9-7-08 – Post

Who’s suffering?

Who’s suffering?  Is the root cause of all personal issues, personal problems and psychological suffering, a mistaken view of what I am, a mistaken identity?  Are all personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering, caused by, generated by, produced by, the false erroneous concepts and mistaken beliefs of what I am? In the investigation, exploration, inquiry, questioning, seeking, examining, close looking, deep looking, is it discovered that all personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering, are a case of mistaken identity?

Am I a separate independent I me entity,  individual, person, with preference and power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything?  Other than thought and imagination, is this separate independent I me entity, individual, person non-existent?  Is there only awareness, no thing, in which all things, without exception, are coming and going, appearing and disappearing, arising and passing away, presently, immediately, naturally, effortlessly, uncontrollably, randomly, spontaneously, automatically, mysteriously?

Am I this awareness, no thing, aware of everything coming and going, appearing and disappearing, arising and passing away?  Am I awareness, no thing, the already and always present happening, the essential happening, the fundamental happening, the primary happening, the underlying happening, the basic happening, regardless of whatever thing is appearing, on which everything depends, happening before, during, and after all transient happenings, all transient appearances, all transient things, and without which, there are no transient happenings, no transient appearances, to transient things?

 9-6-08 – Post

Is there no one to suffer?

Is there no one to suffer?  Are all personal issues, personal problems and psychological suffering, based on the fundamental misconception, the unexamined false assumption, that I am a separate independent entity, individual, person, with the power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything?  Is this false, erroneous, fictitious image of being a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, the cause of all personal issues, personal problems and psychological suffering? Is there anyone, or has there ever been anyone, to do or not do anything, that anything is happening to?  Is there still belief in this fundamental misconception of being a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, in relationship to what’s happening, in relationship to what’s appearing?  Do I believe that I am a separate independent entity, individual, person, with personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering?

Is thought still claiming ownership, doer ship, authorship, ruler ship?  Is everything happening, appearing, presently, immediately, naturally, effortlessly, uncontrollably, randomly, spontaneously, automatically, mysteriously, without any separate independent I me entity, individual, person that it’s happening to, that’s doing it or not doing it, that’s involved at all?

Is the separate independent I me entity, individual, person, non-existent?  Is there no such thing as separate independent I me entity, individual, person, with or without the power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything?  Without the separate independent I me entity, individual, person, is everything just happening, just appearing, with no one to refer it to?  Do I still believe that I am a separate independent entity, individual, person, with personal issues, personal problems and psychological suffering?  Is there still the hypnotic, habitual habit, of referring what’s happening, what’s appearing, to that same old false self-center, that same old false reference point, that same old false identity, that same old false concept, false belief, false image, that same old false, fictitious, separate independent I me entity, individual, person?

Can I find any separate independent entity, individual, person, anywhere?  Do I still believe and take myself to be a separate independent entity, individual, person, with the power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything?  Is this an erroneous belief, an erroneous concept, an erroneous assumption?  Can a separate independent I me entity, individual, person with the power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything, be found, be located? 

Is immediate investigation, exploration, inquiry, questioning, seeking, examining, close looking, deep looking the key?  Is it only a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, that can have personal issues, personal problems, psychological suffering? Can I find a separate independent entity, individual, person, right here right now? Other than thought and imagination (concepts, ideas, assumptions, beliefs, stories), is there any such thing as a separate independent I me entity, individual, person?  Is the separate independent I me entity, individual, person, non-existent, a fictitious image, a phantom? 

9-5-08 – Post

Is suffering necessary?

Is suffering necessary?  Are all personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering, nothing but thought and imagination, rooted in the fictitious, imaginary identity, the false separate independent I me entity, individual, person, the false self-center, the false reference point, the false self-image?  Are all appearances in relationship to a fictitious separate independent I me entity, individual, person?  Are all activities related to a false self-center, a false reference point, a false self-image?  Is everything relative to a fallacious, erroneous, invalid, false separate independent I me entity, individual, person?  Is everything relative to a fallacious, erroneous, invalid, false self-center, a fallacious, erroneous, invalid, false reference point, a fallacious, erroneous, invalid, false self-image?

Right here right now, is there any separate independent I me entity, individual, person, any self-center, any reference point, any thought or any image with any independent nature?  Right here right now, are these appearances arising without  any reference to an imagined separate independent I me entity, individual, person, self-center, reference point, or self-image? 

Do I still believe and take myself to be a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, self-center, reference point, image, with preference and power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything?  Do all personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering arise because of this thought, concept, idea, assumption, belief, story, image of being a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, self-center, reference point?

Is it because of this erroneous belief in this thought, concept, idea, assumption, belief, story, image of being a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, self-center, reference point, that there are personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering?  Is it only a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, that can have personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering? 

Is there any such thing as a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, with preference and the power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything?  Is there only awareness, within which are sensations, perceptions, constantly changing appearances, and the thought, concept, idea, assumption, belief, story, image of being a separate independent I me entity, individual, person?

 9-4-08 – Post

Do I have control?

Do I have control?  Am I a separate individual inside this body and, do I have the power to control what I think, feel, say, and do?  Do I have the power to control what happens?  Do I have the power to control this body and its functioning, these thoughts, these feelings these actions, these events, these sensations?  Is there a separate independent person, that can be located, that is in charge, in control of what is happening, of what is appearing, of anything that is happening, of anything that is appearing?  Is the separate independent I me entity, individual, person, anything more than just a thought, an idea, a mental concept, a mental image, with no independent nature, with no power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything?  Is the I or me just a label to say there’s a someone doing something or a someone something’s happening to?  Is there any separate independent I me entity, individual, person, with preference and power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be, or become something, anything, or, is something, everything, just happening without any separate independent I me entity, individual, person involved at all? 

Is something, everything, just happening without anyone that it’s happening to?  We say, ‘I think, I feel’, but, is it all happening by itself, presently, immediately, naturally, effortlessly, uncontrollably, randomly, spontaneously, automatically, mysteriously, without anyone doing it?  What breathes the body, moves the body, lives through the body, animates the body, beats the heart, renews the cells, digests the food, etc.? 

Is natural functioning, actual functioning, pure functioning, happening without any dependence on a thought, an idea, a mental concept of a separate independent I me entity, individual, person?  Is everything, all functioning happening, appearing, without any dependence on a non-existent doer, on a fictitious separate independent I me entity, individual, person?  Is there a recognition, as a result of investigation, exploration, inquiry, questioning, seeking, examining, close looking, deep looking, that the separate independent I me entity, individual, person, is just a thought, a fictitious story, not what I am? Am I that by which I know I am?  Am I the awareness of presence or the presence of that awareness?  Am I awareness?  Am I the awareness within which everything appears and disappears, and without which no thing can appear?  Is there any doubt that right here right now, I am present and aware?  Can anything exist, if I’m not present and aware?  Is awareness presently witnessing and registering what is coming and going, appearing and disappearing, arising and passing away? 

Is there a clear recognition of my identity as awareness?  Can anything appear without this awareness?  Has awareness any problems or suffering?  Is awareness free of problems and suffering?  Is this awareness the already and always present happening, the essential happening, the fundamental happening, the primary happening, the underlying happening, the basic happening, on which everything depends, happening before, during, and after all sensations, all perceptions (thoughts, words, labels, symbols, language, feelings, emotions, concepts, ideas, assumptions, beliefs, stories, memories, fantasies, images, objects), all transient happenings, all transient appearances, and without which there are no transient happenings, no transient  appearances at all?

 9-3-08 – Post

Is thought the only problem?

Can only a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, have personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering?  Is the separate independent I me entity, individual, person, only a thought, a concept, an image, an assumption, a story?  Does any thought have any power, any independent nature?  Can the thought ‘I see’, see?  Can the thought ‘I hear’, hear?  Is thought only translating what’s happening, what’s appearing, and attributing, referring what’s happening, what’s appearing, to the false reference point, to the false self center, to the false identity, to the false separate independent I me entity, individual, person, with preference and power to create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, gain, grasp, own, do, be or become something, anything?  Do all problems arise from this relationship?  Is this the resistance to what is? Are all personal issues, personal problems, psychological suffering, only thoughts, concepts, images, assumptions, stories, about a fictitious separate independent I me entity, individual, person?  Does the separate independent I me entity, individual, person, appear in the form of self-centered thought, in the form of self-centered thinking, in the form of imagination, in the form of a thought story? 

Do all thoughts come and go, appear and disappear, arise and pass away presently, immediately, naturally, effortlessly, uncontrollably, randomly, spontaneously, automatically, mysteriously, without any separate independent I me entity, individual, person involved at all? 

Without thought, without imagination, does the separate independent I me entity, individual, person exist?  Can the next thought be known until it appears?  Is there only the present thought?  Is this just another thought?  Are all questions and all answers thought?  Do all thoughts come and go, appear and disappear, arise and pass away, without a separate independent I me entity, individual, person doing the thinking? Is there any separate independent I me entity, individual, person here with personal issues, personal problems, psychological suffering, or is the separate independent I me entity, individual, person, just a thought, a concept, an image, an assumption, a story, a fiction? 

Does there have to be thought, for any personal issues, personal problems, psychological suffering, for anything to be wrong?  Does there have to be thought before there can be personal issues, personal problems, psychological suffering, before anything can be wrong?  Right here, right now, without thought, is there any problem?  Right here, right now, without thinking, is there any problem?

What is aware of the thought that claims ownership, doer ship, authorship, ruler ship?  What is aware of the thought that believes it has the power, it is the power?  What is here before, during, and after the thought, the thinking process?  Am I here before, during, and after all thoughts, all thinking, all imagination, all appearances? What is it that remains, while thoughts come and go, appear and disappear, arise and pass away? 

Is this awareness the already and always present happening, the essential happening, the fundamental happening, the primary happening, the underlying happening, the basic happening, on which everything depends, happening before, during, and after all transient happenings, all transient appearances, all transient things?  

Am I that which is present and aware, before, during, and after all thought?  Does who I think I am really exist?  What am I, in relation to thought and everything else?  Is there really a separate independent I me entity, individual, person here doing things, or, are things just happening naturally, effortlessly, uncontrollably, randomly, spontaneously, automatically, mysteriously? 

Is there really a separate independent I me entity, person here, a separate individual here, with any independent nature?  Can the separate independent entity called I or me be located, or is it just assumed?  Can this assumed separate person, this assumed separate individual, this assumed presence of the separate I or me be located?  Is there a recognition of the falseness of the assumed me and, a recognition of the non-existence of any such thing as a separate independent I me entity, individual, person, that can have personal issues, personal problems, and psychological suffering?

 9-2-08 – Post

Am I aware presence?

Is this mysterious aware presence, aware of everything?  Is everything coming and going, appearing and disappearing, arising and passing away in this aware presence, transient, impermanent, constantly changing?  Is this aware presence what I am?  Is there a difference between aware presence and my own presence?  Am I what is unchanging, already and always aware presence?  Is everything naturally, automatically, effortlessly, spontaneously, randomly, uncontrollably, immediately, mysteriously transitory, impermanent, constantly changing, coming and going, appearing and disappearing, arising and passing away, within this aware presence? Am I this aware presence?  Is my true nature, my essential nature, my real nature, this aware presence, already and always here, untouchable, undeniable, and unconditionally open to everything that’s coming and going, appearing and disappearing, arising and passing away?  Am I this aware presence which is witnessing and registering everything, containing everything, open to everything, aware of everything?  Is aware presence, not a thing, no thing, and yet undeniably, without a doubt, definitely, certainly present?

Is this aware presence, what I actually am, not a thing at all?  Is everything appearing within and dependent upon this no thing, this space-like aware presence, that I am?  Is everything constantly changing in this aware presence? 

What is not a thing and yet contains all things?  Is this space-like aware presence not a thing, and yet containing all things?  Am I this no thing, this space-like aware presence that everything is coming and going, appearing and disappearing, arising and passing away in?  Is anything independent of this aware presence?  Does thought or anything, ever appear outside of this no thing, this space-like aware presence that I am? 

Is this aware presence, the already and always present happening, the essential happening, the fundamental happening, the primary happening, the underlying happening, the basic happening, on which everything depends, happening before, during, and after all transient appearances, all transient things, and without which there are no transient appearances, no transient things?  Is this aware presence my true identity, my essential identity, my real identity?  

  What is this about?

Is this about understanding who I really am, what I really am?  Is this about resolving my personal problems, my psychological suffering, my seeking, my doubts, my desires, and my fears?  Is this about getting something or becoming something? 

Is this about Christian Mysticism, Kabbalah, Zen, Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Dzogchen, Mahamudra, Sufism, Taoism, Advaita, Advaita Vedanta? Is this about self-inquiry? Is this about non-duality, the essential oneness of existence?  Is this about an investigation into the nature of existence? Is this about an investigation into the essence of all that is? Is this essence one without a second, one without separation? Is this essence no thing being everything? Is this essence what everything is made of? Is this essence what everything is appearing in? Is there no thing outside of this essence?

Are being, existence, presence, awareness, presence awareness, being awareness, self-knowing awareness, non-objective, non-conceptual awareness, beingness, consciousness, wakefulness, aliveness, livingness, I amness, nothingness, knowingness, direct knowing, the knowing that I am, reality, true nature, true self, witnessing presence, cognizing emptiness, the one energy, intelligence energy, it, this, that, what is, some of the words used to point towards my true nature, my real nature, my actual nature, my non-conceptual nature, my essential nature, my non-objective nature, my present nature?

In the dream state, is everything made of the same dream stuff? In the waking state, is everything made of the same waking stuff? What’s aware of the dream stuff? What’s aware of the waking stuff? Is this presence awareness the source, the essence, of the dream stuff and the waking stuff? Is the essential oneness in the waking state the same as the essential oneness in the dream state? Is the essential oneness presence awareness?

“The I thought, the You thought, the Me thought, the Other thought, the body, the thought story, the image, the idea, the concept, the mental picture I have about myself, which has no power of its own, which has no independent nature, which appears in, and could not exist without, being awareness, presence awareness, is believed to be the actuality, the reality, what I am, the true self center, the true reference point, the true self-identity. Why? Because it is not questioned. These songs question it.

These songs investigate the immediate present evidence, what is, bringing the attention to things, or no thing, never investigated before: to the actual, to the factual, to the natural functioning, to this present moment, to my being, which is a fact, not a concept, to this being awareness, presence awareness, that’s undeniable right now, to this presence of awareness, awareness of presence that can’t be negated right now, to what’s really happening right now. Is there anyone here who can create, change, choose, control, achieve, attain, get, own, be, or become something, anything? Is there a separate I, a separate me, a separate independent actual substantial person here, within this awareness which presently is, or, is this separate independent I me entity, person, just a thought, a word, language, a label, an erroneous concept, belief, assumption, idea, a mental image, a mental picture, an identification, a story, a mirage, a transient appearance, a dream, a fiction, an illusion, false, unreal?