Identification

 

March 15

We speak of "identification" as though it's something that takes place somewhere other than here, where we are, right now.

Yet we are identified with every word that comes out of our mouths, and with every thought that lies behind it. 

It's possible, as was demonstrated to me recently, to conduct an entire conversation among multiple people about "work ideas" that appears to be serious, heartfelt, and well informed, in which nearly every single individual in the conversation is identified almost exclusively with their own ideas, opinions, and prosecutes them in a completely mechanical manner. This, right after an aim has been set to do exactly the opposite. 

In the midst of conversations like this about, for example, inner considering, the first thing that takes over is — guess what? — inner considering. It begins to drive the exchange and before you know it all the individuals in the conversation have 100% forgotten what the conversation was supposed to be about in the first place, and trample across a range of unrelated subjects wearing army boots, automatically following the first thread of thought that either irritates or stimulates them.

For this reason, that is, that we follow everything that emerges from our mouths like sheep, it's best we speak little, and even then with a very focused direction.

But can we do this?

The first question should always be how grounded I am in my sensation. 

The companionhood of sensation is the first anchor in Being that helps to prevent complete identification. It may only help 10%; it might help 90%; but if it helps 1% it's better than zero, which is where we are most of the time. We think zero is 100.

And without developing sensation as an absolute and permanent foundation of Being, we'll never discuss anything in a straight line for more than 30 seconds, or discover a nexus from which Being can be consistent from one moment to the next.

I think on this matter  carefully, because very much turns on this question.

I'll keep this observation simple today and say no more. 

Hoping that you find yourself in good relationship today,

warmly,

Lee

Lee van Laer is a Senior Editor at Parabola Magazine.