dorg

You simply see that you are not the ego. Ego can be really strong but you are not it, you are not fooled by it. You are the witness, the consciousness that is aware of the ego and it's pranks. It is trying to get you involved in thought, in it's thought system; it is trying to keep you enthralled as the ego, as someone located somewhere, as who-you-think-you-are, trying to drag you back into 'the dream'.

Whatever the ego experiences, that is not you; you are not the ego. It does not look like you have separated from the ego (who you think you are) and 'taken the witness position'. By getting involved in thought you are dragged into 'the dream'. Just watch those thoughts pass by.

@LRyan Appreciated. "Everyday life issues and requirements is the trigger that pulls me away from my awareness" is just an example of a type of thought that pops up from time to time and talks about such things; just as the 'I' thought does. Nothing to be concerned about. And if a concerned thought pops up, that is just another example.... And on thought goes, or not.

It is not sufficient to just catch yourself moving into unconsciousness. You need to notice the thought pattern, the belief, that drives each of these movements. Notice that you (awareness) is not unconscious, the thought pattern, what you think you are, that is unconscious.

I see meditation and self inquiry as observation so it can be done at any time. Through observation you notice how, though your own personal thought, you have been creating a fictitious world for you to live in. You do this by going into or indulging in or dwelling in thought. For instance you say "I need to work more on observation". Observation is not work and is not something you do. It 'just happens' when you do not place yourself in any situation via thought. Also, up there^ you said: This is a good example of what I am saying. You IMAGINE (think/believe) you are someone living somewhere and then on top of that you further imagine that you have OCD. All imagined. And then you are trying to control what you have imagined (thought/believed). Can you see the nonsense of this? In actual fact you are simply over thinking your situation. Can you just sit in a quiet spot and observe this? No one anywhere is in any situation. It is all imagined. Hope this helps a little.

How about freedom as an identity. Freedom does not take sides.

Yes. IOW you are simply watching thought and not pulled into it, not going into it. If you find yourself located somewhere you have gone into it.

You cannot be pulled in if you are observing. If you are pulled in you are no longer observing. If you have been pulled in then the moment you start observing you are no longer pulled in.

I see the darkness as a goad to awakening. This world becomes more dark due to the consciousness of the personal mind focusing on the darkness of/as it's reality. The solution is in our mind. The world is not separate from our mind. What we believe we experience (and not the other way round). So we start by seeing this. And as this seeing, this vision, this understanding, becomes more conscious, we will see the belief and see we can consciously change it.

@SOUL I found your latest post on this thread helpful. Thank you.

Where will you get funds for living expenses if you move out?

It is not JUST some beliefs! It is some beliefs that you believe and are not facing because you only guess (ie think) you are scared. You ARE scared so face THAT.

These types of thoughts I'm referring to have been in life from around the age of 12, I'm now 28. I've tried observing, it isn't strong enough ? "Just observe" means to be aware, be aware of thought. Being aware of - or just observing - thought is not going into thought. Going into thought is thinking/believing (like) you are someone located somewhere.

We don't go too far into concepts. What is too far? When we really start thinking/believing we are actually defined by them.

@Saumaya Thank you for adding those additional numbered comments to your OP. I have tears streaming down my face.

Wonderful OP. Very helpful! Thank you @Saumaya

@Faceless Thank you for these words of wisdom.

@Nahm Thanks. I had a blank moment there Edit: Not sure how long the blank moment was but I could not find anything to refer to anything.

Is there any real phenomena if not created by thought/word/idea believed in?

@Blackjohn You appear to be getting overly involved in thought. Suggest a meditation practice where you just watch thoughts pass rather than get involved with them.

Yes, any place or positionality is the conjuring of thought/words.

Even towards the end of the path the ego is very useful. It shows you the attachments that you still need to let go of.

Since there is no one in reality that is not self, undertaking acts of kindness (however small) benefits others and yourself and you notice that this makes you feel better.

How did you get that from what was said?