Guest guest Posted May 21, 2006 Report Share Posted May 21, 2006 I'd appreciate some feedback on the following. One day, years ago, I asked myself " What IS a problem? " As I examined it (i.e., felt into it from a stance of " I don't know. Let me look at this matter as if for the first time. " ), I came up with something rather intriguing to me. Perhaps I missed something which is why I'm running it by the members of this list. The " process " I went through went something like this, and it's being presented as if I'm having a dialogue with someone, or even myself. Me #1: I have a problem. Me#2: What is it? Me #1: I get angry very easily. [Note: It could be jealousy, headache, cancer, pimples, feeling cold or too hot, jut broke up with someone, etc ad infinitum.] Me#2: I see. Is that a fact? Me #1: Well, yes it is. Me#2: So, what's the problem? Me #1: I don't want to get angry. I want to be peaceful. Me#2: OK. Seems desirable to me! Is that a fact too? Me #1: Yes! Me#2: Well then, where's the problem. Me #1: When I get angry I say things I don't mean and it makes me feel distant from people, especially my friends. Me#2: That too, I take it, is a fact? Me #1: Yes, it is! Me#2: So, once again, where or what is the problem? Me #1: I don't want this to happen. I want to feel close to them all the time. Me#2: That's understandable. And that too is also a fact? Me #1: Yes, It is. Me#2: So once again, what's the problem? Me #1: Now I'm starting to feel angry! Me#2: Isn't that also a fact? Me #1: Yes, it is and you damn well know it! Me#2: Well, it sure seems to me you're getting angry, which is simply a fact, right? So where is the problem? Me #1: Yes! It's another fact. And dammit, I don't know where or what the problem is. In fact, I'm starting to think that in response to everything I say you'll come back with " Well, that's a fact. Where's the problem? Right? And that's beginning to be a problem to me! Me#2: Well, yes, at the risk of pissing you off even further, that's what I'll say. Yet isn't all that simply just another fact? Me #1: Yes, it is! Me#2: So where's the problem? Me #1: Oh, I'm beginning to see what you're saying, or encouragingto me to realize. My " problem " , so to speak, is simply me resisting the way things are at any given moment. Not accepting a fact as a fact. Wanting something to be different than it is, which is impossible because it is the way it is and can't be any other way at that given moment. Right? Me#2: Yes! And also, the resistance to wanting things be different or other than the way they are is simply another fact. And, not accepting a fact as a fact is also a fact. Furthermore, resisting something being the way it is perpetuates it staying the way it is. It's as if this attitude kind of freezes it into place and carries it on into the next moment. But again, this is simply yet another fact...not a problem. Me #1: I'm beginning to get it! So there's nothing but facts. Fact after fact after fact after fact and nowhere is there a problem anywhere whatsoever. Never was and never will be! Only successive moments of fact and even my railing against " what is " is a fact? Now that you've pointed this out it's so obviously simple that I feel like laughing out loud at what I've been doing to myself. How silly and stupid of me to be causing my own upset! But still, there seems to be a sense of there being a problem. Is there? And if so, what is it? Me#2: Well, my friend, that's up to you to discover. You're really onto something here so definitely continue your inquiry. You're very very close to discovering something absolutely essential in my view. Michael Adamson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 22, 2006 Report Share Posted May 22, 2006 Here are some views on what a problem is: There are people who are afraid to confront an answer because they are afraid of not having the game a problem gives them. A solution can leave one with no game. People can be afraid that if they don't have " mind chatter " and problems, they will have no way of avoiding seeing that which they are unwilling to see. People can be afraid of not " having " things because they consider themselves to be a " thing " . Stu " Adamson " <adamson wrote: > > > I'd appreciate some feedback on the following. > > One day, years ago, I asked myself " What IS a problem? " As I examined it > (i.e., felt into it from a stance of " I don't know. Let me look at this > matter as if for the first time. " ), I came up with something rather > intriguing to me. Perhaps I missed something which is why I'm running it > by the members of this list. > > The " process " I went through went something like this, and it's being > presented as if I'm having a dialogue with someone, or even myself. > > Me #1: I have a problem. > Me#2: What is it? > > Me #1: I get angry very easily. [Note: It could be jealousy, headache, > cancer, pimples, feeling cold or too hot, jut broke up with someone, etc > ad infinitum.] > Me#2: I see. Is that a fact? > > Me #1: Well, yes it is. > Me#2: So, what's the problem? > > Me #1: I don't want to get angry. I want to be peaceful. > Me#2: OK. Seems desirable to me! Is that a fact too? > > Me #1: Yes! > Me#2: Well then, where's the problem. > > Me #1: When I get angry I say things I don't mean and it makes me feel > distant from people, especially my friends. > Me#2: That too, I take it, is a fact? > > Me #1: Yes, it is! > Me#2: So, once again, where or what is the problem? > > Me #1: I don't want this to happen. I want to feel close to them all > the time. > Me#2: That's understandable. And that too is also a fact? > > Me #1: Yes, It is. > Me#2: So once again, what's the problem? > > Me #1: Now I'm starting to feel angry! > Me#2: Isn't that also a fact? > > Me #1: Yes, it is and you damn well know it! > Me#2: Well, it sure seems to me you're getting angry, which is simply > a fact, right? So where is the problem? > > Me #1: Yes! It's another fact. And dammit, I don't know where or what > the problem is. In fact, I'm starting to think that in response to > everything I say you'll come back with " Well, that's a fact. Where's the > problem? Right? And that's beginning to be a problem to me! > Me#2: Well, yes, at the risk of pissing you off even further, that's > what I'll say. Yet isn't all that simply just another fact? > > Me #1: Yes, it is! > Me#2: So where's the problem? > > Me #1: Oh, I'm beginning to see what you're saying, or encouragingto me > to realize. My " problem " , so to speak, is simply me resisting the way > things are at any given moment. Not accepting a fact as a fact. Wanting > something to be different than it is, which is impossible because it is > the way it is and can't be any other way at that given moment. Right? > Me#2: Yes! And also, the resistance to wanting things be different or > other than the way they are is simply another fact. And, not accepting a > fact as a fact is also a fact. Furthermore, resisting something being > the way it is perpetuates it staying the way it is. It's as if this > attitude kind of freezes it into place and carries it on into the next > moment. But again, this is simply yet another fact...not a problem. > > Me #1: I'm beginning to get it! So there's nothing but facts. Fact > after fact after fact after fact and nowhere is there a problem anywhere > whatsoever. Never was and never will be! Only successive moments of fact > and even my railing against " what is " is a fact? Now that you've pointed > this out it's so obviously simple that I feel like laughing out loud at > what I've been doing to myself. How silly and stupid of me to be causing > my own upset! But still, there seems to be a sense of there being a > problem. Is there? And if so, what is it? > Me#2: Well, my friend, that's up to you to discover. You're really onto > something here so definitely continue your inquiry. You're very very > close to discovering something absolutely essential in my view. > > Michael > Adamson > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.