Mediocrity Means Climbing Halfway up the Hill Q: Is it possible to be totally and completely aware? If one is not able to observe without any movement of thought like and dislike, condemning, accepting how can one observe the extraordinary complexity of one's own existence inwardly? To be totally aware implies choiceless observation of the content of consciousness. The content is society, wars, misery, confusion and the repetitive pleasurable actions. Are you aware that you pursue pleasure pleasure of possessing money, pleasure sexually, pleasure of a position? Are you aware of the many parts of the contents of consciousness? Or are you aware instantly of the whole? If I am conditioned, holding on to parts I will never see the whole. |
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Motive Prevents Observation Q: Is it possible to observe without any motive? Ask yourself if in your observation of the world outside you and the world inside you you are free of motive when you look. Is there only observation - no correction, no direction, no suppression, just observation? Is there a possibility of being aware of this total movement as a single unit at a single observation? If, both consciously as well as deep down there is a total awareness, from that awareness in which there is no choice, there is complete action. Action without a motive, which is out of compassion which is out of clarity gives the skill to operate, to function, to act. This is total awareness. Can you be free of motive? |
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Can the Mind and the Heart Be Really in Harmony? Q: What is the relationship between self-knowledge and education, discontent and meditation, meditation and death? Is education not only the cultivation of various subjects, gathering knowledge, but also concern with the totality of man? Most of us have discontent. Either it becomes an all-consuming flame or it is soon satisfied. The highest form of discontent is freedom. Discontent and meditation go together. When you question, the flame is kept alive. Leave attachment of any kind to a belief, a dogma, a conclusion, and leave your fears, your pleasures, then what is the relationship of that to meditation? Can you approach death without a single movement of thought? The understanding of death comes through meditation. |
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Is Reality Different from Truth? Q: What is the relationship of actual facts to truth? Whatever thought creates is a reality including the illusions that thought has created. But thought has not created nature the tree, the mountain, the sky, the moon and the beauty of the stars. When there is an understanding of thought and therefore putting thought in its right place then what is the instrument, if there is one which is not of thought? Seeing what is reality there comes a quality of intelligence which is not of thought. Then that intelligence is love and that intelligence acts. In our daily lives, can this operate? |
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Can One Look at Oneself Freely? Q: What is relationship between human beings? Can relationship exist without effort without constant strife between human beings? What is that relationship in which there is no conflict at all? Is it possible in relationship not to register and therefore not to be hurt? When you are not attentive, hurts begin. When you are attentive there is no image-forming. If love is not desire, not the pursuit of pleasure then what is love in relationship? When you see the nature of relationship actually observe it with your heart, with your mind, with your blood what happens out of that observation? There is the awakening of intelligence which is the essence of love. This intelligence is part of compassion. Compassion can only be when there is clarity. Compassion and clarity will function with great skill in relationship. |
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Are We Seeking To Be Totally Secure, Permanent? Recognizing that I am the world what do I essentially want? Has psychological security become even more important than physical security? Do we cling to experience because it gives a tremendous sense of security? Does thought which has created beliefs, experiences, divisions give security? If I and another are both living in the past where is our relationship? Can understanding be so profound that it breaks down the whole movement of thought? Is it possible while listening to awaken tremendous intelligence? |
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Is There Security in Psychological Authority? Will you investigate externally to find the truth of the psychological authority human beings have imposed on each other? In obedience to an authority is there a deep-rooted desire for security? Can one live without any pattern or goal without any idea of the future without conflict? Without the word is there a feeling? Without the word and so the movement of thought is there envy? At the end of this are you free from all authority, all conclusion free from all sense of going towards something? |
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The Awakening of Intelligence Is there clarity in skill born of knowledge? What is the relationship of skill to clarity and the relationship of clarity to compassion? Fear denies clarity and compassion. Do we see the urgency of the need to wipe fear away totally? Psychologically, analysis not only breeds time, division but is always incomplete. How will you examine deep rooted fears if you don't analyse? Is fear the result of time and thought? Can you find out if thought can remain in its right place? |
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Can Thought Cultivate Love? Are compassion or love related to pleasure? What is pleasure derived from possessions, capacity, talent, dominance, living, power? If you take away pleasure what have we in life? What is the relationship of pleasure to joy? Why does sensation become desire? If it does not bring clarity and is not the field in which beauty and compassion flower then what place has desire? If love is not pleasure, desire, remembrance, although these have their place, what is love? Through negation, the positive is born. |
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What Is the Action of Compassion? Is there an action in which there is no motive, no cause, therefore no regrets, so always free? If there is no comparison, imitation, conformity aren't you left with "what is"? What is the state of the mind when looking at "what is"? Is it empty to observe so that there is insight and action and therefore freedom from "what is"? That is part of compassion. Is it possible not to suffer and yet have the flowering of immense love? What relationship has suffering the essence of the "me" to love? What is the action of an insight out of which there is intelligence? |
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What Is It To Observe Holistically? Can one treat one's life holistically, move from the beginning to the end without fragmentation, deviation, or delusion? Can I observe my living as a total movement of life? When you observe your friend, or your wife can you see your relationship holistically? Is there a way of living which is from moment to moment without any retention? If your house is not in complete order lacks complete clarity and compassion how can you find anything beyond it? What is the truth of death? |
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A Movement Which Is Timeless What is the need of any form of decision? Would you decide if you were very clear? What is the nature of will? Why do we give such importance to the man with strong will? Doesn't will in action lead not only to illusion but to resistance, exclusion, therefore isolation? Is it possible to live without the action of will, without effort? What is psychological time? If I am concentrating on a purpose for which I am living how can there be space? |
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