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How the mind resists and squirms and fidgets and swears and analyzes and just plain begs to escape when it hears the oh-so-simple words, "You've got to find out for yourself."
How many of us have put on our sincere and perhaps tear-stained faces when hearing those words and replied solemnly, "I understand." Whether in Buddhism or just plain life, if you prefer ... "I understand."
I understand and yet every subsequent action reflects a willingness to hand over the reins to someone or something else. Finding out for yourself is scary stuff. Finding out for yourself requires effort. Finding out for yourself requires discipline. Finding out for yourself? "Fuck that!" the mind whispers in a hundred-hundred ways. "I'd rather relax and revere something or someone else."
Checking in with books and teachers and those with more experience is one thing. But handing over the reins and failing to find out for yourself ... hell, look around; look at the results; look at yourself in the mirror if you've got the nerve.
I'm sorry it's not pretty or lyrical or more profound. But it is the truth.
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Find out for yourself!
Do it anyway!
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Perhaps the hardest thing to realize is that no one can carry you, you have to walk all by yourself. It always struck me as odd that we Americans, with our "can-do" attitude and glorification of individual effort, are so quick to fall prey to spiritual hucksterism and so willing to turn ourselves over to the man behind the curtain.
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