The Upside to Being Aware
My first seafood boil, prepared by Josh, in Traverse City, MI. “Everything good has awareness for its root.” -Bodhidharma Awareness is inherently free of all the mind’s diseases. When you are aware, there is no clinging, no possessiveness, no identity, no comparison, no resistance, and no desire. When something is perfect, that means it cannot […]
That’s Hilarious
Nina is snoring. For years I’ve been wondering why I say or think “that’s hilarious” whenever I notice a thought. What’s hilarious is that what we actually are is nothing that the body seems to be aware of, including itself. In every thought, feeling, sensation, or perception, we are the knowing that supports them all. […]
Awareness Is
Our new puppy, a Cane Corso, Candis named Nina Simone. “What is that which is silent? Look into it by examining awareness.”-Krishnamurti Examine the ever-present reality of awareness, which is free of thought. How could thought, which we were not born with, have anything to do with what we actually are? There is a tacit […]
Observe
“To observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.”-Krishnamurti “To observe without evaluating” is to remain aware. Inattention ruins everything. Awareness perfects everything. Because awareness is the ultimate intelligence… When you know you are aware, or, when you are in your natural, unconditioned state, every appearing thought will be helpful.
The Bonus Round
The Buddha, silencing dispensing knowledge to Nobody, who doesn’t give a shit. “Simply remaining in the noticing or knowing quality [of whether there is thought-movement or stillness] is a correct basis for true practice.”-Tsoknyi Rinpoche When thinking is unnecessary, shift attention to just being aware: just listen. When you are aware of the silence only, […]
See What Happens
Super-homies at Billy Strings. “The correct way of practicing … is mentioned in all the vehicles. It is simply presence of mind, being awake to whether one is experiencing thought movement or stillness.” -Tsoknyi Rinpoche The secret to peaceful living is in not wanting. When desire is absent, you are naturally happy. To curtail and […]
Inattention
BigJoni in Hawaii, for my big six-0. “The only evil is inattention.” -Wu Hsin When you can’t find something, like your phone or keys, when were you inattentive? When you don’t know you are thinking, and therefore don’t know what you are thinking about—that inattentive state is the source of all problems. The secret to […]
Everything Good
Everything you need to know is in Shunryu’s expression. “When you are not thinking that you have another moment, then naturally you can accept things as they are, you can see things as they are. You will have perfect wisdom at that time.” -Shunryu Suzuki “When you are not thinking that you have another moment,” is […]
Krishnamurti
“What is that which is silent? Look into it by examining awareness.” -Krishnamuri I was a born doubter. From my earliest memories, It felt like most of my so-called “education” was actually just people repeating what they had been told, accepted, and believed to be true. It always felt like I was “missing something.” Then […]
There You Are
Two of my favorite people in the world, BigJoni and Garno The Great! “Reality is perceived through your own body.”-Vilmalakirti Sutra Set aside some time each day—five or ten minutes, or perhaps twenty-five minutes—and rather than being a person with problems and desires, shift your standpoint to be the awareness of what is happening. Without […]