Radically Condensed Instructions for Being Just as You Are

The self, or the activity of ‘selving,’ is characterized by a search for something we think is missing. ‘Selving’ is a misunderstanding which causes us to problematize our experience. As soon as we postulate an independent and self-enclosed self, we start to bother ourselves.

We can be awake and intimately in touch with the mystery of the present moment. This is a lifestyle choice, not a goal. When something appears to take us out of present-moment experience, we can question it rather than follow it with credulity. We don’t have to let it hoodwink us with the promise that we will be in touch with the mystery of present

When we realize our true self is nothing other than present-moment experience, we are free to love whatever is happening, regardless of whether we like it!

If we want to appreciate the mystery of life, it is essential to evade the compulsion of our desires by understanding that there does not need to be anything else in our current situations. There is no greater feeling, state, or condition that we have to achieve. There is no lesser or more limited feeling, state, or condition that we have to be lib

Like the problem of simple substances in physics – each particle of dissatisfaction turns out to be another compound. Dissatisfaction can be broken down into ever smaller particles. And infinitesimal dissatisfaction turns out to be as vexing a problem as infinite dissatisfaction was. We find that we end up scrubbing our hands all day like Lady Macb

Wakefulness or enlightenment can be reasonably defined as appreciating the mystery of life in the present moment, while knowing it is the only 'thing' there is. Wakefulness’ opposite – the dissatisfaction brought about by reactive emotions and alienating desire – can be reasonably defined as the futile attempt to ‘get something out of life.’

The fact is, we don’t experience the mystery of life by ‘working through’ our perturbation. We just experience it. We simply decide to experience life, without judgment or expectation. A moment’s lapse is a moment’s lapse. The reason our occasional, alienating thoughts and feelings bother us is because we think we should be bothered by them.

We can experience profound joy if we give ourselves permission to. Instead we look outside ourselves for a perfect situation. And it is the act of looking that takes us away from our happiness.

The fact is, we can't improve and improve, and finally get to ourselves. It won’t work and it’s not necessary. We are already ourselves.