ways we trap ourselves

Rather than opening to boundlessness, we trap ourselves within our consciousness. Two major traps exist. Some fervently believe in realism and consider themselves realists, not like all the other fools. A realist, with the ardor of a Lourdes-visiting pilgrim who has laid aside all "crutches," fervently believes that only what the generally agreed upon set of physical senses (taste, touch, smell, sight, sound, etc) pick up is "real." All else is fantasy,

Two general types of realists exist: thinking and non-thinking. The non-thinking realist has thoughts but gives them little attention except insofar as they serve to gratify his/her physical "realistic" needs. The thinking realist gives more value to thoughts, including them as "sense data" for a "true" view of reality.

The thinking realist usually does not practice meta thought, the practice of stepping back from his thoughts for consideration and reflection. What he thinks and senses is real and not to be questioned. This is called ordinary consciousness. This consciousness state is one in which many live (without giving it a second thought).

The second consciousness state in which we trap ourselves is called enlightenment. We hypnotize ourselves with the reflected light of symbols and concepts we call holy: Jesus, Buddha, Allah, angels, nirvana, heaven. bliss, rapture, the Pope, Rumi, Benny Hinn, the cross, prosperity, progress, the Secret, and so on. Some of these listed you may see and pooh-pooh with delight. Others are your sacred cows and not to be messed with in any way (though you do like to milk them).

Whatever we cling to as holy is no longer holy.

The concept of enlightenment is one of the most dangerous known to man. You are what you are what you are what you are. To try to fashion yourself into what you are not is ridicule-ous. Diets don't work, not even spiritual ones.

Though I do not consider myself a christian (nor a buddhist nor any other ian or ist), I really like that Jesus dude. He was always blowing up people's consciousness states, speaking in paradoxes and koans (which are as clear as a bell if you are in the same consciousness state as the speaker, but make the mind go wanky if you are not). He even lamented from time to time that nobody knew what he was talking about. (And we still don't. But we did what we humans often do in our perpetual search for security -- we built a Savings & Loan institution on top of him.)

Here are some words of Jesus that might sum up what I am trying to say"

"His disciples asked him: When will you appear to us? When will we see you? Jesus replied, When you strip naked without shame and trample your clothing underfoot just as little children do, then you will look at the son of the living one without being afraid." Gospel of Thomas, 37.

Forget enlightenment. It's just some more shuck and jive about saving yourself, that sweet precious little kernel of individuality you cling to with such desperation.

Trample that clothing underfoot. Stomp both realism and enlightenment into the Ground. Go naked. Run free.