Mind control.

If you are not controlling your mind,

someone else is doing it for you.

We are all influenced.

 We have two existences at the same time – dwelling in perception and dwelling in deception. As sentient beings we oscillate between the two – truths! The path of perception involves clarity – mind training. The path of deception involves confusion – mind training of another kind. When we have clarity, we are free. When we have confusion, we are imprisoned. What is and what isn’t in our minds, has an effect on us.

“What we think, we become.”

– Gautama Buddha

In clarity, we are in control. In confusion, someone else is in control. This ‘someone else’ is the ideas we acquire from the outside that we then cling to. It is how we deal with these appearances in the mind that matters.

“Pain is certain, suffering is optional.”

– Gautama Buddha

  Neurolinguistic programming uses both perception and deception at the same time. It anchors a deception in the mind, using an element of an untruth hidden within truth. The deception may be attractive to lead awareness to cling to some thing, as opposed to resting in empty essence.

 “You only lose what you cling to.”

– Gautama Buddha

Deception and perception is a difficult subject to understand. In many fields we are deceived, not least of all in spirituality, for that involves consciousness itself!

“Our life is a creation of our mind.”

– Gautama Buddha

Use of hypnotic trance, drugs, trauma, word change, gestures, and of course the media, all help manipulate perception – mind control. Basically, people are led to believe in reaching for something, which they think they don’t have.

“The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.”

– Gautama Buddha

Along the road of perception there is also the road of deception, with its potholes of a tempting easier route. There are clear lights and there are dull lights, and to the uninitiated they are just lights. This is a very delicate and subtle matter, as we become aware of insidious perversion.

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”

– Gautama Buddha

There is meditation that leads to non-meditation. This is not the same as saying meditation is unnecessary: that is a misunderstanding. In the moment of resting in empty essence, there is no teaching, no path, no meditator. However, the claim of the new age movement…that there is no teaching, no path, no meditator…makes no mention of the obstacles to realisation.

“I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done.”

– Gautama Buddha

The difference is one of experience, rather than the idea of an experience. We may be easily deceived into thinking, “I need no teaching, no teacher and no path.” Saying this reveals a confused ego.

In the Dharma, we take refuge in the Buddha (teacher), Dharma (teachings) and Sangha (upholders of the teachings). However, most important of all is the living teacher, from an unbroken lineage, for without them we would not understand the Buddha, Dharma or Sangha. The teacher represents the Buddha, and so we take refuge in the teacher also.

In saying, “I need no teaching, teacher or path,” the question may arise: does this come from a misunderstanding, or has it been introduced deliberately in order to confuse? If it’s a misunderstanding, then all is well, as it is merely a learning process. If it is deliberate, then we have a serious problem. Neurolinguistic programming is an intrusion into consciousness: it’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This bring us back to, why mind-control? Simply put, is someone wanting you to believe something, for their benefit? Or to benefit you? Control is power: either we have it, or someone else does. Power can be used to increase, or decrease the emotions. That all depends on whose hands it’s in! If spiritual instruction makes us feel at peace, all well and good. If it makes us feel guilty and angry, we will suffer – and thereby be controlled.

“You will not be punished for your anger: your anger is the punishment.”

– Gautama Buddha

The point of transcending the emotions is to avoid being controlled by them. Understanding the nature of the emotions produces unshakeable confidence and joy, and compassion for others.

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”

– Gautama Buddha

If we are under the control of the emotions, we are still in a samsaric existence, manipulating and being manipulated. Know the difference!

“There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.”

– Gautama Buddha

Neurolinguistic programming uses the instinct of conforming (herd instinct) to control. It’s what advertising, marketing, government propaganda, hypnotists, news sponsors, and even comedians do: they all take the audience along with them. This is a control mechanism. Our culture is built on it. Reading this piece of writing is the same, and that is why we need to be aware and not lost, or occupied.

The final result is our compliance. If the motive for this is beneficial, for example asking us to form a queue so that no one gets hurt in the rush, then that’s fine. But…if this is done without empathy, for political purposes, or out of greed, and creates suffering, then it is evil.

Evil exists when we act on our likes and dislikes.

Conforming out of fear creates fear of not conforming.

The weak conform to the standards set for them.

The strong serve the weak by uncovering obstacles, not creating them.

The weak engage in futile diligence.

The strong are diligent in compassion.

If evil exists, it exists to destroy.

Indifference is apathy, which allows evil to sneak in.

Indulging in anger, fear, desire, pride, jealousy and ignorance are forms of evil used against another. We employ them to control a situation for our own selfish benefit. And so, there are winners and losers. That is the devil in us!

When we rest in the opposites of evil – harmony, love and compassion – everyone benefits. Everyone is a winner. That’s the enlightened quality in us!

“Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

– Gautama Buddha

..