"Who am I?" asks the four year old to her mother. "Why, you are Sarah, my daughter," the woman replies. "You were born in Michigan. You are of Christian faith. You go to school in Troy. And, you love to play with your toys." Though this reply is general and, perhaps, more extensive than the average mother would explain, it is often the idea implanted within us at a very young age. "This is who you are!"
But, I ask, is it? Are you your background, faith, belongings and ideals? Or, are you something much grander? Are you and all other humans comprised of a depth so unfathomable, that one cannot grasp the total picture? I shall propose an answer, and that answer is yes!
How can you know this to be certain? How do you discover that depth and search within its infinity? You must feel, feel within. If you are having trouble, close your eyes and ask yourself this question: Without looking at, thinking about or touching anything, how can I know I exist?

Part 2

What is reality? As covered before, reality is neither in your head nor outside of you. Though your thoughts and the external world are aspects of the experience of reality, they are only a fraction of the totality. YOU are reality. Your experience is merely the contrast you desire to paint the picture you want (the color for your canvass). And contained within that previous sentence is an even greater truth: The life you are living is one you have created, whether consciously or unconsciously. This includes all of the sadness, the anger and the sorrow. For, without the experience of these contrasting emotions and sensations you would not appreciate the beauty of joy.
How could anyone know what absence is without presence? In other words, light would not exist without darkness. One enables the other to be.
So, if you need the contrast of sadness to feel happiness, a prudent question would be: Am I creating the negativity in my life so that I may experience its opposite?
WOW! If that is true, what kind of a game is this? Could it be that you have placed yourself, by some form of cosmic intention, in your particular predicament simply to give yourself a taste of life in its fullness? Could it be that all the complaining and all the laughter you've experienced have been both desired by you and answered by you?
If the above is indeed the case, would this not be the greatest game ever played?

Part 1

 

 

What does it mean to be alive? More importantly, what is reality? Are these questions merely arbitrary or do they hold substantial value and importance? By ALL means, this question is important! It is important because we tend to view reality through the filter of our thoughts. And, if you take a good look at your thoughts, you will notice a disconnection between what is reality and your perception. Part of the reason for this is that we think in words and words are easily manipulated. Now bear in mind that you probably believe in every "word" your mind is thinking.

Contemplate on this.

If you could no longer mentally speak your language would you cease to think? Of course not, however your thoughts and actions would be more in tune to what you really mean and intend to communicate. So, what all of this has to do with reality, you ask. Well, if we believe in what we think, by implication we view our thoughts as reality. However, language is not the truth it only points to it. And example would be the word apple. Apple, the text you have just read, is a pointing device to redirect your attention.

Where does your attention go?

By thinking of an apple you remember the taste and texture and so recreate the sensation of binding your tongue with an apple's juiciness. So, does this mean that experience is outside of you in all of the experiences you've had and are waiting to have?

The answer is still no. However, the answer is much closer than you may think...