The Obstacle

10/24/2016

We might think that the greatest obstacle to experiencing profound lasting peace is the belief that it isn't possible in our current world of suffering.

An even greater obstacle is believing that it IS possible.

By believing in its possibility, we put it ever out in front of us, dangling like a very heavy carrot tied to a heavier stick. It places contentment in time. Since time is the mind's way of perceiving ever-presence, naturally this peace we might imagine in the future would also be a construction of the mind.

Now, if we take both beliefs, either that it is or is not possible, and set them aside even for a moment, we deprive the mind of working out our salvation. We fire our thoughts as chief interpreters of our intimate present experience.

The more we stand naked, devoid of belief, especially spiritual belief, the more available we are to seeing what remains.

2 Comments

joel

Joel Ripka is a Brooklyn-based actor with 20 years and over 30 professional stage credits from off-Broadway to regional theaters that span the country. He is a blog author and writes about a life lived creatively and in close connection with our deepest expressions of consciousness. He's committed to joy, teaching, sharing, and uniting. He inspires people to do cool things and live intentionally. He is a musician (guitar, piano) singer and also a skilled teacher and writer.

Mark Friedlander link

1/16/2017 02:19:38 pm

I love this whole site. It's brilliant! What's that din in the distance? Why, it's the people screaming, "MORE!" You sir, why that grumbling? "No bloody posts since......since....before Hallowe'en, that's what bloody makes all this bloody grumblin'!" And you, madame, why the long face? "Well, 'e's right, an't 'e? Nuffin' in almost three months! It an't right!" And you lad, why do you look so downcast? "Please, sir.......I wan't some more."

And there you have it. Jane, back to you.......

Mark Friedlander

4/2/2017 11:26:44 pm

The ship pulls up to the dock...and a throng of agitated folks are waving and screaming. "Aye! 'As he done it?" "Yew better 'ave our next blog post in yer bloody 'and!!" The yells start to become threatening. A burly sailor throws a heavy rope over a piling. "Back off, you lot! 'E ain't done nuffin'!!

The crowd screams with blood in their voices. "NUFFIN"????? Nuffin' will come of 'nuffin'!"

"Mind you! 'E's got lines to learn, am I right??"

Grumbling............

little big thoughts

The Obstacle

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Practical Wisdom for the Creative Journey

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