. It is a form of violence andis self destructive. It is possible to react in apositive way to even the most negative ofthings. Just because a situation is negativedoes not require you to react that way. Negativefeelings and emotions are detrimental to our

being. They do not solve problems and insteadbecome roadblocks that we have to workaround.

It's funny how people react when you tellthem that there is no excuse to be angry andthat negative emotions should not be validated,ustified, or sustained. They often get defensiveand their egos come right out. That's the way Iam and that's the way I feel! I can't deny whatI feel inside! This may feel true for that personin that moment. However, they are not aware oftheir own habits or how to break them.

An understanding of how the brain worksand how we learn, can shed some light on thistopic. The brain processes information througha series of interconnected neurons. How theneurons line up and fire have to do with pastpatterns that have been reinforced. Any sort ofstimulus can trigger a series of neurons thathave intertwined based on past experiences. Inone brain, for example, the smell of a pine treecould trigger a pathway of neurons that connects


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to fond memories of summer camp and then tofeelings of peace and security. Someone whohas had different life experiences could have adifferent series of connections triggered, and thesame smell could make them feel insecure ordistressed. At first, this example seems tosupport the concept of individuality eachperson seems to have a different brain basedupon their personal experiences. However, thisignores a crucial fact about how these neuralpathways are formed and the role we play inmaintaining them.

Evolution on a species level works verysimply. Mutations or variations in a species thatare not beneficial to survival tend to disappearover time as the species evolves. The same istrue with the neural pathways in the brain as itevolves (learns, that is.) When we forgetcalculus that we learned in high school becauseit doesn't apply to our everyday lives anymore, itis because the neural pathways that werecreated at the time are no longer beingstimulated and reinforced. That information isno longer beneficial to survival and the

pathways formed by the neurons firing insequence will break down over time. The sameis true for emotional pathways as well. Wemight feel exactly the same love for our parentsthat we felt at age three, because it has beenconsistently reinforced over the years but wewill not feel the same fear of the monster underour bed, because our increasing understandingof the world has led to the breaking down ofthose pathways.


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The monster under the bed situation is aperfect example of how greater understandingand awareness can lead to new patterns in thebrain that do not create fear or negativity. Oneof the greatest mistakes that adults can make isto think that they are no longer learning. Justtake a quick look at a shell-shocked war vet whoumps at the sound of a car door slamming, andyou will see someone who has recently learnedand created a negative neural path in theirmind. That is an extreme example, buteveryone continues to learn or reinforce what

they have learned every day.

Once again, the concept of takingresponsibility instead of playing a victim comesinto play. The soldier with Post TraumaticStress Syndrome can go through therapy. Withfocused effort and practice, he can learn tobreak even the strongest of negative neuralpathways like the ones that link loud noiseswith fear for his own life. If that soldier canovercome such a strong instantaneousemotional reaction to a stimulus, surely anyonecould learn to take control of their instantaneous

negative reactions to anything! Whenever weallow ourselves to feel negative emotions or togo down that path, we are reinforcing the neuraland chemical pathways in our brain. We can tellourselves whatever we want that the anger isnatural or justified it still is not beneficial to ourevolving mind, if our goal is inner peace orenlightenment.

LET IT GO. It really is that simple. Themoment that you feel the emotions arise, do not


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give them any thought - just focus on letting goand returning to a peaceful state of mind. It willtake practice, and you may feel that you arerepressing emotions that are natural. But whatis natural anyway, when we are talking abouttaking responsibility and forming new patterns?What if the vet with PTSD kept claiming that hisreactions were natural?

The beauty of how our brains function, isthat changing habits will consistently get easierover time. In other words, every time you let go

and do not dwell in negative emotions, thepathways in the mind that lead to such emotionsare breaking down. It may take ten minutes tocalm down the first time you find yourself in ananger inducing situation. But if there is a realattempt to let go of the negativity, then later itmay only take five minutes to calm down. Aftermuch practice, you may never even feel theanger at all, and will immediately make positivechoices.

Letting go of negativity does not just applyto times that you are feeling angry. Negativity

can take lots of forms and none of them aregoing to be helpful when on the path of clearingyour head and searching for peace. Someseemingly innocuous forms of negativeexpression include sarcasm and gossip.Sarcasm is a symptom of a spoiled and boredsociety, and gossip is usually motivated by aneed to feel superior to someone else. Trygoing for a week without ever talking aboutsomeone who is not within earshot. It isamazing to become aware of how much we like


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to constantly express ourselves by commentingon others' tribulations or behaviors. Even mildgossip arises from subtle negative motivationsand should be avoided.

Issac Newton's first law of physics is thatany body that is at rest, will remain at rest unlessacted upon by an external force. To someonewho has felt inner peace, even for just amoment, that state of mind is the equivalent ofNewton's body at rest. Our duty is to try andremain in that state and to deny external

negative forces their power to move us from thatmindset. Not allowing your own mind to remainin a natural peaceful state is a very commonhabit in our culture. In quiet moments. peopleoften unconsciously feel that they need to bethinking or worrying about something; worryingabout things that have passed, worrying aboutthe future, worrying that they aren't worrying! Itcan take real practice to break this cycle. This isdone mainly by being mindful and not allowingnegative thoughts a chance to play in yourhead. If it feels good to allow yourself a"harmless" vengeful fantasy in which you tell off

an authority figure, that is all the more reason tolet it go. We need to break down the neuralpathways in the mind that link getting even tofeeling good. If something happens that triggersnegative thoughts of violence, resentment, orealousy - immediately let the thought andfeeling pass and give it no further attention.None. Like all practiced behaviors, this justkeeps getting easier over time.

Negative thinking patterns in many people


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are habits, because of how the neural pathwayshave been reinforced in their mind. This is nodifferent than an addiction. In fact, the sameneurotransmitter chemicals are involved in thebrain as with addictive drugs. People literallybecome addicted to their emotional behavior.Acting or reacting in certain ways releasesneurotransmitters in ways that our brain hasgotten used to. In order to break the addiction(or any addiction), you must first understand thatyou are an addict - in this case to negativeemotional patterns. Then you have to start

denying yourself the drug - in this case, youhave to stop reinforcing the mental pathwaysthat lead to the chemical release. This is doneby being mindful of your triggers for negativityand learning to overcome them.

Mindfulness is especially important whencommunicating with someone else. As youconverse, you are both sending and receivingenergy. There are so many ways inconversation in which to send energy; attitude,word choice, volume, inflection, gestures, and soon. It is crucial to remain sensitive as you give

and receive energy. It can be helpful to imaginethat you are in the room with someone else whois very sensitive; a baby, or someone on apsychedelic drug, like LSD. In the presence ofothers who are in a sensitive state of mind, wetend to be more mindful of our own actions andenergies. If you are communicating withsomeone who is "strong" or who can "take theoke," it is still important to not give in to negativeor violent energies. Even if "that's just the wayyou normally relate" to the other person.


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Remember, you are trying to reset your ownpatterns, and poor choices reinforce thesenegative habits.

While it is important to be attentive to theenergy you communicate when choosing tospeak, it can be even more important to bemindful of your MOTIVATION. People ingeneral tend to talk far more than they have to,and often do so without ever thinking about whatmotivated them to speak at any given moment.If you suddenly feel the urge to tell a story to

someone else, first ask yourself why. Is itbecause you are trying to impress the person insome way? Is it because something they saidreminded you of your story, and you just want toconnect and relate to this person? What are youtrying to communicate about yourself to theother person with your story? Why?Sometimes motivations arise from negativeplaces. Perhaps you realize that your story maycause conflict between others. Maybe yourmotivations are passive-aggressive or come outof narcissism or pride. You might be trying toscare someone or put them in their place. In the

end, it is up to you to stop and think aboutwhether your motivation to speak is positive ornegative and act accordingly. Often, once youare aware of your motivation, it can be morebeneficial to communicate the motivationdirectly, rather than beat around the bush. Tellthe other person that you are interested tobecome closer to them rather than try to impressthem with a story.

There are many social pressures that can


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influence your mindfulness and subsequentchoices. There is the desire to "fit in" to the styleof conversation, and personal standards may belowered to do so. This is a place wherequestions of your own awareness and integrityare raised. It is inadvisable to just aim highenough to please the sensibilities of thosearound you. You owe it to yourself to holdyourself to a higher standard than the one thatmight be encouraged by your family, friends, orimmediate company.

There is also the ubiquitous desire to beliked by your peers. Be mindful of this powerfuldesire as well, and how it may be influencingyour choices. It makes sense to want to be liked- it can add to your personal security in a varietyof ways. However, this desire is based almostentirely in ego. There is no reason why any twopeople who have transcended their egos shouldnot be able to be instant friends - regardless oflikes, dislikes, or culture. While this may notseem realistic, look at how the jamband musicscene (Deadheads, if you will) has functioned foryears. At concerts, it is taken for granted that

the people there "get it." When it comes toconcepts like peace, humility, and good vibes,the Deadhead community has very highstandards. If a newcomer to concerts "gets it"on some level, they will find themselvesimmediately accepted into the fold. It is just likea family or tribe. If they don't get it, they aremore or less accepted anyway, and Deadheadswill usually continue to send positive energy tothe newbie, hoping that they learn and comearound. It is always amusing to see someone


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get hugged by a stranger and not know quitehow to react. Why should that feel bad at all?Why should anyone draw any negative feelingsfrom such a gesture? Hopefully people who do"naturally" feel uncomfortable in that situationwill ask themselves those questions and realizethe wall of ego that is keeping them fromaccepting the positive energy.


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Death of the Ego

"Turn off your mind, relax and floatdownstream. It is not dying. It is not dying."- The Beatles By this point, it should be clear how our

egos get directly in the way of finding innerpeace and also cause feelings of isolation andloneliness. Your pride and the defining of yourown individuality denies the connection andexistence that you share with all other conscious

beings on the planet. When you are ready, it istime to allow your ego to die. It is time tobecome conscious of the Singularity. We are allone.

Waking up every morning as the sameperson is just a habit. It is a choice. It is

unconsciously done for the sake of convenience- not personal or social progress. This is therevelation that you must have in order to moveforward. You are not who you have alwaysbelieved that you are. You are not who othersthink you are. You just have predictablepatterns, which you have chosen to maintainover the years.

Take the image you have of yourself inyour mind. It usually is made up of yourperceived strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes,achievements, and regrets. Let the image go.

Give it no weight or meaning. Even supposedlypositive feelings, such as pride or selfconfidence, require you to be judging yourself orothers. All forms of judgment must go. Instead,


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ust be mindful. Evaluate and adjust yourbehavior in every moment to be humble andpositive. One does not become enlightened -one is simply enlightened or not, moment bymoment.

This process of letting go can seem scary.Our culture has conditioned us to believe that itis like dying. This is not the case at all. It ismuch more akin to becoming free from personalor societal constraints. Free to beunconditionally happy. Those who have been

involved in your life for many years may notalways understand. It is not up to you to makethem understand. When they see yournewfound energy and peace, they will eithercome around or they were never actually yourfriend in the first place. The path tounconditional happiness is one where you learnnot to judge others, nor feel the judgmentcoming from others. It will always just be theirdeal if they take issue with you.

No matter what anyone else ever says ordoes to you, it is possible to react in a positive

way. You can learn to feel compassion ratherthan anger. Understanding can arise in place ofudgment. With no forces able to interfere withyour peace, you can be a body at rest - and canremain at rest.

On the journey through modern life, thereare seven common phases through whichSeekers pass. These phases begin at birth andthere are no guarantees that anyone will make itthrough all of them. In fact, very few do.


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However, the reward at the end, following thedeath of the ego, is very great. In our culture,the first four phases are where the ego is beingbuilt up and still seems to have meaning. In thelast three phases, the ego is allowed to die, andenlightenment is achieved.PHASE I: Getting Educated

This phase encompasses all of childhoodlearning, including the programming of ourculture. Children at this stage are learning howto learn, and not necessarily how to discern.

This is when we first understand the physicallaws of the universe, have our first experiencessolving problems, and develop our early socialskills. Senses of security, confidence, andcompassion are formed - either positively ornegatively. The golden rules from this timeperiod - Do on to others as you would havedone to yourself and Share nicely with others -will never change.

PHASE II: Getting ExperiencedLife is a series of first times for everything,

and this is the time where many of the "defining"

experiences occur. Generally, this phase beginsfor most people as they come of age in theiradolescence. Ones ego and confidence hasbeen built up to the point that they feel ready tomake some of their own decisions about the wayin which to live their lives. People are thinkingfor themselves on some level, and this is usuallyexpressed in the testing of boundaries and somequestioning of authority. People at this stageget to experience the causes and effects of theirchosen actions and to learn from them. People


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connect with their peers on a deeper level asthey share their experiences. Familial beliefs,once taken for granted, may be challenged byfriends. This stage often continues through highschool and college, as preparations to enter thereal world begin. It doesn't end there, though.Many people will believe that they have "foundthemselves" at this point, especially if they fallinto a routine that works for them and isrespected by their peers. They feel satisfiedwith their world view and will not go any fartheron the journey.**LIFE CRISIS**

This is a very common time for what wellcall the Life Crisis. For many years in ourculture, this stage was likely to occur in middleage and was more commonly known as a mid-life crisis. However, due to a variety of factors,people are feeling disillusion and having a lifecrisis at younger ages sometimes as early ashigh school or college graduation. Life seems tohave no meaning. The goals and ambitions thatsociety encourages do not seem to be fulfillingor in many cases, even possible. For many

others, this is a crisis of integrity. Theirexperiences have taught them about how theworld really works and on some level they wantto be ignorant again and not have to takeresponsibility for the information that theypossess.PHASE III: Getting Re-educated

One of the discoveries that is commonduring the life crisis period is that much of whatwe have been taught or think that we know, can


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and should be questioned. We are now wiseenough to tell the difference between knowledgeand wisdom. Knowledge can be learned fromothers. Wisdom comes from your ownexperiences and from what you've taughtyourself. The two must be discerned and keptseparate. On your journey, your wisdom will beof much more use to you.

The re-education phase is in full motionwhen you become analytical of your educationand experiences up to that point and start to ask

questions about them. Everything that has beenlearned from others previously, includingeverything that is taken for granted, must nowbe questioned with an opened and unbiasedmind. One needs a non judgmental mind inorder to learn and accept new information.Certain fundamental beliefs about religion,politics, worldview, and societal expectationsmight already be set in stone and areuncomfortable to challenge. One must not beafraid of the answers that come from inside.

Our consumer culture treats many

important topics superficially due to theirtangential relation to commerce and theeconomy. The environment, personaldissatisfaction, world history, nationalism, andforeign relations are such issues. They must allbe reevaluated by an objective mind. Theperspectives of all people and cultures all overthe world should also be considered in yoursearch for answers at this time.

PHASE IV: Getting Re-Experienced


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This is a phase that requires you to take allof your newfound wisdom and incorporate itwithout fear or questioning into your dailyapproach to life. It is time to accept theinevitability of change and realize that you willalways be learning and will never knoweverything. Your family and friends may thinkthat this stage signals the beginning of a newyou. However, this is not the case. Instead,you are taking steps towards the realization thathow we define ourselves (to ourselves andothers) is very limiting and is not actually who

we really are.

PHASE V: Getting HumbledFor Western Seekers, this phase may be

the most challenging. This is where the egofinally dies. All attachments must be left behind,even the attachments to the people around youwhom you love. This doesn't mean that you arenot caring, loving, or empathetic anymore. It justmeans that you no longer maintain any sort ofco-dependent relationships. Your happinessmust arise unconditionally from inside, and notbe dependent upon the approval or happiness of

others. This comes naturally as you let go ofyour ego and self image. How can anyone loveor be loved more than anyone else, wheneveryone is just a part of the same whole? Loveis an energy that we put out into the world, andwe do ourselves a disservice by discriminatingthe directions in which we send it.

Your goals and your habits that make upwho you think you are, also have to go. Initially,progressing through this phase can seem


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heartless or even suicidal but this is notactually the case. When you allow yourself tocease to exist, you are suddenly exposed tothe true shared nature of existence.

Without an ego, it becomes impossible totake personal offense to anything. You nolonger have anything to prove to anyone, evenyourself. A truly humbled person understandsthat one can not ever earn or deserve anything good or bad. It also becomes clear thatattaching oneself to their possessions or being

attached to maintaining the status quo can onlylead to suffering. Things are always changing,and to deny this is a certain way to bring onpain.

PHASE VI: Getting SatisfiedOnce the ego has peacefully died, it

becomes time to focus on the differencebetween wants and needs. Superficial wants,based on societal standards or peer pressure,should have disappeared along with the ego.Needs, on the other hand, can be stripped downto the most basic requirements for survival.

By now, the realization has occurred thateverything in life is relative. Things could alwaysbe better and could always be worse. The trickis to be satisfied with the way things are at anygiven time. Things will change and will continueto change. But, if your basic survival needs arebeing humbly met air, water, food, shelter, andcommunity you should be able to find yoursatisfaction.


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With such satisfaction comes true peace ofmind. The insecurity is gone that comes frombeing attached to things that could be lost. Youstop asking yourself all the sorts of questionsthat can cause anxiety; Am I reaching mypotential? Do I fit in with my peer group? DoI have enough money? Are others judgingme?PHASE VII: Being Happy

The last question you will ask yourself isAm I enlightened? You have NOT reached the

end of the path when you answer Yes to thisquestion. Instead, you will have reached theend of your journey when you realize that you nolonger feel the need to ask this question anymore. The seeker who has found what they arelooking for, no longer seeks. And since thehappiness that you are cultivating isunconditional and is coming from a humbleplace - that is as close as anything can get tobeing completely sustainable. With thatknowledge comes all the security in the world,and with that security comes boundless positiveenergy that can now be both given and received

no matter where you are or with whom youinteract.


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Being in the Moment

Consider a reel of film, like you might findin a movie theater projection room. Eachindividual frame of film is a single still picture a

captured moment. When projected at 24 framesper second, there is an observationalphenomenon called persistence of vision.Rather than seeing each individual still frame forwhat it is, there appears to be coherentmovement on the screen. A scene or an actionmay appear to have a beginning, middle, and

end but this is all illusion.

We live our lives with the sameobservational phenomenon in effect. Ratherthan experiencing each moment, one still frameat a time, our persistence of vision creates theillusion of time. It is easy to get lost in thisillusion. We often feel responsible for our livesin the past, present, and future all at once.

The type of happiness that feels completeand fulfilling can only emerge in the presentmoment. This sounds obvious, but many people

are caught up in mental loops that keep themfrom fully experiencing the present moment.They are constantly missing their presenthappiness while lost in other places in thehuman construct of time. They may spend theirday looking forward to things, or worrying aboutevents that will happen in the future. Or, theymight spend their present looping about thingsthat have happened in their past either positiveor negative. These thought patterns are beingdriven on some level by unconscious


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dissatisfaction. The thinker wants to besomewhere else or be doing somethingdifferent. This is the exact opposite of mindfulhappiness. When someone is in a situationwhere they allow themselves to be completely inthe moment for example, when they arecaught up in the sensations of a roller coasterride - there is no desire to think about otherthings that could be happening.

Without realizing how much they controltheir own ability to be in or out of the moment,

everyone finds himself or herself in the momentfrom time to time. Sometimes it has to do withoverwhelming physical sensations, like theaforementioned amusement park ride. Whileplaying a sport like baseball, the batter iscertainly in the moment when his bat connectswith the ball. People are commonly in themoment when having an orgasm, or when theyump into a pool. Improvisational musicians ordancers must be in the moment by necessity.Being aware and in the moment are also themain goals of meditation.

In fact, many of the situations wherepeople just find themselves in the moment,seem to be related to what our culture wouldrefer to as diversions; rides, sports, sex, music,dancing, etc It is, however, possible to makea conscious choice to be in the moment, nomatter what you are doing. Some tasks mayrequire great focus and mental energy likedoing complex math work. Other tasks can bedone without focus at all like sweeping thefloor. Your responsibility to stay in the moment


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is the same in all situations. Whatever you aredoing, you can give the task your full attentionand do your best to accomplish it. Allowing yourmind to wander from the job at hand or lettingyourself multi-task are the most common waysto slip out of the moment.

It is of the most importance to be selfdisciplined when doing things that you tellyourself you dont enjoy. If you know in yourheart that you are doing what you need to doand that you are doing your best, your mind will

release you from your responsibility to thinkabout anything else. Time will then lose allmeaning as you lose yourself in the work.Boredom also does not exist in the moment. Forone to experience boredom, there must first be aframe of reference. In order to have a frame ofreference, your thoughts must stray from themoment.

This practice seems like it could be hardto do. It is true that always being in the momentand experiencing the present to the fullest is notreally encouraged in our culture. We are

unconsciously taught that, as adults, it is ourresponsibility to constantly be thinking. There isalways something that needs to get done.There is always something off in the future toeither anticipate or worry about. The to-do listis never ending. It is subconsciously felt that notspending every moment in purposeful thought ofsome kind is somehow wasteful or neglectful ofresponsibilities. In addition, our cultureconditions us to believe that life is a series ofups and downs separated into times of play


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and work. One who is in the moment is not avictim to these fluctuations in life quality orresponsibilities.

Every moment is a gateway through whichone can connect to the Singularity and findpeace and happiness. Every room can be atemple. Every sweep of the broom can be anartists brushstroke. Even trash on the streetcan be beautiful, if perceived by one who isentirely in the moment.

Being in the moment does not mean thatyou do not recognize the effect that your choicesmay have on the future. In fact, the past and thefuture are very much part of the presentmoment. The more aware that you are of themoment, the greater your ability to see into thefuture. Imagine all of the weather on planetEarth, frozen at one moment in time. Predictingfuture weather patterns can only be done byobserving the present moment. The moreinformation that you can observe in the presentmoment, the more accurate your prediction willbe. In the case of weather, we are observing

storm systems, air pressure, or wind patterns.In life, we are aware in the moment of physicalreality but we can learn to be aware of thevibrations, patterns, and trends that point directlyto future outcomes. If you are tapped in to allthese energies and are aware in the moment,you can learn to more accurately see into thefuture.


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Creating Your Reality

If you want to view paradise,Simply look around and view it .Anything you want to, do it .Want to change the world? Theres nothingto it . Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka & theChocolate Factory

Reading the lyrics above, how did youcreate your reality? Did you recognize the songand sing the melody in your head? Did your

mind wander off to memories of the movie oryour childhood? Did you think about themessage, and about what it might mean in thecontext of this book? Did you subconsciouslydismiss the importance of these words becausethey originate from a song in a childrens film?

Regardless of your answer, yourperception and reaction were the results ofchoices made in the moment, as you werereading the words. When you have learned tobe aware and mindful, you can make suchchoices consciously in the moment and

proactively create your reality. No longer do youhave to be a victim of your day-to-daycircumstances or the judgments of others. Yourhappiness comes from within, as does yourperception of reality.

Our moods and attitudes are often blamedon the actions of others, or by events that areout of our control. People make us happy orangry. Circumstances make us mad orprovide pleasure. Happiness and security are


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treated as temporary feelings and are fleeting.Instead of being a victim to externals forces outof your control, you can take responsibility forevery moment and create your own invinciblepositive reality.

The first step towards creating your ownreality is to be aware of the fact that you havealways been doing it, often subconsciously orhabitually. Some individuals create a reality inwhich everyone is their potential enemy and noone can be trusted. Many others create a

fantasy world that disregards the problems orhappiness of anyone else in the world who is notpart of their circle. Everyone consciously orunconsciously decides how big they want theirworld to be.

People are very good at creating egobased realities and then believingwholeheartedly in their creation. An ego basedreality includes a created perception of yourselfwithin your reality. This reality includes yourdefinition of who you are and why. It is areflection of memories, which are really just

stories that you tell yourself to reinforce yourexistence and choices in the present. This iswhere all judgment of self and others originates.Being aware of this, and creating your reality inthe moment without ego is the final step in theprocess of ego death.

We all need to be aware of our abilities toactively participate in our own reality creation.Then ego can be left behind and the Singularitycan be experienced as reality. This experience


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of the world is one of shared consciousness,awareness, peace, and positive energy. If weare to continue our spiritual growth as a species,as well as maintain a balance with the lifesupporting energies of our planet - this is wherewe have to begin.

Think of a moment in your past that youmight refer to as a moment of peace and clarity.A time when you felt centered, balanced, and inthe moment. A time when love completelyovercame any fear. Ideally, think of a time when

you let go of who you thought you were, and feltyour place in the Singularity. Maybe thishappens for you in meditation. For somepeople, it happens in a relaxing shower or bath.Others may reach such a mental state throughthe spiritual use of certain intoxicants. Peoplecan find it out in nature, or while sitting in peacewith their loved ones. Close your eyes and try torecreate that feeling in the present. Clear yourmind of extraneous thoughts, and truly be in themoment. Be aware of your breathing. Findyourself calm and free of worry. Then, withoutneeding any specific reason, allow yourself to

radiate positive energy towards everything andeveryone around you. Whenever you findyourself in such a state of mind, remind yourselfto START HERE whenever you find that youhave gotten into old habits or strayed from yourpath.

Now that you have a mental state fromwhich to begin, all of your spiritual practice, all ofyour gathered wisdom can be applied in thepresent moment. You can then choose to


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create a reality where: You find humble satisfaction with yourpresent circumstances, and are infinitely happy.Any experience in the world is greeted withgratitude, wonder, and a desire to learn from it. You approach every situation without fear,and are prepared to accept negative situationswith a positive attitude. You know that angercan be consciously changed into empathy, andthat fear can be converted into bravery. You let go of your ego especially alludgment of both yourself and others. You havenothing to prove. If others judge you positivelyor negatively, it should not affect you in theslightest. There are no winners, no losers, andno labels. Every situation, idea, or stimulus can beexperienced as new in the moment.Preconceived notions about anything should begiven little weight. Impermanence and change is embraced,while attachments are denied their power. Negative emotions become powerless overyou, as you can recognize your state of mind asa choice. You have a respect for the Singularity and forthe natural world from which we evolved.Existing with love, peace, balance, and positiveenergy is of the utmost priority.


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You see beauty everywhere, and do not fallinto learned patterns of criticism.


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Energies

To create your reality without ego and tono longer feel the need to express yourselfdoes not mean that you dont exist or continue to

have social responsibilities. Life does not existsolely in your mind and no man is an island.Interpersonal relations and exchanges arecrucial in your realization of the Singularity. Youare one with everything, not just yourself. Buthow can multiple egoless people exist togetherand relate in a situation where personalities and

personal motives have been deconstructed?The answer lies in an understanding of

energies, the vibe, and your consistentcontributions to each. In fact, making positivechoices that put out constructive, rather thandestructive energies is the primary responsibilityof the enlightened individual in everyday life.While concepts of right and wrong or good andbad often exist in gray areas, there is no suchconfusion with constructive or destructiveenergies. Constructive energy is positive,creative, and selfless. The only motives behind

constructive energy are to send love, encouragepeace, or to create art for the sake of beauty. Ifyou can think of any additional ulterior motivesfor your choices or actions, they are neitherselfless nor constructive.

Destructive energy ranges from mildforms (defining yourself by things that youdislike) to much more dangerous incarnations(mental or physical violence directed at others.)What all examples of this type of energy have in


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common, however, is that the ego is built up bythe behavior rather than let go. Criticizing othersand the choices that they make is a way to feelbetter about your own choices. Antagonisticbehavior or choices made in anger are often justcoping strategies for fear or are ways to feelpower over others. All these actions lead awayfrom shared peace and the Singularity. Anenlightened mind recognizes all behavior aschoices, and sees no benefit to the output ofdestructive energy.

There are many ways in which positiveenergy can be sent from person to person. Apeaceful attitude and a smile may be thesimplest forms of positive communication knownto our species. Singing, dancing, and otherexpressions of joy are also forms ofcommunicable positive energy. The purestforms of positive energy are communicatedwithout words. Words are often too abstract orare used to disguise motives.

Send your love and positive energy outequally and without judgment to everyone

around you. If the people you encounter dontunderstand your unconditional love or choose toreturn it, it should not affect your positivechoices or your commitment to the vibe. If aperson who is not used to getting a hug from anacquaintance has it happen enough times, theymay finally open up to the idea and may evenhave a revelation about their learnedboundaries.

If someone sends you destructive or


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negative energy for whatever reason, do notreact in a negative way. Anger, resentment, andoffense are never going to be beneficial.Instead, convert their negative energy to positiveenergy by attempting to understand theinternalized pain that the person has chosen toexpress. If they are not conscious of theirnegative choices, you may sympathize withthem and hope that they become aware of whatthey are doing to themselves. Practiceremaining unmoved from your peaceful state, insituations when confronted with negative

energy. Any time it happens, see it as achallenge to your spiritual practice and anopportunity to grow. Great satisfaction andpeace can arise when you realize that you donot have to be victim to the negative energyinflicted by others. Their negativity should notbe tuned out or ignored, but you can choose notto vibrate on their frequency and continue tomake your own positive choices about yourattitudes and actions.

One interesting way to model theSingularity and the energy exchanges in our

world, is to conceptualize an ocean.

How big is this ocean? That is a relativequestion. Tiny ripples would appear as tidalwaves to a microbe on the surface, or the wholeocean could resemble a teardrop from a vantagepoint in deep space. In the egoless world of theenergy field there is no one observing, andtherefore, no perspective to be had.

The water is symbolic of the energy field


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itself, of which we are all a part. Imagine eachbeing with free will in the world as a tiny particle,suspended in the flow under the water. Theseparticles are unique and special. While they aresomewhat at mercy to the overall movement ofthe water, they can still individually vibrate overa wide range of frequencies. Some particles arein control of their vibrations, some areattempting to do so, and a third group justbelieves such control to be impossible. But theyall still vibrate, just about all of the time. Thevibrating particles send complex ripples through

the water. If groups of particles vibrate at similarfrequencies consciously or unconsciously, theycan influence and amplify each other's effects.Those collective ripples can become currents oreven waves in the ocean. How big are thewaves? This is also a relative question, and likebefore, no answer is meaningful.

One can also see with this model, how theenergy field transcends time and actuallyachieves the apparently unobtainable humangoal of immortality. Freeze the ocean in a singlemoment in your mind. Study the shape of it

the surface waves and the underwater currents.This shape, in any given moment, containsevery vibration that has ever come from any ofthe particles at any point in history. Theprevious influence of any one individual particle,big or small, is detectable for all time on somescale. It may seem that some particles vibratedenormously and had tsunami size effects, whileothers may have vibrated so little that nothingseems to be out of place. However, it can notbe stressed enough that the size of anything in


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this scenario is completely relative, andtherefore meaningless. As you grow tounderstand that your contributions (no matterwhat size) permanently become part of theenergy field, you can feel yourself merge withthe infinite and immortal, knowing that yourpositive vibration will resonate through all time.

Existential philosophies that lead peopleto seek fulfillment by having a large impact, orby wielding power and influence over others areshown to fail in this model. The size of an

impact only exists in the eye of the beholder andrequires an active ego in order to have aperspective. It is very hard to ever reach theend of the existential journey one could alwaysbe more famous, have more power, or influencemore people. The few who do reach their loftyand often arbitrary goals often find that they arestill not satisfied with their achievements or thatthey now live in fear of losing what they havegained. True permanent personal fulfillment canonly be found when one is satisfied by whateverpart they are playing in the whole, regardless ofthe relative size.

Another interesting metaphor for onescontributions to the energy field is that of amusician playing an instrument in animprovisational jazz or jam band.

You are born and given an instrument toplay. Not everyone is given the sameinstrument to start, and different instruments willrequire different levels of diligence anddedication to master. Life circumstances can be


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random in this way. In the end, of course, it isust the music that will matter. The sooner thatindividuals stop thinking about their struggleswith their own instrument and begin to focus onthe overall quality of the music made withothers, the sooner they will find peace andrealize the Singularity.

In early childhood, you learn to play yourinstrument slowly. You are just learning how tocommunicate in a language that everyone canunderstand in this case, music itself a

confluence of vibrations and energy. You growused to the feel of your instrument and keep ittuned, learning to recognize pure tones andharmonies.

As a young jazz musician, much time willbe spent learning the standards. These are thecommon themes and recognizable patterns thathave been developed and passed down fromgeneration to generation. Like anything innature, these songs have evolved over time andhave survived natural selection, remainingrelevant and important in society and culture

over time. This is why history and traditions areimportant to respect before attemptingimprovisation.

Practice is crucial. You must find thebalance between having fun experimenting anddisciplining yourself with lessons. You need tolearn how to listen to your own voice. Practicingthe instrument can also be equated to yourspiritual practice. Be honest with yourself abouthow much time you spend every day in an


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attempt to connect with your greatersurroundings in a spiritual way.

Soon you will find yourself playing ingroups with others. Sometimes your band willust be a small combo. Other times, you will beplaying with a large orchestra. Despite the factthat everyone may be playing somethingdifferent and that no one may necessarily belistening to one another, there is always just onesong being played at any given time and place.At the best of times, everyone in a group is

playing together, each contributing their ownpart to the whole and creating a vibe andharmony.

Some people may play aggressively andloudly, wanting to stand out in the band. Othersmay play in a quiet, shy manner - afraid orintimidated to contribute for whatever reason. Alot of people just play the same things over andover again, without thinking about it at all.

It is your responsibility to be mindful of thesong being created in the moment by all those

who are playing it. Know when its time to bepart of the rhythm section. Then listen for yourtime to solo. Recognize the moments when itmay be your contribution to conduct the bandand lead them to play in harmony. No matterwhat the music is sounding like, always playyour best and attempt to enjoy whatever seemsto be working in the song.

In post-modern music, there is anunderstanding that any one instrument can


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acceptably be played with any other regardless of how it may have been done in thepast traditionally. Any genres or styles can bemixed with some degree of success. This is arelatively modern enlightened and open mindedview that applies to both music as well as inter-personal relations. Anyone can learn to playwith anyone else and create music. Culturaltraditions and differences should not discouragecollaborations. In fact, they often enrich the endresult.

Finally, when everything is being doneright, you will begin to improv effortlessly. Youwill hear yourself play in perfect tempo andharmony, without thinking about what notecomes next or what direction you are going.You are completely in the moment, floating in azen space of peace. Millions of musiciansthroughout history have come to understand thisstate of mind. Skill level has nothing to do withit. Someone could enter this level of awarenessand connectedness, playing just one note at theright time or a steady percussive rhythm on acrude drum.

When we are aware of and in contro

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