Enlightenment Through the Looking Glass

My latest project is finding ways to get over myself. What I mean by getting over myself is dropping my self-concern and self-absorption in favor of something more interesting and less riddled with suffering.

So, you might ask, what could possibly be more fascinating for me than gazing at my own problems and concerns? Good question!

First of all, I have noticed that my problems and concerns are oddly repetitive. It's like they're on a loop that goes around and around in my head. The themes are the same. If my concerns and problems were made into a novel, I would never read it. Too boring. Maybe your internal loops are more interesting than mine.

Second of all, when I gaze at my problems, it's kind of like looking at myself in a mirror. The same thing happens. In the mirror what I notice is my hair (does it look good or not?) and all my blemishes and imperfections. This is what I see -- same thing every time.

But when I can get over myself, it's like stepping through the looking glass just like you-know-who in Wonderland. There is a very different world on the other side of the looking glass. But I have to get over myself first, time and time again.

My best strategies for getting over myself are Awareness and Meditation. Awareness interrupts the loop that's playing and it sounds something like this: "Man, this is boring (or painful or crazy). I'm so tired of my opinions and problems. God, what do You want?" When I consider what God might want, all my petty issues and opinions lose their attraction.

Now, God is very interesting. Especially if you explore the Gourasana aspect of God. Then you really find out about the experience of going through the looking glass.

In meditation (I recommend the Modern Day Meditation) you can get closer to God, closer to Gourasana and further away from the boringness of issues, problems, concerns, etc. What a relief! I think that this is at least partly what Kalindi means when she talks about enlightenment.

So as you are pursuing enlightenment, start with getting better at getting over yourself. That's what I'm doing. It's an endeavor worth the effort.

Thank you for listening. Good night.