Living a Life of Awareness

“I am responsible for what I say, but I am not responsible for what you hear.”

Every time you label something—a tree, a grocery store clerk, a “good” idea—you've created an image, an abstracted representation, of what that thing is rather than experiencing it directly. You stop seeing the unique expression of this tree or that individual person. Whenever you classify something as “good” or “bad,” you stop looking at it with an open mind.

In this way, you end up valuing someone else's taste preference over your own; you convince yourself that you are not deserving of your own love or acceptance.

The moment the referee blows the whistle to end the game—no matter which side has won or lost—you leave the game behind. You walk out of the stadium and continue on with your life. The game doesn't say anything about who you are. You are unattached, unaffected by the outcome.

Whenever an emotion is triggered, it is the opportune time to ask questions such as:
What is this about?
What agreement is at the heart of this?
What attachment does this threaten?
Do I really believe this?
Is it important?

We can choose to live through the eyes of conditional love or through the eyes of unconditional love. Making this choice is what allows you to create your life as an ever-evolving masterpiece of art.

For example, if we lose a loved one, are we going to miss that person for who he or she was or because of the illusion we projected onto that person and the meaning it brought to us?

can choose to see the world through the eyes of the judge, whose motivator is conditional love. Here I can create a hierarchy and multiple levels of “I am better and you are worse.” Or we can choose to see the world through the eyes of unconditional love. When we do this, there is no hierarchy. Everyone lives life expressing their uniqueness, which is how they say yes or no, regardless of whether or not they are aware of it. Life is perfect because it is the truth that exists at this moment. That is their life.

We can choose to see the world through the eyes of the judge, whose motivator is conditional love. Here I can create a hierarchy and multiple levels of “I am better and you are worse.” Or we can choose to see the world through the eyes of unconditional love. When we do this, there is no hierarchy. Everyone lives life expressing their uniqueness, which is how they say yes or no, regardless of whether or not they are aware of it. Life is perfect because it is the truth that exists at this moment. That is their life.

Be skeptical but learn to listen.