thoughts

..."what appears is merely a kind of reflection of that basic ground, call it Consciousness-at-rest, God, or whatever. Seeing the oneness, not only in the manifestation but the oneness between the manifest and the unmanifest, is all that is really meant by enlightenment. Once the individual thinks in terms of his individuality, forgetting this oneness, not only between the manifest and the unmanifest, but the manifestation as a whole, then he begins to think in terms of personal security. Once he begins to think in terms of personal security, he creates any number of problems for himself. So, at that level, the first step in the understanding of the individual is the fact that there can be no such thing as security for the individual, that movement and changes are the very basis of life and living. Therefore, in seeking security, he is seeking something that just doesn't exist. That understanding is the beginning of the understanding of life, and through the understanding of life, to go back into impersonality. The child in his earliest stages, has an inherent awareness of things. It is his experienced actuality. So no questions arise. But when the intellect gradually expands, the child begins to ask questions. When the child has its first confrontation with the phenomenon of death, death brings the idea of life to the child. Death and disintegration bring the idea of life and security to the child. As the intellect proceeds, the intuitive natural awareness with the Oneness gradually gets dimmed, clouded."

Questions that arise for me are how does the primal mind affect all of this and our emotions and how we feel about things without just conscious thought. Also, how can we change neural firing patterns in our brain, so as to rebuild a foundation more aligned with pure awareness?

When thoughts arise, see them as just waves on an ocean passing overhead. Do not attach to them; let them pass by without attachment and suffering; feel natural joy arise.