An exerpt from AWARENESS by Anthony DeMello:
"Every time you are unhappy, you have added something to reality. It is that addition that makes you unhappy. I repeat: You have added something...a negative reaction in you....And if you examine what you have added, there is always an illusion there, there's a demand, an expectation, a craving." p.109
AWARENESS, Image books, Doubleday. copyright 1990
After reading this excerpt, consider my previous post about Martha and Mary. Notice how Anthony's way of phrasing the cause for Martha's dis-ease (Martha's outburst clarifies it) shows that it's NOT what Martha was doing (she could have been sitting alongside Mary, and STILL have been troubled), which was the cause of her dis-ease (she felt a great burden in her toiling), but what she added to it (thoughts and feelings).
Mary, on the other hand, was simply participating; an attentive listener, who, in the moment, had no concerns about anything else.
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself." Mt. 6.34a
Which boils down to- 'Don't be concerned about anything other than what's happening in this moment.' Thoughts and feelings are NOT inherent in the moment. Consider this the next time you feel troubled...you have added an interpretation; and that interpretation causes dis-ease. Simply participate in the moment and allow interpretations to fall away. That's all there is to it; but it's not easy!
Matthew
"Every time you are unhappy, you have added something to reality. It is that addition that makes you unhappy. I repeat: You have added something...a negative reaction in you....And if you examine what you have added, there is always an illusion there, there's a demand, an expectation, a craving." p.109
AWARENESS, Image books, Doubleday. copyright 1990
After reading this excerpt, consider my previous post about Martha and Mary. Notice how Anthony's way of phrasing the cause for Martha's dis-ease (Martha's outburst clarifies it) shows that it's NOT what Martha was doing (she could have been sitting alongside Mary, and STILL have been troubled), which was the cause of her dis-ease (she felt a great burden in her toiling), but what she added to it (thoughts and feelings).
Mary, on the other hand, was simply participating; an attentive listener, who, in the moment, had no concerns about anything else.
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself." Mt. 6.34a
Which boils down to- 'Don't be concerned about anything other than what's happening in this moment.' Thoughts and feelings are NOT inherent in the moment. Consider this the next time you feel troubled...you have added an interpretation; and that interpretation causes dis-ease. Simply participate in the moment and allow interpretations to fall away. That's all there is to it; but it's not easy!
Matthew
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