You see we all have created an identity for our self out of an image and belief system based on past experiences that we present to the world. This identity is what separates us from other people. This is our ego. This is attachment to form. I've never written about this before and find it a challenge for all words are also form. From the context that these words can only act as pointers to the truth I will proceed with this understanding.
Our identity needs separation from the whole of humanity to exist. This comes to fruition in two forms: superiority, inferiority. If you go into a superiority mind pattern you perceive your success in any category in comparison to other people as a means to inflate your ego. This is theoretically the concept of pushing the next man down so you can stand on his shoulders. Ex: I'm better looking than... have more money than... are smarter than... are funnier than... are more spiritually evolved than... ect. Really any time you analyze or interrupt the circumstances of your life as a means to feel good about yourself you are removing yourself from the world of experience. It may make you feel good temporarily, but it is a fleeting high. The opposite perceived experience is one created by coveting the circumstance or experience of others. Ex: I am less pretty... have less money... am less righteous... am less than. This is any thought pattern that you use to create a victim identity or judge yourself in relation to others leads to self-angst.
When you look at the examples above a resonable comment is: Can this be the meaning of life? Bouncing back and forth between these emotions. Striving for more on the former while denying the latter. Noooo! This is not what your life is about. Your life is about connection, not separation. It basically means that any time you are interperating your life an you feel a sense of separation with the whole you must realize this is not your true self. This is not the self that can laugh with your friends, revel in the beauty of nature or totally engross yourself in the flow of life. This is only an interpretation of who you think you are filtered through years of social conditioning and past experience.
But how to I find my true self? You might ask. Your true self is already there... here right now in the experience... WAIT... not the thoughts your having about this experience, but the experience itself. Your true self is always there... it is just frequenly being covered up by thought. Live the present moment as it is... with no thoughts or interpretation of the experience and you will feel a bliss, a presence, a peace beyond which you could ever imagine. WAIT... now your trying to feel this bliss... just let it happen... WAIT... now you feel your superior because you are living in the moment... just let it all go. Come back to the present moment. Ahhhh.
