Show Notes
Most of us are quite certain that there is an individual separate self that we call “me,” but when we make a concerted effort to locate such a self we find it surprisingly elusive. We find telltale debris in the form of thoughts, feelings and memories, but there is a curious absence as to the originator of such effects. We tend to dismiss these direct observations in favor of the presumption that “I” must be in there somewhere. This territory is rich with surprises.
More from Well Being with Don Oakley
The spiritual journey can feel like a selfish endeavor: tuning out the world and looking within. And it may be that for a while, but that is not where it leads. Where it leads couldn't be more inclusive.
In spirituality, there is a lot of talk about trying to get rid of ego as if it were a fixed internal entity opposed to our awakening. But other than a believed thought, where is it exactly? When we look for it, we can find ideas, memories, regrets, hopes, fears, opinions and so on, but no ego? This session will address how to work with this troublesome concept.
When we hear the word "emptiness" used in spirituality, it can be thought to mean void, non-existent, utterly devoid of life and other such scary concepts, but hat is not what it means at all. It is a very subtle but essential concept with no real equivalent in western spiritual traditions.
An Illusion is when we believe something that is not true. When we see a mirage in the desert, the image is real (we do see an image), but the image is not what it appears to be. This discourse will cover how to recognize illusions and how to dispel them.
Everything we can see, taste, touch, hear, think or feel is always in a state of flux, always changing. Every living being comes with an expiration date. We might ask, "In a world where nothing is permanent, where can our true identity be found?" Is there anything that abides?