Session 1.1

Our Mindsets Transcript

In order to understand our journey, we need to see a bigger map. the box that is drawn represents the entire physical world. What are the word that describe this physical world? It is changing, everything has an end and it is unpredictable.

We can’t even know the next second. The things of this world are made of the same ‘stuff’ as a cloud. What is the result of a single attachment in this box? The result is guaranteed sorrow. Are there any attachments in this box?! What we come to realise is creating attachments is our choice.

We have the option to be the observer. We see that the cloud comes, and the cloud goes. There is no reason for to feel disappointment. The cloud comes and goes, sometimes there are no clouds, there is clear sky, or stars… I enjoy life.

In contrast, when there is a spiral of attachment, I create insecurity which is, in essence, unnecessary and fabricated. When my idea of security is not based on the cloud, I have the option to be secure.

The truth is, I don’t have control over this world, the weather, other people, of governments. What I do have is 100% control over what my attitude is towards this world, and therefore if I am secure or insecure. It can be seen as common sense and by seeing the bigger map, it becomes easier to see our situation.

Feeling secure is very relevant to us, as it influences our inner life and therefore our quality of life. Outer circumstances do affect my quality of life too, but to a larger extent it is our inner life & attitude that has an influence. If I am secure, I can enjoy what is happening.

It is worth checking if I am creating conscious or subconscious security or insecurity. If my security is based on the outer world, then it will fluctuate. If my security is based on beyond the physical world then it won’t fluctuate. When I am secure, there is peace. I can love. There is contentment and happiness. When I am insecure, my feelings are more complex.

With the spiral of attachments, there is insecurity and with this comes the desperation to feel secure. If my desire is not for filled what do we call it? Stress. Stress is defined as ‘desire - insecurity complex’. If I don’t feel secure and I can blame someone for it, I feel anger. If I can’t blame someone, or it is my own fault, I feel depressed. If someone else gets the object of my desire, I feel envy.

A whole spectrum of negative emotions can be explained, when I understand the root is insecurity. It can go in any direction, the feelings can go from one inauspicious feeling to another. What if I get my desire forfilled, what happens? If it is based on something temporary, it is false happiness and it takes me further down the spiral. This means when there is subsequent change, my negative reaction will be greater. That is why not everyone gets angry and experiences stress in the same way; we are all at different levels down the spiral. The further down the spiral the more misery is experienced. The more truly secure I am, the better the quality of life.

In clarify, you are seeing the cloud but you’re not saying it is my cloud. In this, we are describing a different mind. What we are seeing are two distinct mindsets and they dictate the quality of our life in a big way. Is in our hands, either to promote the secure mind or the insecure mind. Meanwhile, the outer life goes on.

One question: is if possible to be in the world, in the city with the job with children with grandchildren with a mortgage with banks and a dog and have no attachment? Is it possible or impossible?!

For example, we are siting together in this room. We are using many things, but we are not getting into attachment. How? We are aware that we are guests in this room. We are aware of the bigger picture and another reality beyond this room, we already have a life beyond. As a guest, we know the exit. This prevents the guest from going down the spiral of attachments. To be attached would be to be childish. So we have guests here in this room. Are we guests on this planet? Does anyone have plans to stay here? If not, we have guests, travellers, and we have an exit. I realise that I can’t own anything here in this world, not even a single atom. If something is really yours, it means it is yours to keep. At most I am a trustee here in this world. I’m responsible, but this is a different thing from being possessive. I can’t own anything. Is this good news? It is good news, because then I can’t lose anything.

In this secure space there are the words: happiness, love, peace, contentment. They are not feelings in the ordinary sense, they are much deeper. The words are the same but these are super sensuous experiences. There is no reason for even a trace of desperation or disappointment. One is more relaxed in a deep way. One still does everything in the world, but from a deeply secure space. At present, we are currently acting from an insecure space, from a subconscious desperation. We have the option to change the direction. For one minute to see the perspective of the guest, the traveller in this world, building the practice of quality attention for minutes at a time, has the power to bring about a shift in mindset. A richer quality of the inner life will naturally follow.