What is behind this confusion, this disorder, and this suffering that we, human beings, have in our lives? It seems to me that, for most of us, it hasn't yet become clear that all of this is born within each of us. Some internal condition in us makes it viable in life.
In general, we always blame others, the external, the outside. So, it seems to me that it is still not very clear that the whole problem lies within each one of us. And the question is: where does it lie? It is not the world, externally, that is creating problems for us; actually, we are creating problems for the world. At what level does it happen?
So, let us make it clear to you here that the only problem present in our lives is internal, and this reflects in our external world, in our world of relationships with people and situations. Where does it occur? At the mind level. And this is what is not clear yet.
What is this mind? What is the human mind? How does it work? The non-understanding of how we work means that this condition of life and existence continues in this way: confusion, disorder, and suffering. So, we spend a good part of our lives oblivious to this, and the vast majority may spend their entire lives in this condition, as is usually the case.
So, we need to pay attention to what goes on inside each of us. In this way, it becomes essential, indispensable, the understanding of the truth about who we are and how the mind works. Then, the question is: what is the mind? Another thing is: what is this consciousness in us?
Let us put these two subjects to you here. What is the mind – what is the human mind, how does it work – and what is this consciousness? We talk about consciousness and the mind, and we usually separate them. Is there really a separation? Another thing: what is the main element of the mind? What is the main element of this so-called “consciousness”? The main element of all this is quite clear, and one can observe it. It is clearly possible for us to observe that the main element is still the movement of thought. The movement of thought is the main element of this so-called “mind in us,” “consciousness in us.”
So, what is the thought? How does it work? Thought in us is something simple to observe; it is the memory in us. See what we put for you. Every thought in you is just a remembrance, a memory – that thought is just a memory. Without memory, there is no thought. The basis of it, then, is remembrance. Everything you have been through, you remember here and now. Then, thought, which is memory or recollection, is the basis of the mind. This mind is the very movement of this consciousness – as we call it, as we know it.
So, what is this consciousness? It is the mind, the movement of the mind, which is thought or memory. Notice something foremost here: all our actions – these behaviors in us – are present because of thought. We do not understand how this movement of thought, which is memory, works within each of us. We are driven to action and behavior based on thoughts, emotions, feelings, and this form of perception. All of this is within the model of thought, this movement that is memory within each of us.
So, where do our confusion, disorder, and suffering come from? From consciousness. From this consciousness we have present, from this mind present in this consciousness. And this mind is this movement of thought. Then, not understanding this memory is the continuity of confusion, disorder, and suffering.
We want to have peace in our lives, in our relationships, and understand each other, but it does not become possible as long as the main element in us is thought. Here, I refer to the one based on memory, on this structure of recollection and remembrance. And why is that? Why isn't peace possible? Why isn't Freedom and Love possible within this condition? Because we are always imposing on this model of memory, of remembrance, an element that is separate from this remembrance, this memory, this thought, which is the “I” element. Let us investigate this with you.
“My thought” – what I believe to be my thought, is a memory that arises at that instant because of a memory. Behind this memory, there is an element, which is the element “I.” This sense of an “I” present within the thought is the one that separates itself from thought to evaluate it; it separates itself from that memory to evaluate, judge, and compare that memory with something else. So, when we do this, we create an element of conflict within thought, recollection, and memory. This element of conflict is the “I.”
When I look at you and talk to you, what is present is this “I” element, and based on this thought – drawing conclusions, evaluations, and judgments – it is saying things to you. So, what do we have in this encounter between “me” and “you”? An encounter between memories, remembrances, and thoughts that are in conflict because you have an idea about who I am, and I have an idea about who you are. When we judge a thought, a remembrance, and a memory, we are doing so.
We are not able to deal with each other based on memory. Memory, remembrance, and thought are something that comes from the past. In this contact with you, a prejudice is already present, a pre-formed concept. These are the encounters between people's ideas. Notice that people have opinions, ideas, and conclusions about each other. That is a concept, a prejudice. That is a particular view of the “I,” the ego, and this, naturally, is conflict. Do you get that?
Therefore, Peace is not possible in our relationships as long as their base is on this pattern of remembrance, memory, and recollection, which has this element “I,” the ego, behind it. We do need memory and remembrance but on a functional level. Your name is a remembrance I have of you; my name is a remembrance you have of me. The image of the face, the memory of this so-called “person,” is something functional. We need it in our relationships to recognize each other, to work together, and to relate to each other. But psychologically, we put a new element, which is the “I” element, the ego, into this contact. So, this sense of “someone” being present here and “someone” being present there, this view based on beliefs, concepts, prejudices, opinions, of differing ideas, all of this is born from this background of memory and, behind it, we have this “I” element, the ego, which is only working with an image, a concept, a particular view of who you are.
So, I have a particular vision – of who I am and who you are – based on opinions, beliefs, concepts, and prejudices. Then, there is confusion. There can be no Love as long as this form of image is present. Then, there is no Love in our relationships as long as this psychological condition of identity prevails, which is the identity of the “I,” the ego. Therefore, to look at this movement, which is the movement of the “I,” the ego, of this “person” I believe to be in this relationship with you, and I believe you are, to become aware of this movement of separation, of division, is the end of it. To look at this movement of the ego present, of the “I” present, to strip yourself of this movement and remain only with the memory, the remembrance, the functional recollection.
We need a given knowledge, experience, and a mutual relationship of recognition between you and “me” without the element of the ego, this “me” – which is this self-centered psychological condition of being someone within the experience. The problem with this element – which is the “I,” the ego – is that it is self-interested. It always seeks a relationship with the “other” for its own ends, to acquire and gain something because it sees itself as a separate entity that needs things. It needs appreciation and fulfillment. The point is that this element, which is the “I,” is in this relationship within a sense of separation, exclusivism, self-centeredness, and self-interest in itself. All it wants in a relationship is to get something for itself. So, this is the movement of egoism, of egocentrism. Then, division is the cause of this disorder, this confusion, this suffering.
We do not understand how the mind works because we particularize that movement, make that movement something particular to that “I,” that center, that person. By looking directly at this movement of the mind – the way it works, we can free ourselves from this illusion of an identity present within this experience. That is when the mind then becomes free. So, understanding how the mind works is possible when you approach it and observe its movement and notice this element that is the “I,” the ego, this self-centeredness.
When you start to become aware that you are constantly constructing an image of the other, an idea, a concept, an opinion when you start to become aware that you are doing this to acquire, get, or obtain something from the other, you start to perceive this movement of the ego, this center, this illusion, this sense of an “I” present, always needy, lacking and therefore egocentric. Becoming aware of the movement of the “I” itself is Self-Awareness; it is the Truth of Self-Awareness.
So, this approach of looking at oneself and observing the movement of memory and this sense of a present “I” separating to build a personal, particular story within this relationship with the other, with life, with the world, is Self-Awareness. When there is a Real Understanding of this, there is an end to suffering because you are abandoning this illusion, the illusion of this “me,” this “I,” this ego within the experience – and here, experience is thought, memory, remembrance. Then, we become capable of living in a relationship with the other without any image of them, without any opinion, concept, or prejudice about them. A life free from images of who the other is, of what the other represents to this “me” is life in Love, Peace, and Freedom; it is when there is no more room for disorder, confusion, and suffering.
Thus, looking at this movement of the mind, how it works, becoming aware of this element that is the “I,” which separates from thought, being the thinker; separates from experience, being the experiencer; which separates from the other, being the “I” and the “other,” “he” or “she,” to become aware of this movement of separation, of duality. Our life is based on this sense of an “I,” of ego in this duality, this sense of separateness, this sense of “me and the other,” “me and him,” “me and my thoughts,” “me and my ideas,” “me and my beliefs.” We here are looking at this Truth together that the unique Reality present is the Divine Reality, the Reality of this Being that we are when there is no such element, which is the element of “I” – I have called it person, ego, egoic identity.
So, that is the subject here with you, either on the channel or online meetings that take place on weekends. You can find our link to join the WhatsApp group here in the video descriptions; thus, you can get involved in these online meetings. We also have face-to-face meetings and retreats. Therefore, if this is something that makes sense to you, please give your “like” and subscribe to the channel, okay?
See you. Thanks for meeting us, and see you next time!
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