A POST FOR STRAINERS

Philosopher and all-round spot-on guy, Alan Watts once described the personal pronoun, “I”, as “a chronic spasm of muscular strain.” We get it from wrestling with our problems, our conflicting values and beliefs about them. When we push against anything, it's “gotcha”, and we get piles, hernias and pulled muscles for our trouble. We get stressed and strained when we resist the simple, open freedom and grandeur of what we ARE.

Why do we go so far out of our way to ignore what we are and defend what we're not? “I” and “Me” are Illusions married to Futility and Suffering. I didn't say that, and I can't remember now who did, but it sums it up nicely, don't you think?

Your “I” and “Me” are being victimised by.........(Insert your story here). But what if that's all just a bad dream? What if there is no “I” to know or be victimised? Then knowing, being victimised and all that supporting story must be happening all by itself. It cannot affect anything that does not hook into it and take it personally. But that's what we do, isn't it? All this stuff is going on, we think “Hmmm - that looks interesting”, we buy into it and next thing you know – we're hooked. Given every opportunity, we seem to go out of our way to get in our own way, and blame anyone and anything other than our self. We're on the ride and believe we're doing it harder that anyone else! We even take a perverse pride in our suffering, and compare notes with other victims about how badly we've been treated. We've lost contact with being “happy”, so we settle for being “right”. Why? What's the payoff supposed to be. Manipulation? Control? Domination?

Yes?

If you're affected by stuff, you must have bought into your idea of it, reduced yourself to the confines of that idea, and said “That's Me; that's what I am about”. Well, when you've had enough of rooting around and finally realise that what you're looking for isn't in there, stop. Stop and just remember what you truly are, and feel the load lift from your spirit instantly.

You'll be so glad you did.

[The Score – Deer Republic (A) – 2:50]