OUR BODY IS NOT OUR “TRUE SELF”.
We have a body, which we can pay so much attention to, or neglect, as the case may be. However, this is not where our “true self” resides. Our true inner self is really quite illusive! If scientists can one day locate this, it will probably be found somewhere in consciousness. This is then interpreted by our own mind.
WE ARE ONLY LIMITED BY OUR IMAGINATION.
So, we are not just our body, or our brain, or even our thoughts. We, as the essential human, are some figment of our own thinking. We are a figment of our own imagination! This revelation should not be interpreted as a demeaning or criticism. In fact, quite the opposite! It is the cause for a wondrous result: a wondrous celebration of what is then possible. This gives us a true realisation of how few limitations we in fact have. We are only limited by the extent of our own imagination and the restraints that we allow to be imposed on ourselves.
SADLY MOST DON’T EXPLORE THEIR POTENTIAL.
We thus become what we think and what we imagine. Imagine the endless and exciting possibilities. This could be quite overwhelming or even frightening to some. Most of us do not seem eager to explore the possibilities of who we truly are. Most don’t deeply think about where we should really be heading as individuals. Instead, we stay with the crowd, our group or community. We have been taught and conditioned to fear breaking free from the norms or our particular society. In return, we receive the promise of a collective protection.
WE GIVE UP OUR INDIVIDUALITY FOR SAFETY.
Under the influence of societal values, we forgo and forget our intrinsic need to explore our inner most being – our true self. We shackle it within the bounds or limitations of some dogma or doctrine that some group expounds. Then we hope that group will accept us. In exchange we forgo our given birthright to be what we truly are meant to be. Along the way we somehow lose our resolve to find our true self and to be this. We forget how to just “be”! There has been so much parental and social conditioning. So much influence and pressure to conform and obligations to fit in with the external expectations of us and for us.
WE CAN ESCAPE THE PRISON WE CREATED.
Yet, it is not too late. We can break free! We can still escape that prison of our mind that we subtlety created or allowed. Perhaps, the first step, the first insight that we need is to really appreciate all that we have and all that we are. But this is not in terms of what wealth we have acquired, nor the power, influence or notoriety we have attained.
EMBRACE AN INNER WORLD OF FEELINGS.
Instead, we need to realise that there is another world, another aspect to ourselves, which is much more valuable. This is an inner world of feelings and experiences. All these feelings and experiences arise from within us. They arise within our own mind. External events are simply triggers for how we can respond. It is here, in our own mind that we learn to access and release our true feelings. By doing this, we can be our own master and no longer need to suppress or deny our deep inner needs.
WE CAN BE OUR OWN MASTER.
We no longer need to prioritise our outer material world. This is the true mastery of our self, our inner self. By mastering this, we no longer need to repress, deny or distract ourselves just to get through each day. We no longer need to lavish expensive gifts or pleasures on ourself, to cope with our plight. Conversely, we do not need to completely reject any material comforts to access our true inner needs. Both extremes indicate deep neglect of our true wealth – our inner state of mind.
EVERYTHING ARISES FROM OUR OWN MIND.
In summary, there is a way to achieve an inner mastery of all that we inwardly want but have denied ourselves for so long. To enter and explore this inner realm, we first need to realise that all our feelings and experiences arise from within our own mind. We can then master that other world…. our inner true self.