I collect these quotes, aphorisms, and koans when they halt my thinking in the moment, and my mind is freed to inquire and discern their truth. I commit total mind and body attention to feel their rhythm with my experiences, whether they ring with the heartfelt intelligence of complete understanding or rattle with the empty verbal propaganda of some controlling tradition or belief. The initial surprise of thoughtful feelings that arise from these emotional inspirations gives me pause to do the work and investigate the energy flowing through my heart to clear out the learned dogmas, concepts, and ideals, to calm my thinking, and allow the true light of awareness within—meditation—to expose how my mind works and reveal the never-changing truth—that has no opposites of becoming. These passionate interruptions are reminders of how easy it is to become imprisoned in my mind, coerced to believe social, “religious,” and political doctrine without feeling or understanding their authenticity. Only by doubting and questioning traditions, beliefs, moralities, and organizations can the “I” experience the wisdom of knowing the true nature of life—that dissolves duality: the need to identify the “self” through mental comparison, right or wrong, good or bad, acceptance or denial. The mind’s cravings to become one or the other are dissolved in the silent awareness of thoughtless feelings—meditation—the truth that gives rise to a sense of peace, creativity, and the right thinking of choiceless natural intelligence.
When rigorous inquiry into these reminders reveals a heartfelt, truthful understanding, I feel motivated to share my experience and interpretation to point out the potential value that might help others uncover their truth. By doing the work, I hope to mindfully eliminate all doubt and discover the truth to build trust in the community. This is my attempt to share the peace I have found in staying sober, constantly remembering it is always the present moment, an opportunity to dissolve my thoughts (the past) in the solvent of awareness that allows silent meditation—enlightenment (healing)—to happen.
VAB 07-12-24
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