Question your mind

Last couple of days, I am listening to "Your Inner Awakening" Audio CD's by Byron Katie. Are you familiar with her books and work? If not, visit her website. I highly recommend to read her books and learn the methods. Some of the sentences, which stayed with me, from her talk in the Audio CD's are:

1. You other person is the reason for my problem, then I am insane.

2. Is that true? (this is one of her question)

3. All suffering is because of the past.

4. We believe what we think and that is the reason for our problems.

5. Unquestioned mind is the reason for our suffering.

6. Suffering is optional.

Recently, doctors informed Katies that she is going to be blind soon (one or two years back). Both Katie and her husband smiled at that statement. Steven, immediatly said, good, I wanted to have a dog for long time. Such a loving attitude they have. For ordinary folks, it seems like very uncaring statement. Isn't it?

Katie tells a story about fear and how it runs in our life. I will give it in my own words. Lets say in a desert, which is famous for snakes, you are travelling. You step on a snake like object and you loose your breath, get panic, historic, etc. Jump up and down. Finally, in light you come to know that it is a snake (yes, I know you might be saying, I know this story. Knowing is different. Here I want to quote: People who are cocky and arrogant say, "I know that" and move along. People who are confident and positive ask themselves, "How good am I at that?" and seek to improve. -- Jeffrey Gitomer). Once you know that it is a rope, you will stand on the rope without any fear or trepedition. However, people walking by will have terror seeing you standing on top of a snake. They will be anxious, fearful, terrified, however, no matter what happens, you will not get afraid of that rope. Isn't it? Its their thoughts which are causing pain, similar to your thoughts until you know it is a rope. This is the twist to regularly known snake & rope theory. Isn't it?

Most of us are educated on not judging others from childhood. Katie says "Which world you are on? You are judging every moment of life. This is a beatiful flower! Good work! Ugly painting! lazy! cleaver!, etc." We do judge, however, we don't want to judge others in a derogative way and also we don't like to share those thoughts. According to Katie, first step in "The Work" is to 'Judge your neighbor'. Once one judge their neighbor, spouse, boss, friend, relative, etc., they go to next steps in which they ask following questions.

Is it true?

Can you absolutely know that it's true?

How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought?

Who would you be without the thought?

She encourage one to do these questions first before going for turn around. She says, each of these questions are like meditation. Also turn around without familiarity with questions will be like a dagger in your heart. After familiarity with the work, it will be like blessing.

So, go an watch all the videos she has for free.

Cheers.