Comments on: Disengaging

By: jeeva

jeeva — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 08:44:07 +0000

Hi Molly, beautiful post. I remember my teacher sharing his experience about how others perceived him diffrent in a weird way because he was not like others when younger and even today. He says, ‘its hard to unknow the known’. I said ‘why dont they feel like why they’re different? Just because of the law of large numbers? Just because most are following the crowd does not make it ‘the one’ does it?’ Life is what we believe it is. Thank you for your post as it gives assurance to the meaning of being yourself; finding yourself and living your life.

By: fibi

fibi — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:32:27 +0000

How nice it is to know that there are so many other people out there who feel similar things..

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:08:31 +0000

It seems to me Val, that when people actually discover what their true nature is all about, which seems to come from difficult life experiences or taking the time to be still, they change, and the result is that they actually experience the truth and their desire becomes to help others cease suffering, however that looks. So, selfish isn’t all bad.

But, for communication/language sake, I hear you.

Peace, and thanks for your insights.

Molly

By: Val

Val — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:13:20 +0000

When I was mentioned the ego I was thinking more about the idea of being selfish. Not so much about instant gratification, but more about the idea of moral worldly responsibility.

I absolutely agree with your premise. It is so true. I would hope that people who take this time away to awaken to their true selves will be able to step back into the world with a better perspective on how to help serve the needs of their community.

Great dialogue. I look forward to reading more!

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:40:23 +0000

Dai Chi,
These feelings had been with me for some time as well, and it was a life-altering illness that made me finally come to terms with what I am doing here.

Thanks so much for your comment. I am grateful for you and what you went through.

With Peace to you,

Molly

By: molly

molly — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:36:12 +0000

Wow, Gregor. Thanks for your kind words. They mean alot to me. Peace to you.

By: Gregor

Gregor — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:48:12 +0000

Hey Molly,

Amazing post. I cannot add anything to your words here — they stand up pretty well on their own. Just wanted to let you know how meaningful it was for me. Makes me really step back and realize what is important in this life.

thanks,

Greg

By: Dai Chi

Dai Chi — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:49:16 +0000

Dear Molly

What you have said has been in my heart for a long time. And as time goes on I become more and more confident this is the best choice. I had a brush with death a few years ago. Afterward I would tell people that when they are wheeling you into the intensive care unit you don’t find yourself wishing you had spent more time in the office. I find when I try to measure the worth of something I am doing, the best yardstick is to ask whether, when I lay dying, I would be glad I did it. Gassho.

By: Molly

Molly — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:17:45 +0000

Val, thanks for your comment. And I hear what you are saying. However that assumes that the ego is separate from who we are, and it isn’t separate. When we observe without reaction the ego’s destructive habit patterns, then we begin to come out of our suffering and the ego begins to dissolve. And that takes immense amounts of still quiet time, which in order to give yourself that space and time, may involve disappointing others, when you begin to see that maybe some of your worldly pursuits begin to lose some of their importance.

But I hear what you are saying. I am referring to saying no to things, etc, (disappointing others) because you need to serve your true nature, because you need to be still in order to come out of your suffering. Not because you’ld rather start a fight or go out drinking.

Thanks for the thought provoking comment, Val.

Peace to you, Molly

By: Val

Val — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:03:15 +0000

Beautifully said.

May I add one thing?

“Disappoint others in order to be true to yourself.” I think this is fine as long as one has been able to distinguish his or her desires from the ego’s desire. If it’s the ego talking and making decisions, then all is for naught.