I can't help but to think that we all tend to take these things much to seriously. Life is life whatever it brings up. Is the problem that we overthink and conceptualize our lives away and then feel there is something missing?
Well yes, probably it is our moment to moment existence that has disappeared being continuously overlayed by our habit of abstract thinking and worrying about what is missing - whereas nothing is missing, it's been here all along.
What a surprise, Ron! Exactly my kind of wording. I recently published a Kindle booklet with the title "Nothing Was Missing: Living Without Meaning."
I wrote it for no particular reason, perhaps just to see if I could put my experience of seeking into words. But when it was done I felt somewhat nonplussed by what I had written because it seemed to be AHEAD of my experience, so when I re-read it now I feel I am being tutored; a weird experience.
Anyway, if it should interest you to have a look at I can be contacted at my email address which is strydom.john@gmail.com. I will then send you a free PDF copy.
Hi John, I can relate. Speaking of one of my books (and knowing I'd written it), a friend once said to me, "Joan, have you read this book?" It has often been said that we teach what we need to learn. Often when I open one of my books, I find exactly what I need to hear! As you say, being tutored by my own words. Writing seems to be a way of seeing and clarifying as well as expressing what has been and is being seen. It's a mysterious process. Also, that word "meaning" is a curious one. What exactly does meaning even mean? I think David Bohm once wrote a book about that question, Unfolding Meaning, that I read but can no longer remember. 🙏
Thank you Joan. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has that reaction to their own writing!
I agree about the ambiguity of "meaning." It occurred to me as I was writing, but at the time I decided to leave it unquestioned so that I could remain concise. I will look up Bohm's book, thank you.
Other ambiguities which arose were the concepts "event" and "happening."
Yes, perhaps that's so - we. teach (or maybe write) what we need to learn. Over the years l have written the equivalent of three or four books - and still learning. Thanks Joan and John.
Yes. And even the abstracting, conceptualizing and worrying turns out to be simply another impersonal momentary shape that this indivisible aliveness is momentarily taking. ❤️🙏
I am in that phase [have always been in that phase?] of seeking "...What has been written here so far could also bring forth a great sense of release, relief, happiness, peace, acceptance, playfulness and freedom..."
Sit with it
Do your best not to resist/struggle/seek..."What you focus on; you get more off" [A different guru, Esther Hicks (Abraham) etc.]...more resistance/struggling/seeking...
Sit with it
Only "I" can do that. "No one else" can do it for me....and yet to know that "I" am not alone in doing my best to sit with it "...could also bring forth a great sense of release, happiness, peace, acceptance, playfulness and freedom..."
The relief seems to come in not needing to be relieved...in not taking the "inner" weather any more personally than the "outer" weather, knowing it is all an inseparable, dream-like whole, no longer giving it importance and meaning. "Sit with it" can become a huge burden, something "I" (the phantom self) must do, in which "I" am forever falling short. The effort of trying not to try and seeking relief. Of course, everything you mention can also be wise and helpful advice within the dream: being aware of where the attention is focusing; simply being present with what is, as it is; knowing that you are not alone in your human struggle. ❤️🙏
Your words (or should I say "these words"? 😉) are balm to the soul which feels so weary today. As I was reading the weariness became heavier, and now it feels like a puddle of chocolate in my belly, calm and sweet and totally OK. Thank you Joan.
Hola ¡Sembla que quan ens sobrepassant les coses la Vida ,,al·lucinem ho fem abstracte i, una paraula de la qual el seu significat ens ajuda es somni
Però ja ho dius bé: es sentir, això aquí ara. El sentir es la vivesa del ara aquí així. Es el despertar a la conciencia que tot es i, és tant extraordinari, tant ple i buit de sentit, tan lleuger flexible i incorruptible tant lliure...
Tot canvia a cada instant de camí cap a l'origen, sí, que es aquí mateix, que ho som, al mateix temps hi som de pas, com disfressat categoritzats assimilats envol callats per les regles de joc d'aquesta Vida ella es la conciencia absoluta no sabuda apareguda en distinció sent aquest univers aquesta Vida
Potser quan arribem o ens transformem ens dissolguem amb el principi l'origen. Dipositarem les experiències recollides en el cicle que ens ha tocat d'aquesta Vida, quan la gota surt es desprèn de la ola i dona un periple per aquesta Vida i es fon en l'oceà deixan-hi el seu perfum
"THIS is simply THIS. Any “IT” is conceptual and imaginary. And THIS is unpindownable and inconceivable. So what are we even talking about?"
I heard 'This is it." , "It is all that." , "I am that." . My mind held on to IT and That, after it left chasing Presence, Awareness and Consciousness. I believed that one day, I will have an experience that will show me 'THAT' behind this. You clarified it in simple terms, Joan. Thank you.
Thanks for the humor. It really does all start to sound like meaningless words at times- the whole language of non-duality/consciousness/ being/ is-ing
🙌🙌❤️❤️
Interesting...we certainly do like to speculate about concepts around what may or may not be "real", don't we?
For me, it's become clear after chasing various explanations of "how things are" for many years that a) we'll never KNOW, and b) it doesn't matter.
I see the Prime Directive (capitals!) as being "Notice whatever is arising and respond as skilfully as you can."
Go well Joan. 🫶🈚️🐛
Ah, the Prime Directive! To whom? From whom? 😄🙏🦋
😂...good question. To me, from me. As things stand at the moment. Much love..😁
I can't help but to think that we all tend to take these things much to seriously. Life is life whatever it brings up. Is the problem that we overthink and conceptualize our lives away and then feel there is something missing?
Well yes, probably it is our moment to moment existence that has disappeared being continuously overlayed by our habit of abstract thinking and worrying about what is missing - whereas nothing is missing, it's been here all along.
What a surprise, Ron! Exactly my kind of wording. I recently published a Kindle booklet with the title "Nothing Was Missing: Living Without Meaning."
I wrote it for no particular reason, perhaps just to see if I could put my experience of seeking into words. But when it was done I felt somewhat nonplussed by what I had written because it seemed to be AHEAD of my experience, so when I re-read it now I feel I am being tutored; a weird experience.
Anyway, if it should interest you to have a look at I can be contacted at my email address which is strydom.john@gmail.com. I will then send you a free PDF copy.
John Strydom.
Hi John, I can relate. Speaking of one of my books (and knowing I'd written it), a friend once said to me, "Joan, have you read this book?" It has often been said that we teach what we need to learn. Often when I open one of my books, I find exactly what I need to hear! As you say, being tutored by my own words. Writing seems to be a way of seeing and clarifying as well as expressing what has been and is being seen. It's a mysterious process. Also, that word "meaning" is a curious one. What exactly does meaning even mean? I think David Bohm once wrote a book about that question, Unfolding Meaning, that I read but can no longer remember. 🙏
Thank you Joan. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has that reaction to their own writing!
I agree about the ambiguity of "meaning." It occurred to me as I was writing, but at the time I decided to leave it unquestioned so that I could remain concise. I will look up Bohm's book, thank you.
Other ambiguities which arose were the concepts "event" and "happening."
What on earth ARE these squiggles?
😄
Yes, perhaps that's so - we. teach (or maybe write) what we need to learn. Over the years l have written the equivalent of three or four books - and still learning. Thanks Joan and John.
Yes. And even the abstracting, conceptualizing and worrying turns out to be simply another impersonal momentary shape that this indivisible aliveness is momentarily taking. ❤️🙏
Wonderfully helpful comment!
Worry is non grata in my experience; I regard it as proof that I still have to improve - with predictable results...🤪
I am in that phase [have always been in that phase?] of seeking "...What has been written here so far could also bring forth a great sense of release, relief, happiness, peace, acceptance, playfulness and freedom..."
Sit with it
Do your best not to resist/struggle/seek..."What you focus on; you get more off" [A different guru, Esther Hicks (Abraham) etc.]...more resistance/struggling/seeking...
Sit with it
Only "I" can do that. "No one else" can do it for me....and yet to know that "I" am not alone in doing my best to sit with it "...could also bring forth a great sense of release, happiness, peace, acceptance, playfulness and freedom..."
Thank you Joan
❤️😍💕
The relief seems to come in not needing to be relieved...in not taking the "inner" weather any more personally than the "outer" weather, knowing it is all an inseparable, dream-like whole, no longer giving it importance and meaning. "Sit with it" can become a huge burden, something "I" (the phantom self) must do, in which "I" am forever falling short. The effort of trying not to try and seeking relief. Of course, everything you mention can also be wise and helpful advice within the dream: being aware of where the attention is focusing; simply being present with what is, as it is; knowing that you are not alone in your human struggle. ❤️🙏
Your words (or should I say "these words"? 😉) are balm to the soul which feels so weary today. As I was reading the weariness became heavier, and now it feels like a puddle of chocolate in my belly, calm and sweet and totally OK. Thank you Joan.
Sweet!
Ugh. This was… I mean…. Thank you! Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily 🛶
Hola ¡Sembla que quan ens sobrepassant les coses la Vida ,,al·lucinem ho fem abstracte i, una paraula de la qual el seu significat ens ajuda es somni
Però ja ho dius bé: es sentir, això aquí ara. El sentir es la vivesa del ara aquí així. Es el despertar a la conciencia que tot es i, és tant extraordinari, tant ple i buit de sentit, tan lleuger flexible i incorruptible tant lliure...
Tot canvia a cada instant de camí cap a l'origen, sí, que es aquí mateix, que ho som, al mateix temps hi som de pas, com disfressat categoritzats assimilats envol callats per les regles de joc d'aquesta Vida ella es la conciencia absoluta no sabuda apareguda en distinció sent aquest univers aquesta Vida
Potser quan arribem o ens transformem ens dissolguem amb el principi l'origen. Dipositarem les experiències recollides en el cicle que ens ha tocat d'aquesta Vida, quan la gota surt es desprèn de la ola i dona un periple per aquesta Vida i es fon en l'oceà deixan-hi el seu perfum
Per tant Vica aquesta Vida Visca Amor..
Love all this. And I especially love your sign off…great apes looking at the stars 🙏
😁🦍⭐️❤️
I also love how all teachers and teachings are part of this dream, so none of us get the final word on anything.
My waking dream is enjoying having you as a character at the moment. 😊
"THIS is simply THIS. Any “IT” is conceptual and imaginary. And THIS is unpindownable and inconceivable. So what are we even talking about?"
I heard 'This is it." , "It is all that." , "I am that." . My mind held on to IT and That, after it left chasing Presence, Awareness and Consciousness. I believed that one day, I will have an experience that will show me 'THAT' behind this. You clarified it in simple terms, Joan. Thank you.
I love your posts, Joan. Lotsa love! 😘
Unpindownable! I look around and it looks real and then not so much. I love the "stop complaining" in Nisargadatta's question and answer.
Starting my day with all this. Thank you
Wow! That was intense😊Thank you!
“What’s Wrong With Right Now” Sailor Bob
Thanks for the humor. It really does all start to sound like meaningless words at times- the whole language of non-duality/consciousness/ being/ is-ing