The mind will convince us of the need for reassurance, advice and help from other people. However, it is the fragile ego’s need for attention that drives it. If we need any convincing we need only logon to Facebook to see the needy looking for attention.
The challenge is, it becomes addictive and the moment that others do not provide what we need it is devasting for the delicate collection of self-created inner stories that have hijacked us. The ego then reacts and turns on our victim or punisher mode, often a mix of both.
Attention fuels the chemical fixes in the body that brings about a short-term buzz. However, as with everything there is the Yin and Yang and that means there is the corresponding low to all the highs.
So then the ego needs more drama, more complaining, more attention-seeking to get the next fix. The spiral is downwards as the need for more is insatiable.
The inner being within us all, however, is a sanctuary that will always be indestructible, the unmanifested and concept-free essence that is our true self.
No matter what happens in the mind or the exterior world, there is that within us that is always peace, love, joy, calm and the truth. A space that is drama and problem-free.
Pity that we are unaware of this as we are never taught about the transcendent dimension that is within us all and thus we are not even aware that there is space within that is always free of suffering and need. Even for those who have a more spiritual connection, there is the challenge of unlearning the conditioning and being within an environment of unaware people.
However, if we wish to live a real and peaceful life that is not consumed by the ego and our repeating thought patterns, then the challenges of going deeper into our true essence and being, that is beyond the mind, is one we can choose to take.
It does require patience, sacrifice and choosing to be present in the only moment that ever exists, as in now. The one that isn’t dominated by the story of ‘me’.
Philip Dodson 