Born without any knowledge about people and life, we grow up guided by the instructions of those around us. These instructions, to some extent, shape our lives. Some of what we learn is helpful, but somes prevent us from seeing the truth. Clinging to thoughts and viewpoints that do not align with reality creates many conflicts when we interact with ourselves, with others, and with life. Accumulating too many ideas about “how things should be” makes life harder, as we constantly try to bend every aspect of life to fit our desires.
When we face difficulties, what do we usually do? The obvious answer is to look for solutions, that is the instinctive tendency for most people. Some may complain and do nothing, though we all know that this does not solve the problem. Still, are there not difficulties in life that keep returning no matter how many solutions we try? Aren’t there struggles we encounter again and again, even after spending years, even decades, attempting to fix them? When too many unresolved issues in life pile up, we can easily get caught in a cycle of craving solutions, and sometimes each solution we apply end up creating new problems of its own.
A person can travel a long way and expend significant resources searching for solutions to a problem without understanding why that problem exists in the first place. Pursuing solutions to a problem without understanding the root cause is like groping around in the dark. Things would be simpler if effort and perseverance alone could solve every problem, but that is not the reality. There are problems that cannot be resolved through the act of seeking or applying solutions. With these problems, the very pursuit of solutions creates more complications, and the solutions applied merely lead a person in circles, eventually bringing them back to the same issue. Some problems remain until we understand their root cause, some difficulties only come to an end when we see the truth behind them.
Confusion and bewilderment will not be present when we stop trying to change what cannot be intentionally changed. Life becomes lighter when we see ourselves and the world in accordance with their true nature. The foundation for understanding life begins with understanding oneself – understanding the mind. If we do not understand how the mind operates, the meanings of life that one pursue become nothing more than tools for attempting to fill the inner void. Without understanding one’s own mind, a person is more likely to depend on what others say to guide their life.
Understanding the mind comes from observing its actions and tendencies. Observing the desires, thoughts, and emotions that arise as we interact with ourselves and with the world. Observing what creates the inner void, and what we truly expect when we seek guidance from others. Unlike other paths, the journey to see the truth about the mind and about life is a solitary one. No one else can help us see the truth clearly. A person may listen, read, memorize, and repeat what they have learned from others, but that does not mean understanding. Only by observing and experiencing directly what is happening, without the interference of opinions and prejudices, can we truly see the truth.
What you are reading here, or in other writings, are descriptions drawn from what the author has seen and experienced while observing the mind and the way the inner world express outwardly. Words and articles are merely paintings used to simulate that is real, real experiences. Observing for oneself what is happening in the mind brings an entirely different experience from thinking or judging based on accumulated knowledge. And once we see that we can observe the mind ourselves, that we can understand our struggles through direct observation, we no longer need others to tell us how to live.