How Small Ideas Imprison Us

It’s interesting how we can pick up a small idea, and it then colours our whole life. As a four year old, we would say, “You have to do it this way” – we don’t change much 😉 It’s a fear we pick up, that turns our life into a set of beliefs; our ‘protection blanket’.

Most people need their blanket in order to cope with life. It’s understandable, as we’re being pulled in all directions. To a certain extent, we have to conform with others, but not fall into their conformity! If we have no sense of direction, then perhaps we need the support of others’ direction for a while, but this does not entail living their lives.

We may talk about how wonderful …* is, or what a fabulous …* we went to, but rarely about how life is, in reality. This is a denial of suffering, which lacks compassion. We cover ourselves with do’s and don’ts – our banal, spiritual blanket…our prison.

Are spiritual teachers aware of how quickly westerners want to conform and please? How honest can they be?

A lama actually said to my wife, “One cannot be that honest with students.”

We have to be honest with ourselves.
Is the Dharma a two-edged sword?

Acquiring ideas will not set us free.
Honest awareness will.

* insert your own words as appropriate!