Enneagram Class 6

CLASS 6 FINAL

Distrust of authority is a karmic trigger to go into conditioned childhood survival mode--be invisible and silent so as not to be a target. This past year, the practice has been to be as grounded and present as humanly possible while standing up and speaking truth to power. R/L Gassho

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Very good. It’s always important for us to remember that the “speaking truth to power” that will serve us first and best is the one in which we take power away from the voices of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. Ego wants us to focus “out there,” on “them.” The longer we practice the more we realize there is no “out there” out there, and there is no “them” that could ever be a fraction of the danger to us that the voices in the head are.  Gassho

 

Awareness practice has uncovered the voices. I can see how ego projects constantly  and fills me with fear all the time. The mentor has helped me to trust life, I pick  up my recorder listen to life telling me I am unconditionally loved, that there is nothing wrong. R/L

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You got it. That’s the whole story in sentences. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? Gassho

 

During meditation, I had an intense experience of seeing through the "six" lens. A worse-case-scenario visual/with words came into awareness followed by body sensations that egocentrickarmicconditioning associates with fear. Wow! Fortunately, in this case and thanks to practice, I could let it pass and return to the breath.  Gassho. R/L

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THAT is the great gift of practicing awareness! Without the ability to be present as egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate does what it does, we would remain caught in its trap. You’re HERE, it goes into its routine, and you see it, the whole thing played out before your observing eyes. Disidentification is no longer a theory; it’s your reality. Congratulations! Gassho

 

The six in egocentrickarmicconditioning/self-hate thrive in the climate now and reinforced by old content. Workshops abound. Helpful to use dharma like R/L to be here. R/L

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We are very fortunate, aren’t we? We have tools that match our era. Hmm… perhaps that’s not a coincidence…. Gassho

 

Egocentrickarmicconditioing/self-hate NOT relating-HA!!. Staying with it see skeptic is alive & well in continuous scanning from “how can I get hurt.” “Helper” battles with Skeptic and shows up as a couterphobic. So much fear/worry. Practice assists in dropping the “restless imaginings” and replacing with Presence/Mentor. Requires CHOOSING Presence/Mentor. R/L

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It does! We must consciously choose the life we want, or the life we get will be unconsciously chosen for us by egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. It’s a split-second-by-split-second process, AND we are fortunate in that as well. Can we imagine getting tired of falling in love, of being filled with gratitude, of living in indescribable beauty? I think not. Gassho

 

Seeing lots of imagining what could go wrong come up. It obliterates whatever is here, but is often compelling. The Mentor suggests using that fear as a signal to check in with Life. Building the "looking to life" muscle is so much more fun than going with egocenrickarmicconditioning / self-hate. R/L

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Amen to that! Turning to the Joy that IS Life is ever so much more fun than going with the gloom and doom machine that is ego. Ever so much more fun! Gassho

 

Egocentrickarmicconditioning/self hate projects the imminent threat of disapproval unto most of my interactions with other humans. I hear what they must be thinking about me, but lately I hear another voice. I hear a voice that questions the projections. I can only know what I'm thinking, and I can change that. R/L

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Oh, WELL DONE! You are living the payoff that accompanies awareness practice, aren’t you? No longer trapped by ego, we “get it” that the life we have is a matter of choice. Congratulations! Gassho

 

This describes me well, although I've been unaware of those characteristics. Recently I've had the experience of practicing being present in more life situations and have noticed times when it does seem that life has provided what was needed in the moment. I need to keep looking. R/L

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Yes, indeed! You’re beginning to have the experience that Life is living you—perfectly—and now you realize you need to continue to seek proof that that is so. Keep up the good work; the proof you seek is awaiting your discovery. Gassho

 

"I look for the worst and practice has truly helped me see “if that is the worst, then what is the upside?” I have a sense of unease, but I do not believe from loyal skeptic.  July retreat and next is September retreat is helping. R/L

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We’re walking a one-foot-in-front-of-the-other Path, aren’t we? We’re not going to be dragged along in spite of ourselves, nor will anything real impede our progress. We get to go at our own pace, making our own choices in each moment. It’s very kind, isn’t it? We are learning to trust that kindness. Or, we could say, Kindness. Gassho

 

Before sleep, my brain plays  "things I need to remember/ that could go wrong". I can see this bamboozle for what it is nowadays - but ego's aversion to authority always seems "reasonable"!

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What authority? Have you ask that pseudo authority projecting itself onto life what precisely it’s talking about? Always require “chapter and verse” from any voice talking inside your head! Oh, and require “credentials,” as well! Gassho

 

Analysis paralysis presenting with this assignment so for the first time ever I am writing my email response without a rough draft. Wow, it feels good to speak from the heart. The ego voices are going crazy but I am hitting submit! Yahoo...R/L

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F R E E D O M !!!  Yes? What you’re getting to see is that those controlling voices of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate will NEVER give us anything that feels a fraction of the grand that speaking from the heart gives us. The voices are going crazy? All the proof we ever need that we’re following Life’s lead. Well done! Gassho

 

I am Six when I read, learn and study everything related with a topic of interest. I read  a lot of self-help books when a relations broke down 2 years ago. Analysis paralysis-thinking and fear that something wrong will happen if I do the next step in my project. R/L

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You’re seeing a sort of 5-6 combo there, right? Read and study to avoid fear. Are you seeing that the real “something wrong” is fear and analysis paralysis? (The something wrong is in quotes because there’s really no such thing, but fear and paralysis are what we would label “wrong” if we believed in such things!) Truly. What could happen to a person that would be worse than being paralyzed by fear? Hard to imagine, isn’t it? “But you could make a mistake,” the voices shriek. Oh, horrors! A mistake! God help us all! You’re getting on with that project, yes? Gassho

 

Six’s description barely resonates. The few familiar aspects seemingly arise from other types: analysis paralysis from the perfectionist of the One that I most identify with; distrust of authority from the “I know best” of One/Five/Eight(?) But, "...choosing ego’s promises of safety over what Life is offering?" -bingo! Gassho R/L

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And the looking to conditioned mind for the answer comes from…? Do you see what I’m pointing at? There’s a large hint in what I wrote to your neighbor. Gassho

 

Analysis paralysis is very familiar to me! But instead of overthinking because I’m skeptical, I do it because I want to make the right/perfect choice in everything from salad dressing to cars to spiritual practices. I sometimes have trouble embracing what life is offering, suspecting I can find better. R/L

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There’s a danger in awareness practice (I had a similar “discussion” with your neighbor) that comes from something we might call “assuming the correctness of assumptions,” or perhaps “I know” for shorthand. We reach the point where we look to our experience of “what I know” (usually “what I’ve seen already”) and assume we’re getting present time insight from Life. I bet you can see the danger in this, yes? We get a “more sophisticated” conditioned mind and run the risk of being satisfied with it.  A word to the wise…. Gassho

 

Yes, yes, yes. Loyal skeptic has kept me in unsupportive relationships/jobs/situations for longer than what Life offered as “consider this option.” Now experimenting with following Life’s proposals and dropping conditioning’s promise of safety. Slowly building trust in recognizing Life, and learning a lot when I fall for conditioning! R/L

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Both excellent pursuits, aren’t they? It’s okay to pick up the pace on that, you know? We don’t want to fall for an ego trap of letting ego decide how quickly we get to build trust in Life. Gassho

 

My SIX appears in the middle of the night. It wakes me up and terrorizes me with stories about what could/might happen if - or I should’ve done something different when-  It catches me in a vulnerable state and knows its chances are slim in the light of day.

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Do you have a Recording and Listening practice? If not, you would be well served to get one going pronto. Make recordings of what is available to you in the light of day, pop in the ear buds to listen through the night, and those horror stories won’t be able to gain access to you. It’s true. Gassho

 

Loyal Sceptic -- strong karma as phobic, insecure 6.  Changed after 60 when mentor assisted in dropping stories around anxiety and insecurity with many aspects of daily life.  But still quite strong around talking to strangers.  Now we practice presence to thisherenow while listening to strangers in relaxed state.  R/L

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It’s a practice, isn’t it? And while it’s true we don’t need to be in a hurry, we don’t want to dawdle either. The old “as if your hair is on fire” perspective. When we find places where the voices of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate can still torture us, we want to turn the full power of conscious compassionate awareness on those places. Find the roots and pull them out! Gassho

 

Ego’s safety: “keeping it to ourselves,” analyzing, worrying, thinking till “we” figure it out. What’s really true: I’m safe in this moment, held by Life. Practice dropping the conversation, taking a small step in the direction I’m told I can’t. Another step appears, the conversation less believable, then another step. R/L

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That’s a very helpful insight: Behaviors such as “keeping it to oneself” in order to analyze, worry, and “figure it out” keep ego safe and put a human being in the most unsafe position it’s possible to be in. Seeking safety from a system perfectly willing to destroy one is just plain not smart! Gassho

 

I see sixness in my constantly feeling unsafe, in my distrust of authority and in my unwillingness to question authority once I accept it. Even in my practice I avoid other zen books or practices because I don’t want to “doubt” what I have found here. R/L

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What we always want to “doubt,” to the point of dismissal, is conditioned mind! If you read books on Zen or practice don’t let egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate interpret them. In any practice we are looking to conscious compassionate awareness and holding everything as a koan, yes? We’re not doing a practice of “believing” here. There is nothing in this practice to believe or disbelieve. We’re learning to pay attention and recognize Life’s guidance. If we’re not doing that, we’re not practicing. See what I mean? Gassho

 

“Hyper-vigilant” - this phrase resonates with the way I interact with the world. I have OCD which manifests as fear of harm to self and/or others. I am constantly taunted with “what if” voices. “What if.... happens?” The worst possible, most horrific scenarios fill in the blank. Gassho R/L

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Well don’t do that! I can say that with such “authority” (run for cover, everyone) because OCD is one of the many labels egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate happily attached to me. (Mine was the can’t leave the house for fear of having left an appliance on or not having closed or locked the door.) Being subjected to that torture is NOT necessary, AND the tool we have to put paid to it once and for all is Recording and Listening. If you’re “constantly taunted with” hideous what ifs and horrific scenarios, you’re not using the tool! Now, I will stand by that statement (to be constantly taunted is NOT necessary), and I know breaking such a powerful addiction is not easy. Please write to me, if you would like, so we can talk about this. Gassho

 

Conditioning tells me that shame is the thing to fear most; the thing that could take me down. I tend not to care much what others say about me publicly, but what they may be thinking privately vexes me. Conditioning tells me that invisibility is my best strategy.  Gassho

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I wish I could tell from what you’ve written how much you believe that. It’s insane, right? You can see that? What others say about you publicly—which presumably is nothing—is not a problem, but what they’re thinking is. Yowza! Do you get what a perfect vice grip that would have you in? No one has any idea what anyone is thinking, if they’re thinking at all, and so, yeah, the only way to stay safe against an unidentified threat is to, what? Bury oneself in the basement? Ego has scored a mighty coup with this one! You try to stay invisible, and in so doing ego has a perfect “hiding in plain sight” scam going. I so want you to be seeing through this! Gassho

 

In meditation, in bed find myself working out responses to crazy scenarios posed in head. Belief: life is dangerous; I'm not safe; must be ready for anything. But egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate-driven scenarios not helping prepare; just escalating "but what if"'s. (Not) "Preparing" hides experienced truth: I am safe; Life is compassionate. R/L

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Bingo! That mental process is a complete waste of a life, unless keeping egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate “alive” is our goal. Which it isn’t!  I’m guessing you’re putting a big focus on ending those “practices,” starting with meditation and bed? Good! Gassho

 

Belief: “Hiding/ compliance makes me safe”. Lived small trusting conditioning’s empty promises, and crumbs. Choosing what life is offering more often. See that the authentic human can be trusted. Seeing that hidden agendas belong to conditioning not me. Relationships come and go. No meaning in it. R/L

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Good! Choosing what Life is offering more often is definitely good, and unless you’re still in your teens you might consider moving “more often” to more, then to often, then to usually, then to always-unless-I-suffered-an-unconscious-moment. It’s true that we have “all the time” we need in that where we’re getting to is thisherenow, which only takes a moment. And it’s true that “the person who awakens to Authentic Nature in the morning doesn’t mind dying in the afternoon.” However, we want to get on with getting to that morning of awakening as quickly as possible. Know what I mean?  Gassho

 

Don’t go to the extremes, but phobic six rings true, especially inward distrust and hyper-vigilance because something horrible “I” can’t handle might happen. Egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate’s version of self-confidence often appears as bluster. Can name values, but grounding in beliefs and living from them is not possible when listening to conditioning. R/L

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You make the best argument there is for not listening to egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate! Being what we intuitively “know” is possible for us is definitely NOT available when we’re listening to and believing hateful, ego-serving voices in the head. That’s also a great argument for living in thisherenow, isn’t it? Gassho

 

A concern that if something is going well the other shoe will drop. The lingering "feeling" that if I worry and stay in my place all will be well. If something goes badly it's because I got too confident. Yes it's codswaddle.

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It is, no doubt. Do you have a Recording and Listening practice? It’s the quickest, easiest, happiest way we’ve discovered for freeing ourselves from that dark, dank prison of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. Thisherenow is large, spacious, welcoming, and joyful. It is in every way a much better way to live. Gassho

 

Process: Ego looks at ‘Ulterior Motives’. People want something from me or are out to get me. Ego never looks at the kindness in others or possibilities that lie outside ‘they want to cheat you/don’t trust anyone!’ Egocentrickarmiconditioningselfhate wants to keep me separated from Life. R/L   

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Oh, YES, absolutely! Why? Because egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate wants something from you—it wants your life. It’s out to get you—to drain you of the life force it wants for itself. It wants to cheat you—out of the life that belongs to you. It surely does want to keep you separated from Life, and we can see why, can’t we? It has one focus and one focus only: Get from a human being what it needs to continue to appear to be viable. Start listening to what it’s saying from that perspective, and what’s really happening becomes clear quickly. Gassho

 

 

My inner Six brings me a near constant stream of "what if" catastrophes, and ego says "rehearse for them so you can survive them".  I used to spend hours thinking through scenarios.  In the past few years have learned to say "thinking" and let go before provoking a body reaction.

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This is a form of “redirecting attention.” Add something you choose to redirect attention to and you have a full program. Gassho

 

Seeing the nuance of egocentrickarmicconditioning/self-hate with other people at work. Some people I can be “safe” around and fully authentic. Others I need to “be careful”, “hold back” and not make mistakes. Ego feeds stories of worry before engaging with new people.

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Good to see. One element you might bring more awareness to is the assumption that when ego “feels safe,” “you” are being “authentic.” A lot of ego can hide behind ego’s version of authentic. If that’s not clear, call Open Air and talk with me about it, please. Gassho

 

Egocentrickarmicconditioning/self-hate takes me out of the present moment with a belief in fear of not being able to handle life.  She is a victim with no one to protect her from bullies.  So allies are necessary for protection.  Energy drain on myself and them.  Giving much love to unprotected child. R/L

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That first sentence is spot on and important for everyone to get. Scary stories about “what’s going to happen” and how “you won’t be able to stand it” are standard strategy for ego’s “get attention” program. Here’s the important thing to get at this juncture: There’s no such thing as an “unprotected” child that needs. Anything! As soon as “you” are coming from conscious, compassionate awareness—presence in thisherenow—every aspect of every part of “you” is embraced and cared for. There’s nothing and no one left out of thisherenow. Giving attention to a “child” guarantees the stories from egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate can continue to pull you out of the present. See what I mean? Gassho

 

I have spent my life building "security" and yet have had very few moments of peace/feeling safe. This enneagram type clearly shows me the depth of suffering egocentric karmic conditioning generates. Feel panic at the thought of living outside this construct. Gee, shoud I belive that being free is a bad thing?

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What you’re getting to see is what it feels like, and what the world looks like, when you’re identified with egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. You’ve realized ego’s plan for safety hasn’t produced what it promised. You’ve seen the depth of suffering that plan has produced. What, other than ego, would feel panic at you dropping ego and would wonder if being free of ego is a bad thing? Gassho

 

I'm a six! Analysis paralysis, stayed married longer than was healthy for anyone, gifted at troubleshooting, occasionally get teased for being “Mr. Safety Pants!” Imagining what can go wrong: the process is the outcome! Have always wanted someone's approval, and wondered when I was no longer going to need it. R/L

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Are you saying you’re getting a clue? Here’s a First Suggestion: Drop the identity. You are NOT a six. Enneatypes are ego descriptions showing us clearly what is NOT the Authentic Nature of All That Is. Time to stop giving attention to that story and begin attending in earnest to Life. It’s an excellent way to begin getting the approval of the only person whose approval matters to us. Gassho

 

I love working with my 6 qualities. When they launch, it gives me a chance to practice “the world is friendly” and “assume friendliness” and “everything is here for my awakening.” Also I can practice releasing the objects of my “loyalty” of their “obligations” to me. Gassho R/L

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A much happier way to live, yes? Gassho

 

Belief:  Self confidence means believing in/ relying on me to get me through, which seems to be a fall-back for me.  History of analysis paralysis, hanging onto partners, jobs, belongings too long source of significant suffering - woven into complex conditions network (structures) - money most significant (manipulation/ controlling me).   R/L

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Sounds as if you are more than ready to let go those very unhelpful (lying) beliefs. True? Relying on “me” (ego) is about the scariest position a person can be in. Good to see that R/L signaling you have an excellent support team either in place or being assembled. Gassho

 

Hypervigilance equals watching others to see what they are doing, so I can be sure it’s the right thing, to protect myself from some future situation where whatever they have done (wrong) causes me to have to take time to do something to remedy that error, a convoluted illogical framework! R/L

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And an all-around bad deal? It’s comical, isn’t it, when we get enough distance to see it for what it is, but it’s not funny a bit when we’re identified with it and letting it make us miserable! Now is a perfect time to explore a friendlier, happier framework. Gassho

 

In many ways my conditioning is a 6. Scanning for danger, trying to assemble a worldview that defends me from subtle underlying vibration of fear. Aware of mostly phobic forces, but some counterphobic as well. I think Ego/Counterphobia influenced my  response to class 3 and 5! Grateful to see!

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Practicing awareness is simply the best, is it not? Life is so very interesting and egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate is so very boring. And we get to choose which one we want to attend to. Can’t get a better deal than that! Gassho

 

I do not feel tightly wound to this type so further watching may be required to reveal it from behind egos "perfect" curtain.  I can recall having a fear for something bad to happen after a string of fortunate events.   So interesting this class has been!

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As we were just discussing with your neighbor, Life is interesting; ego is boring. It’s true, isn’t it? Ego wants (desperately) for us to stay in a little, tiny, boring, faux world of “I, me, mine” when we can zoom around through universes with Life. Not a big decision to have to make, is it? The only difficulty is that ego (desperately) is fighting for its stranglehold on us—in each split second.  Yes, our “work” is cut out for us, AND our motivation/reward makes our efforts most assuredly worthwhile! Gassho

 

These qualities resonate: distrust with authority,  often thinking over acting, and staying too long in a job/relationship. The distrust with authority is most prominent. As I get older, it has increased based on my life experience. So called bosses/leaders have often revealed incompetence, if not outright immorality.

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Here is a job for PROJECTION! Conditioned human beings have only one “authority,” and that’s the one securely ensconced inside their head. Ego is the authority. The voices of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate are calling all the shots, and the human believes “that’s me” doing the thinking. It isn’t. It’s a “program” we’ve identified with and now think is who we are. People will often say to me with an “I’m such a rebel” smirk that “I have authority issues,” which is meant to signal me that “you’re not dealing with your usual easily scammed fool.” I attempt gently to point out that they have trouble with so-called “external” authorities because they are completely in thrall to an authority inside their head. Who knows where that goes? Most likely, the authority in the head gives a rebuttal designed to write off such a stupid remark, and, as we were saying earlier, the beat goes on. That said, working with projection will be illuminating should you choose to pursue it. A Recording and Listening practice would also enlighten. Gassho

 

I have strong  counter phobic behaviors to"prove" self worth and to fight overwhelming fear of everything.   Mostly being hurt.  Always working with condition mind- trust no one. EXHAUSTING and lonely misadventures. 

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Yes, indeed. I’m guessing, since you’re seeing that so clearly and you’re doing a class offered by an awareness practice, that you’re taking steps to turn all of that around. Do you have a Recording and Listening practice? It’s the very best thing we’ve found to combat exactly those issues you’re addressing. Gassho

 

Loyalty/fear/worry. All of those are traits that occur commonly.  When the habit of "concern" and the "armor of safety" attempt takeover, thankfully Life is here to really show the way. This is where R/L is essential, and this ongoing practice of turning attention to what is so. Gassho

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That’s very clear. Thank you. Yes, those takeovers by egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate are going to happen. They are. Perhaps at some point they won’t, but we’re not going to anticipate that day. We’re going to be paying attention to see what’s arising in this moment and using the practice tools we have that enable us to choose Life. Very helpful. Gassho

 

The move to look outside for guidance is quite familiar: abandoning adequacy and seeking for answers out there. Egocentrickarmiccondition/self-hate constantly scanning. Experience says, going outside to inform is great, and jumping into Life to check it out is both what works and brings energy and joy. R/L Gassho

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You’re making an important point: There’s “looking outside,” which is looking to egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate, AND there’s a “looking inside,” that is also looking to egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. When people talk about “being my own teacher” or “looking to myself for clarity,” it’s a Yikes moment. We’re not looking to “ourselves” for guidance; we’re looking to Life. How can we tell whether what we’re following is ego or Life? We jump into Life and see what happens! We can tell we’re “with Life” when the energy is flowing and we’re feeling joyful and grateful. Gassho

 

Egocentrickarmicconditioning won't let me see the six in me, but it must be there, because I/ego hates sixes! I/ego can't stand antivax people or conspiracy theorists. Every time ego hears "the government is hiding something" my blood pressure rises.  Total ego trip. Where do I look?  R/L

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Where do you look other than where you’re looking? Something other than the rising blood pressure to tell you people like that scare you? I mean, what if people really believe these nutters? What’s going to happen if they get the upper hand? Look at the places where that’s already happened! (Yes?) Gassho

 

Let go of worrying and overplanning in so many areas. Practice surrendering to Life. Noticed that when it comes to this fragile human body there is still strong default story about paying close attention to symptoms or sensations to stay safe. Able to drop story find trust. R/L Gassho

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An increasing number of people have been talking to me lately about their awareness that egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate seems to be able to make physical symptoms appear. Getting ready to go on a retreat and suddenly there’s a scratchy throat or a sensitivity to that touchy back that feels as if it’s going to go out or getting an upset stomach every time I have to do something I don’t want to do. For a long time it seems as if “that’s just true,” as in “that’s just how I am,” but after paying close attention it begins to dawn that maybe the story isn’t a result of the condition but is the cause of the condition. That kind of “need to pay close attention to symptoms and sensations to stay safe” story can get egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate big doses of the attention it craves. I know you know what I mean. Gassho

 

The central issue of Type Six: “They do not believe they possess the internal resources to handle life’s challenges”, lead me to practice and has been slowly revealed over many years of practice. The fear, doubt, and distrust of this enneatype has been a major challenge to going beyond. R/L

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And we could say it has been “a major support in finding the strength and willingness to wake up and end suffering,” couldn’t we? Those “challenges” that require us to go beyond them might just be our greatest allies. Gassho

 

Hypervigilant most of my life. Idea I could know/predict what could go wrong seems comical when written down. Helpful to see lack of faith behind it; also  illusion of being in charge. More often ego is drawing me toward things that will be frustrating/disappointing.

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Isn’t that great to see! All this “stuff” that causes us so much suffering is revealed as what it truly is rather than what we’ve been conditioned to believe it is. Now we have a chance! And, most important of all, we have a choice. Awareness practice will take us where we want to go. Get a Recording and Listening practice going, please. Gassho

 

Conditioning has me jump into a romantic partnership and become overly loyal. It's "you and me against the world." After the relationship becomes sufficiently absurd I wake up from the trance, break-up and begin to reclaim self esteem. Then conditioning says something is wrong with me because I'm single. R/L

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And, as the very old song proclaims, the beat goes on. It doesn’t sound as if you have any doubt about how this is happening, true? Stop listening to and believing the voices that say there’s something wrong with you because you’re single, and voila! Gassho

 

I'm often suspicious of people's motivations, especially in interactions involving money.  It's impossible to be unconditional love whilst judging the person in front of me and sizing up their motivations!  While I'm busy noodling, I'm missing the depth of the interaction.   Gassho R/L

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Yep. Now, a simpler, more straightforward way of saying that is that you cannot simultaneously choose egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate and Unconditional Love. You can’t be in the dark room and the Light Room at the same time. We gotta choose. Which do you want more, ego’s energy-sucking suspicions or Life’s wisdom? Gassho

 

Noticing how the type 6 worrying keeps me from seeing the adequacy of this person, other people involved and the moment. All that energy for ego! Can use Awareness to drop worry and direct attention back to the adequacy and perfection of thisherenow. Gassho R/L

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Yes. As I was just saying to your neighbor, the choice is clear. We either give all the energy to ego—which means we get none for us—or we give all the energy to Life—which means we get all for us. The difficulty, of course, is learning to discern which is ego and which is authenticity. THAT is why we do awareness practice! Gassho

 

Someone is going to decide something important without getting my input. Conditioning gets obsessed with presenting all negative outcomes, stoking fear I won’t be prepared. It insists the only/best way to prepare is to keep obsessing! It’s clear the only thing being prepared is Life Force for ego snacking. R/L

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You need one of our Worry Is Not Preparation t-shirts! Yes, you’ve seen clearly the bamboozle. Worry, obsess, then do more worrying and obsessing because that’s what feeds egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. Has nothing to do with being prepared or controlling outcomes. Has only to do with ego getting fed. Time to cut it off! Gassho

 

 

 

A situation with my son reveals the six in me when I identify with conditioning. Worry/fear keep me from clarity/presence. The choice to rely on "beliefs" offers an illusion of safety, but it’s the dark room. The Mentor says to trust in unconditional love + the adequacy of everyone. R/L

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Can you see that the Mentor is offering good guidance? You’ve no doubt witnessed others who looked to egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate for good guidance and got anything but that. You’re right that worry and fear keep us from the only “safety” available to us—presence in thisherenow. It’s so helpful to realize that the ability to believe in ego’s illusion of safety can only happen in the dark room. Gassho

 

Read one of Cheri's  responses “Then do what you want to do.” Conditioning's panic -”Oh no, you can't do that! Think of all the things that would slip thru the cracks, not get done, bad, results! “.  I choose to trust myself and life's guidance moment to moment. Gassho. R/L

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An excellent choice! Life will never lead us astray, and we have to prove that to ourselves. There will be life lessons along the way that the voices of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate will shriek are mistakes, but we know those are learning experiences and there are no such things as mistakes. Yes? Gassho

 

Easy to choose ego’s promises of safety over Life, which appears unpredictable, uncontrollable. Of course, ego’s promises are entrapments, not help. Life is what actually is; it includes everyone and everything, all rising together, new each moment. Prediction and control are neither possible nor needed. Life: exciting! Ego: deadening. 

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Exactly so. After years of brainwashing, it can feel terrifying to drop the faux safety net ego offers and “go it alone” with Life. (That’s a funny notion, isn’t it?) But a little consideration will make it clear that we have no control. What happens is what happens. Period. There’s no amount of sticking one’s head in the sand or hiding under the covers that will keep what happens from happening. Once we see through the lies, the whole idea of being in control or making oneself safe is recognized as ludicrous. Now we can let go and just enjoy! Gassho

 

I recognize many of the Skeptic traits: counterphobic, troubleshooter, difficulty letting go of relationships/situations, etc. When I release my futile attempts to “control” and instead focus on a connection with all; a lovingkindness towards all; being present; a sigh of relief blooms through my torso; joy fills my heart.R/L

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There we have it! Keeping up ego’s “efforts” to control and provide safety—all lies and a sham it turns out—take a horrible toll on a human being. Tensed up against Life is exhausting, and I’m pretty sure is what eventually kills most people. Stress is nothing more than being tensed against Life. We’re going for the letting go, relief, and joy, aren’t we? Gassho

 

Phobic and counter phobic 6.  Notice the vigilance, unsettle and anxious, developing a basic trust is tricky, when you are hardwired to be skeptical. Thinking is subversive; however, by allowing the heart to open, the quest for safety dissipates. I nurture the faith that, “all is OK”.  R/L

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I hope you’re questioning that notion of “hardwired.” “Hardwired” seems to be the term applied to all those things ego doesn’t want to let go. If I’m “hardwired” that way, it’s not my fault! I can’t help it. That’s just how I’m wired. Hogwash. The proof of that is that you’re already feeling the heart opening, the quest for safety dissipating, and faith growing that “all is ok.” Gassho

 

I'm a 6,  conditioning wants me to focus on the characteristics that have caused me to suffer in the past, like moving toward safety and away from life. Practice helps me explore my need for safety without simply dismissing it as my being a coward. R/L

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I would encourage, as the current Job 1, letting go statements such as “I’m a 6.” No you’re not. Six is what you aren’t. Those 6-ish qualities are, as you’ve noticed, what ego uses to keep you safely with it and away from Life. Ego is a coward and never hesitates to project its qualities on to us! Gassho

 

I get very scared of taking responsibility. I look to someone else, friend or partner, who's confident, knows what to do and won't get overwhelmed by choices and voices, like I do. People call me calm, but often inside I'm screaming in fear and insecurity about some small, everyday thing. R/L

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You’re offering a crystal clear picture of what it’s like to live inside conditioned mind listening to the voices of self-hate. Ego wants to keep a person “overwhelmed by choices and voices.” You’re actually not afraid of taking responsibility—you never get a chance to do that—you’re afraid of what the voices do to you. There are actually no “solutions” (no “self-improvement” that will help), only ceasing to be in relationship with the voices will free you. Your practice is to drop the conversation in conditioned mind. PERIOD. Can you see that? Gassho

 

Ego and conditioning at work (pun). Constantly on guard and fearful especially with new supervisors. "I" get lost in fear. See no boundaries to their authority. Me, oppositional yet perfectionist in tasks. Need bigger mentor connection and present moment awareness. Gassho R/L

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And you know how to achieve that “bigger Mentor connection and present moment awareness,” yes? You can see what’s happening, how and why it’s happening, and you know how to rectify it. That’s a lot of good stuff, isn’t it? Gassho

 

In ripe middle age, I see I've stopped looking at how 6-ness' constant paranoid vigilance keeps me socially "safe". Alternately another part will become quite vulnerable with others to.... I'm not sure what the motivation is. Very interesting! I'll keep looking. R/L

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It is interesting. Might you be gaining some clarity about the duality egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate was hoping you wouldn’t notice? Gassho

 

I have noticed a lot of #6 characteristics in my sister, mainly her searching for motives in everyone's behavior.  Also see much fear in her.  Guess that means I have issues with #6 as well...right?  R/L

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I suspect you’re suspecting projection, right? I suspect you’re right! This is very helpful, isn’t it? Often people new to an awareness of projection assume that “I’m projecting X so I’ll need to look around in my life to see how I’m like that.” It’s much easier than that actually, though the “looking around in my life” will be a lifelong practice. When we’re projecting, we’re “doing” right then whatever it is we’re projecting. You’re looking for motives in your sister’s behavior and come up with “that’s her 6-ness” as the answer. You go to your experience of fear to identify that fear is what’s operating in her. Is it? We never really know about anyone else; all we can really “know” is what we’re projecting. Our projections give us places to look inside of us for the egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate lurking there, orchestrating our experience just below the level of conscious awareness. Gassho

 

Wow. Just realized my ex-husband of 25 years must be a 6. Blaming him for his suspiciousness, anxieties, and inability to be spontaneous has kept me from acknowledging those behaviors in myself. Instead of resentment, feeling compassion for both of us; we were BOTH egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate’s victims.

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Isn’t that good to see? No self-hate allowed, right? We just realize how human beings get manipulated by egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate—all of us—and we have compassion for all of us. Now you get to explore that 6-ness in you and wish him well wherever he is, yes? Gassho

 

Suspicious of others' motives, including those closest to me, keeps me in a state of high alert, watching for any sign of anger or distaste.  Hadn't realized how thoroughly this has affected how I live.  Have always noticed lack of spontaneity, and now see why.  R/L

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Don’t you just love awareness practice! All this stuff is going on; we don’t know why. The voices of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate are happy to tell us what’s wrong and how it’s all our fault and we don’t know any different. Now we do! Now we can see what’s happening, how it’s happening, and that it’s definitely NOT our fault. This puts us in a position to drop self-hate and just get on with what we choose for our life. Way better, huh? Gassho

 

 I do see how I choose safety over what Life is offering.  The fear of the unknown or egocentrickarmicconditioning/self hate stops me from trying new things; therefore, narrowing Life's boundaries.  Seems that YES is the new mantra!  R/L

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Very good! Yes is the very best of mantras, especially when paired with “thank you.” We can see, when we step back from conditioning, that it’s crazy to attempt to stay safe from Life. It’s gonna get exciting! Gassho

 

Again I don’t see myself here. I don’t know how to do what you are asking, ”look deeper”. It helps that I am talking with two people who have experience with your work, which why I am here. But I am still confused, frustrated and almost ready to quit.

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“Look deeper” is another way of saying “pay attention.” For example: When my daughter was little, maybe 7 or 8, I noticed she had this kind of snotty, slightly sarcastic way of speaking. I couldn’t figure out where that was coming from. She’s a little kid, for heaven’s sake. That’s no way for a little kid to be! Now, if we fast-forward to what you’re asking, I would say that I “held that confusion, questioning, not understanding, as a koan, a spiritual puzzle I wasn’t going to ‘figure out’ in conditioned mind but that would ‘appear’ suddenly in a flash of insight.” I didn’t then, of course, because I had no idea how any of this works. Back to then: I was talking with a friend and suddenly “heard” myself. I sounded exactly the way she sounded! Where did she learn to talk that way? From listening to her mother! Suddenly, the whole world opened up, it was all crystal clear. I got it. THAT is how awareness works. We can’t think about it or figure it out. We won’t find anything new inside our head. We learn to pay attention, be present, see conditioned beliefs, assumptions, and thinking for what they are, and suddenly, in one of those “flashes of intuition” we get it. People often call these “ah ha” moments. You’ve had plenty I’m betting. So “look deeper” means “don’t settle for what the voices in your head are telling you. They lie. Keep looking.”

PS Reading what some of the other folks in the class are working with can also be illuminating. Gassho

 

Six rules my marriage. Egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate has used my distrust of men to caused so much suffering. I choose to listen to the voices, and the story becomes "true." Considering the opposite may be true. R/L

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Perhaps it would be helpful to consider that none of it may be true. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb here and state that none of it is true. In awareness practice we’re choosing to be aware, which means we’re present for the Intelligence animating us to guide and inform us. Looking to conditioned mind to see if the opposite of what it’s been presenting as true is what’s really true is like looking to conditioned mind to figure out if you’d rather be shot or stabbed. Neither is a good choice!  Gassho

 

Conditioning wants to me believe that at my age, it’s all downhill from here and I should be worried about everything, especially falling again.  The Mentor lovingly reminds me not to sacrifice a second of this beautiful now for any ”might be” later. R/L Gassho

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Excellent. Egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate has been running some similar scam on you for as far back as you can remember, true? There’s no reason now can’t be the most glorious time of your life. Now is always the most glorious time of life, and when we have way fewer years ahead than behind, we can be far more motivated to treasure all the NOWs we can get!  Gassho

 

Feeling groundless all of my life. Goal: Impossible to relax, alert and vigilant. Exhausting. I don’t trust anyone, because I don’t trust “me”. Now, with practice, I realize that the one I don’t trust is EKC. Trying to develop trust in my innate intelligence

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Almost! You’re so very close here. You’re absolutely correct that what we don’t trust—and shouldn’t!—is egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. For that reason we want to drop it as quickly and thoroughly as possible. What we don’t want to develop trust in is “my” innate intelligence. Because there’s no such thing. If we’re looking inside for something that is “the authentic me,” we’re going to wind up right back in ego’s clutches. We’re learning to drop all that in order to “identify with” that which animates us. There’s nothing personal in it; it’s what’s there when there’s no “me.” (Do you have an R/L practice? It’s the fast track to the Intelligence you’re seeking.) Gassho

 

Egocentrickarmicconditioning/self-hate tells me all day: "You're not working enough." Core belief: Hard work will keep me safe. Mentor says, "You work a lot, sweetheart. Focus on courage, service, sharing, and creativity - not 'work' - and you'll get where you need to be." R/L

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What is not to love about the Mentor? Nothing! Great wisdom, brilliant guidance, and all delivered with lovingkindness and compassion. Yep, do that! Gassho

 

Can see how lacking self-confidence has caused questioning of safety and fear of not being able to handle threatening situations.  Looking closely at how I recently got talked into trusting another’s authority over intuition and then took a heavy beating for the ultimate outcome. Bamboozled at both ends! R/L

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That was an important, albeit painful, learning experience, true? You know you lack confidence because you’re listening to the voices of egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. That’s huge right there. You recognize intuition. You see what happens when you don’t listen to the “still small voice” guiding you. All critical aspects, right? What must be dropped immediately are the beatings. The only way we get to see what’s going on is to participate. We participate, we see what we see, learn what we learn, become more aware, trust Life more—and no beatings allowed ever! Okay? Gassho

 

I share Sixes' anxiety. I used to believe that imagining worst case scenarios would prevent them from happening. Now I'm anxious when I go somewhere without my cell phone to connect me to help. Egocentric karmic conditioning/self hate says I'm a wuss for wanting it; at risk without it. Can't win!

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Oh, not so a bit! You are winning. You’re seeing what that nasty system is doing to you. That’s winning big. The voices frighten you with scary stories, and then beat you up for being afraid. All right. They’ve had their day. What you’re practicing now is not listening to them. Definitely not a wuss activity! Gassho

 

 ‘I’ chooses ego’s promises of safety when Life offers new opportunity to grow, ‘I’ doesn’t ‘want’ it and chooses safety. Worrying about what could go wrong takes me away from the beauty of what is and causes me to believe that life is hard. Good to see, not believing it! R/L

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Well done! That’s the whole deal. Ego wants us to choose it instead of Life, to stay small and frightened and isolated. We choose to be HERE, with Life, in the beauty of what is. That’s it! Gassho

 

As a counter-phobic six with a mistrust of authority “I” am skilled at isolation. Before practice I thought everyone walked around with a pit of anxiety in the solar plexus.  I’ve been known to stay in relationships long past the expiration date,  due to a distorted sense of loyalty. R/L

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And now you’ve seen that being isolated with the authoritarian monster that is egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate is just not what you want to do. Very good. It’s time for us to give all loyalty to Life. Gassho

 

1) In some situations, feel inadequate/want to depend on others.  2) Common driver of unconscious activity, if put in words: "bad things are going to happen."  3) Sometimes paralyzed by fear of making "bad"/"wrong" decision.  //  Seeing that human/Life are adequate.  Feared events never actually happen.  R/L

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Isn’t that good to see??? Once we see it it’s so obvious the voices want to beat us up for not having seen it sooner! Egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate’s gloom and doom machine predicts disaster at every turn, and those “bad things” almost never happen. Day after day passes with minor inconveniences, and ego paints life as a war zone it’s a miracle we’re surviving. So much more “good stuff’ happens to us every day—yes, voices going off in your “well what about those people…” directions, all of us—that it’s amazing we can ever say anything other than “thank you.”  Thank you for that! Gassho

 

I am having the best day. There are so many places of worry that conditioning could take me off to...if I give it my attention for a split second.. I choose to hear the sound of the rain and the feel of my fingers tapping these keys! Gassho R/L

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And you can do that! And we all can do that! As I was just saying to your neighbor, we can all of us choose the life we want in each moment. We have another, “Thank you for that!” Gassho

 

Could absolutely relate to the 6 loyalty to the end even if time to move on. This is seems quite unkind to the folks I attach myself to and leaves no room for more Life infusing contacts. Time to let go relationship with egocentrickarmicconditioning/self-hate, and be with Mentor! R/L

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Oh, that’s fabulous! You’re ending an unhappy, unsatisfying relationship with egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate and beginning a new, exciting, fulfilling relationship with Mentor. There’s something else we all can do. I’m loving this theme! Gassho

 

I see the pattern of holding on to the 'safe' job, people, house to avoid scary feelings that arise when future thinking of the unknown.  In the safety of Presence, this practitioner could trust Life and let go of her tight grip of the shore. R/L

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That’s a really helpful point: The safety of Presence obviates the intrusion of “future thinking.” We’re not talking about letting conditioned mind think about the future and scare us to death with every hideous thing that could happen. We’re HERE. We’re present and in Presence all is unfolded safely. Gassho

 

"Failure of self-confidence" is what most resonates.  Sometimes I get a feeling of freedom and possibility that anything is possible not only in life, but in MY life, only to have it washed away and reinforced by self-doubt and inertia. I realize it all happens in a conversation.  R/L Gassho.

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Excellent! You’re realizing that all that’s creating for you a life you don’t want is happening in a conversation in conditioned mind. That’s great, isn’t it? Now you realize it’s not a matter of “what should I do,” but a matter of “this is what I need NOT to do.” Drop the conversation and all the problems disappear. That’s always the case in practice, by the way. Freedom is never about “doing.” Freedom is always found in NOT doing. Gassho

 

Turning to conditioned mind to explain the sense of threat is a familiar closed loop:  conditioned mind IS the threat!  Effort:  Turning attention away from the “something wrong” story toward thisherenow.  Effortless: letting go and trusting Life to guide present moment process of transformation.  Gassho R/L

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Well, there we have it! Turning to the source of the threat for a way out of the threat is just never going to work—except for ego! Re-directing attention to thisherenow, which, as you point out, is effortless, gives us everything we want. So simple once we see it. It’s getting to the point of being able to see it that causes us to at first give up, then to let go, to turn to Life, to find humility, to learn the value of gratitude, kindness, and generosity--and so much more along the way. Once we see it we wouldn’t have it any other way! Gassho

 

Worrying about and preparing for the future while waiting for that other shoe to drop are familiar processes for me in many content areas: money, children, health. This tendency truly robs me of the present moment, and the experience and enjoyment of Life. Recorder/mentor to the rescue! R/L.

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And they will always rescue, won’t they? Always. Will never let us down, will never abandon us, never get tired of us, never judge us…. Have we stumbled on a dream come true or what? Gassho

 

Six karma here. Reading this was a punch to the gut; there was defensiveness. It read dark and sad. The voice defends, "You'd be cynical too, having lived my life." Seeing how hard it is (for ego) to cut ties with this personality that (ego's) cultivated. 'Feels' like a loss.

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Only to ego! Only to ego is letting go of ego a loss. Those are not happy, cheerful, fun, lively, and adventuresome qualities you’d be letting go, are they? If we can agree there’s nothing wrong with you and never has been, there’s nothing missing in you, nothing that needs to be fixed or changed, and all you’re going to do is let go an orientation that makes you suspicious, frightened, anxious, and cynical—where’s the loss in that? What’s helpful about the experience you describe is the opportunity to “get” what it feels like to be identified with ego. Back at center there’s a party going on! Gassho

 

Egocentrickarmiconditioning/self-hate always ready with an “oh no”. A focus on what “could’ go wrong doesn’t allow me to appreciate all the support (that seems divine) offered when I am present to it. Voices say that’s new-age spiritual babble. I say good thing I can drop the skepticism and get Here. Dominant Type 6, R/L

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Oh, that four thousand plus year old “new-age.” Such silliness to focus on lovingkindness, appreciation, gratitude, possibility, fun, and adventure when we could stay home and focus on everything that’s wrong and missing. A voice that would prefer we go with “Oh, no” and “what could go wrong” rather than divine support is really not a perspective we want to give credence to, is it? Gassho

 

Noticing certain content brings on the worrying and imaginings of what can go wrong.  While it doesn't show up often, there seems to be a part lacking self-confidence.  Seeing this provides greater empathy/understanding for this being and those who live from this conditioned place most of the time. R/L

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You make two important points: 1) suffering doesn’t need to be wretched for us to want to extricate ourselves from it, and 2) seeing how we’re made to suffer over unexamined identification with egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate gives us empathy and compassion for others caught in the same identification. In these ways our practice deepens. Gassho

 

I am in my head instead of packing for vacation. Seeking validation outside of myself caused her to get triggered and lash out. I reel and withdraw to practice. "I don't know what's right."  Mentor knows! "Just breathe, be present." R/L

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Breathe and be present is the perfect plan for all occasions, isn’t it? I’m not sure this is what you’re saying, but to consider: The only thing that “causes” getting triggered and lashing out is egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate. Know what I mean? We do want to take responsibility for our actions and behaviors, but that’s not the same as taking blame for the actions and behaviors of others. Gassho

 

I have a lot of fear in my body that feels deep and I overreact to all kinds of stimuli. Mentally, I try to defend against possible threats by taking control when I can. I do hold onto people who seem safe. Trust is foreign to me.

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That’s a lot of be aware of! Now you get to see through all that, and more, as awareness expands and egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate loses its grip. Two places to explore: 1) When you’re “overreacting to stimuli,” turn attention away from the story in the head and turn attention to the sensations in the body. Those sensations, which have been mislabeled and given all sorts of meaning, are the only things “causing” the reactions. Stimuli happens. That stimuli means you need to look to conditioned mind. Looking to conditioned mind, the stories start and the sensations—that likely got triggered at the mere mention or sight of said stimuli—get revved up. Now it’s a loop. Story/sensations/story/sensations. Next story is about what you need to do to “control” the situation. Story/sensations/story/sensations. Alternative? Take all attention away from story/sensation and turn attention to the breath. Feel the breath moving in the body. Stay with it. All attention on breathing. Ego will try to get you to look back to conditioned mind to “see how you’re doing/see if it’s working.” DON’T DO THAT! The answer you’ll get is “no, it’s not working,” and the anxiety will begin to rev. Play with it. It likely won’t all turn around by next week, but maybe the week after! Depends on how much you practice. 2) Trust will happen as you gain success with 1.  Gassho

 

Yesterday, I approached the scary wooden bridge on my bike saying "there's no need to be afraid". Next, my tire wedged between the slats and I fell! Later, the awareness that my attempt to manage my fear had drawn me out of thisherenow. It was then my balance was lost. R/L

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Great catch! The voices of course wanted you to believe that bridge was the problem, and if you’d listened to them and not tried to cross it none of this awfulness would have happened. HA! They lie and you were there to see it. Gassho

 

Worry cripples me. I worry about the people I love and that something terrible is going to happen to them. I sometimes expect the worse and try to plan to prevent the worst. It's a debilitating way to live. I just keep recording and redirecting attention. Gassho R/L

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It’s a horrible way to live, and it doesn’t accomplish anything good, does it? Here’s my question: How much are you re-directing attention if you’re still making the statement “worry cripples me”? Perhaps you’ve heard this from me before, AND it’s worth repeating: We cannot live in egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate for 23 hours and 50 minutes out of the day and hope that ten minutes of redirecting attention and R/Ling is going to make the difference. Make those numbers whatever we want and the principle applies. If you’re awake for 16 hours out of each 24, and you’re worrying for 6 of those, you need to be R/Ling for at least those six hours, PLUS get the ear buds in so you’re listing all night as you sleep. This is your one and only life. Please choose it. Gassho

 

6. Wow! I love seeing that clinging to beliefs is just clinging to the external - social justice, what's right- I need these, or do I? R/L

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It’s good to see a question mark there. We’re not attempting to go from one side of an ego-maintaining duality to the other. We don’t want to cling to beliefs—period. We’re not trading in those old beliefs for new and improved beliefs. “Social justice is just a belief and I don’t want to cling to externals, so…” Awareness practice is never about the content/the “whats.” With me? Not looking to egocentric karmic conditioning/self-hate to know what’s “right” doesn’t mean we don’t look to Life as our moral compass. Gassho

 

Surprised to strongly identify with 6's "believe they do not possess the internal resources to handle life's challenges and vagaries alone". Fear of not being adequate to my experience has been big for me.  Practice is giving me the experience that I am. Gassho R/L

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We believe those beliefs because the voices in conditioned mind are constantly telling us those things. It’s for that reason there’s such a focus in practice on dropping the conversation. We could go about addressing the fears and sense of inadequacy for a lifetime. OR we could just drop the conversation in the head that’s creating and maintaining those fears and beliefs. Easy AND efficient! Gassho

 

Loyalty & trust feel important; I don't easily move on. The world doesn't seem inherently dangerous or safe. My best experiences/preparation lack preoccupation with worst cases. My fantasies tend to be planning/noodling how great "it"/future will be, which still robs present moment presence. Love practicing dropping ego's stories! Gassho/R/L.

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That’s so important! Once we realize that the BEST ego fantasy is PATHETIC when compared to presence in thisherenow, our willingness to drop ego goes through the roof. Gassho

 

Following earlier guidance, paying close attention, this class points to what I cannot see.  Every day scanning round looking for crises that need to be averted.  There is now some distance from the story of being anxious and worried all the time.  It’s not because of the content.  R/L Gassho

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Exactly! Worry/anxiety is a process. People are not worried and anxious because there’s something to be worried and anxious about. People are worried and anxious because they’re trained to be worried and anxious. That process is created and maintained by stories in conditioned mind designed to set off the body in ways that will make the worry and anxiety appear real and valid. Add to that the “you need to worry so you can prevent bad things from happening” and the cruelty is complete. Gassho

 

Definitely feel pull into 6 worry process but don't go there so much any more, thanks to Practice.   Ready to take risks, have adventures, blossom (rather than remain tight in the bud).  Risk commitment today: Share Unconditional Love with at least 2 people. R/L

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Hmm… That’s very fun. You’re using the life force that used to go into worry to bring you into Unconditionally Loving presence with at least two people each day. Two today, three tomorrow, who can say where this will go! Gassho