Focus on Life™

Talking with David McMillan about trust, knowledge vs. wisdom, and time.

 

 Episode 2 [33:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For us the visible reality is the real thing. We associate ourselves with it and respond to it as well. Often we feel uncomfortable and find hard to match with the world around us. Inside we are at distress with the outer reality. It does not reflect our ideal inner state.

Throughout the ages it has been said that the visible world is not real or it is called as an illusion or maya. Plato had his famous The Allegory of the Cave which described the same with a dark cave and shadows that the people we’re obliged to observe - not the true figures or the outside world. These metaphors are hard to grasp and to realise by us living in the modern world.

Still nothing could be more true. Maybe the phrasing could be different but the original message remains intact - always. This visible reality is the one where we communicate and observe. Still we are present in other planes as well. They are not visible to us but still we are members on those ones as well. Beside the physical body we have also our feelings and emotions as well as our mental capabilities. They are as real for anyone as the physical world itself even thought we cannot see them.

So, where’s the real reality and what does it mean? The world every wisdom tries to illustrate and refer to is the reality of thoughts. That is where anything is first created - it is thought out. Only after that it can be expressed and materialised. No matter are we talking about going shopping, building a house or even speaking. First it has to be created and then it is a matter of realisation depending on the case at hand.

A thought without any feeling is not complete. Saying ‘I love you’ without a feeling is meaningless. Similarly the feeling or the passion / desire has to be combined with the thought. Together they are something. This applies to talking, building a house or any other matter. (The third required element is power or will to execute or carry out the matter but this is just a hint for the considerate reader and not relevant for the topic.)

Why should we not focus on the outside world and instead purely concentrate on the inner higher reality? No matter where you look you find the wise words that encourage to look inside or as Pythagoras has so nicely put it: “Man know thyself then thou shalt know the Universe and God.” These should not be understood in a manner that one ignores the visible world or isolates from the world. They purpose is to encourage to focus on the essence or the source where everything is really taking place and where one can have control and real influence on the visible world.

First this may sound quite a bizarre or contrary but just consider how much in control of your world you really are? Are you pretending to be in control or just really facing the facts that you are only an observer for the occurring events. A feeling of being in control is not the same as having a real influence on the issues and understanding what’s really causing them. Can you have a peaceful and happy life?

Some people can. And they have followed the advice. They have realised that in order to achieve something one has to look inside and find it first there and only after that can it materialise in the outer world as well. Actually nothing can prevent it from occurring shall the desire be strong and persistent enough. Why is this so hard to believe and start to implement?

Simply because we are used to live and look outside of ourselves. We take it as granted that by doing something in the outside world we can make something to happen in our desired manner. But what happens when you start to do this? One creates a perpetuity machine without even realising it and having a chance to jump out. Often only the final desperation makes the person to get out of the cul-de-sac and start to look inside for strength. Only then can something start to happen. The reason for this is very simple. The outside reality is just a mere cause of the activities that happened before - ie. the results or the reflections of the mental thoughts and feelings. Nothing can ever change in the outer reality till the thought and emotional structures are changed accordingly.

One has to ’see’ and ‘feel or believe’ together the desired outcome first and only then it can start to happen. If you just look the current state of the visible world and take it as granted without any creative and passionate effort then nothing will ever improve or change. Actually the opposite often happens. A negative spiral is created - things look so bad and hence I will be so depressed and so on. Naturally a positive inspiration and feeling is also possible to happen - then only the sky is the limit - isn’t it?

Why is this so hard to believe - still? Since we do not see the real reality and thus we do not consider it matters. We think that we can think, feel or say whatever we feel like without much consideration or significance. And look the state of the world today! Have we been able to live in peace and love each other as humans? How about your thoughts and feelings - only loving and peaceful everyday and towards everything, permanently?

Maybe we should start to consider more carefully the wise words repeated so often to us throughout the centuries. We even have living proves of people who have achieved a permanent state of tranquility and happiness. Even the latest science do not disapprove this. Einstein and quantum mechanics can do wonders if one wants to study them. Why is it so that the observer effects the observation or to put it differently the thought effects the thinker.

What’s reality like from eternity’s point of view?

Who talks by silence, does the most.

How can we see something we know nothing about?

(To) Be.
We are just becoming.
As long as we have to become, we are not. When we only are,
there is nothing else. A pure state of existence.

The view,
so vivid and exciting,
full of life,
happiness and joy,
sometimes sorrow, often pain,
from limited knowledge and
ignorance,
glances still;

Stepping back,
enlarging the scope,
gaining new foothold,
spectating,
from a distance,
different angle;

Firmly pacing,
knowing,
from here I must walk,
these curtains must fall,
something must go;

Giving away,
the known,
to make space,
for the unknown,
letting go,
to fall,
the facade,
so dear and attached,
which does not hold,
it must go;

The one behind,
was an angle of mine,
based on defects,
that was all,
nothing really at all,
but it was all,
I knew.

All there is,
is right here and just now;
Don’t wait,
don’t travel,
shift forward or delay;
Postpone to escape,
move to forget;
Still it does not matter—
all there is,
is right here and just now.

Pre-set for presence,
and set free,
or reset.
To be and not to be—together,
is the key.
Live real and
realize,
right here and just now.

Cannot force,
cannot push,
no way to rush;
Distant yourself,
just now and right here,
for two beings,
aligned into one;
Living together,
peacefully and in harmony,
without fights,
of dominance.

Presence is intense,
only in one,
with full knowledge,
and understanding,
of right here and just now;
To be—always,
and even without,
a physical presence,
makes sense,
only,
right here and just now.

Everything we see, have, are, and live within is based on two
structures: the substance (i.e., the essence) and its representa-
tion (manifestation). The appearance is the structure that is
easy to comprehend and is the only truth existing for the
inexperienced.

Only the wise can separate the representation from the
substance. The ignorant regards the appearance as the essence
and creates more confusion around. Everything has this
twofold existence and, therefore, any act or deed can either be
banal or of essence. It cannot be acknowledged only from the
representation. The paradox is that being able to reproduce
the appearance has nothing to do with the substance—nor
does it have to do with the comprehension. It is easier to
reproduce and arrange the representation than to realize the
substance underneath. However, nothing has any real value
and meaning without the substance.

The substance never has a physical appearance. It can only
be associated with something tangible, but it cannot be cap-
tured by it. For example, what is a wedding ring without love?

Trust is about relying on someone, letting ourselves be vulner-
able and fragile, totally dependent on someone. It is a token of
something pure and innocent, a way of expressing confidence
and pure beliefs. Something beautiful and overwhelming.
Appreciation without apprehension. A bond that if you are
careful will last through almost anything, but with a misstep
can be broken as easily as any china.

Its strength is in its vulnerability. Its kindness and willing-
ness to sacrifice and be naked in front of the other grasp its
essence. Trust is something you cannot fake. Either you have
it or you do not have it. It can be built upon but once lost it is
almost impossible to repair. It is a fine line that is so easy to
cross and so hard to be noticed. Trust is like love. It’s up to us
to make the choice. By choosing to trust, you never lose. It is
not about the outcome but the intent. Nobody ever wins any-
thing if there is nothing to be trusted. Someone has to start—
why not let it be you? It is all about trust, and the final
outcome is not up to you.

Credit,

recognition,

consideration,

noteworthy,

but for what?

Something great and unique,
something noble and unselfish,
for a greater cause,
without any benefits or recognition,
for the one?

That’s something humble, opposite of pride.

Pride derives from lesser qualities
and needs for self-appraisal.
A quest for higher perception and
recognition for the actions,
deeds, that otherwise would be left
without a notice.

Pride is there where the subject
is more important than the object.
The process is preferred for
the outcome.

The one who just is,
do not need to acknowledge,
oneself for the others.
It’s enough to be
and just do.
The results speaks for themselves
and even them are not important.

No one to show off,
no one to see.
The prize for the humble,
but curse for the pride.

Masters never brag,
they simply are.
The ones who lack,
fill the gap,
by empty talk.

We are free,
to stay,
or to go;
No one holds,
but us.

We have so much,
to do,
and are so busy to achieve.
We hold tight,
for all we know.

It’s up to us,
when everything is done,
and there is nothing,
more to do,
cling,
or achieve.

We just get enough,
realize,
and undo.
Nothing to learn,
no more to gain,
nothing to achieve,
nothing to lose,
only no thing.

We give up,
let go,
prepare,
for the unknown.