My work. . . .

"Spiritual practice can never be fulfilled by imitation of an outer form of perfection."
- st John of the cross

I am going to Iceland in a day or so. I wanted to post something before I went that honestly reflected what I see in my best moments. In my worst moments this is all forgotten. Which is why I think they are my worst moments, at the time.


How do we love ourselves? = By not seeking approval outside ourselves.

It is only then that we are able to realize that we already have it.


Polite behavior is full of approval seeking disguised as consideration. When you say or do anything to please, get, influence, or control anyone or anything, FEAR is the CAUSE. . . .and PAIN is the result.

Manipulation is separation.

Separation is painful.


If you act from fear, there is no way you can receive love, because you are trapped in a thought about what you have to do for it.

"Our greatest blessings come to us by way of madness provided the madness is given to us by divine gift." -Socrates

For the personality, love is nothing more then an agreement. If I agree with you, you love me. And the minute I don't agree with you, the minute I question one of your sacred beliefs, I become your enemy.

Then you start looking for all the reasons why you are right. . . .this causes you to stay focused outside yourself. . .that is a form of self medication . .when you stay focused outside yourself and you believe your problem is caused by someone else, rather then by your attachment to the story. . . .you are your own victim.


we chase the bigger house, nicer car, larger bank account, better performance, and "positive" image. . . .until we again become frustrated with the limitations of the new form. All form is limited. And in that frustration we seek more, and more, and more. . .until we realize it is never the 'right' form. It can never bring real happiness, real peace.

Until I realize what it is beyond all form, through all form, and surrender to that.


My understanding of a person is always limited by what I think I already know. And it is true to say that I no longer believe anyone can 'change' their mind. I think you can question the mind. . .and if the questioning is sincere, then that can change the experience of thoughts.

Can I always remember the clear distinction between those two above ideas? One is authentic, and one is just an effort to manipulate. One sweeps the patterns under the table. The other cleanses them with light.


The fake smile is easy to spot, it is deliberate, and designed to extract some sort of reaction or perception from and in you. It is designed to manipulate for gain.

"You see the fact that your spiritual journey is an entirely different ball game from the path you thought you where on. It is very difficult to make that transition."
- Ram Dass


Now think of the real smile. It cannot be faked. How does it feel when it occurs? Can you always remember the difference?

Here is what I think. . . .we fear that we wont be able to tell the difference, and that fear brings about a defense which 'wants'.

The 'want' is a fear, two sides of the same coin. And the fear creates a desire. Which is almost rudundent in that desire is fear.


If the desire is strong enough. . .which is to say the fear present enough, then we will forget to notice the difference between the fake, and the geniune smile. We are too busy in those moments being distracted, and so we don't get to really feel that geniune human connection.

Long story short what fools us about peoples true motives is the fear that we are going to be fooled. Without that fear we see everything. Without desire we cannot possibly be fooled.

Think about it, without any expectation of a non existent future all there is to experience is the truth of the present moment.


There are no new thoughts. There is nothing new under the sun. It's all a reflection. . . with every moment being exactly every-thing. But only all the time.

When Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches" he could have also stated "You are the Vine AND the Branches."

After all, is he talking about ONE plant or TWO there?


Manipulation is separation.

It is about Natural Being versus Trying. . . .

you cannot try to be humble. .
you either are, or are not in the moment
you cannot try to be sincere. .
you either are, or are not in the moment
you cannot try to be genuine. .
you either are, or are not in the moment
you cannot try to be giving. .
you either are, or are not in the moment
you cannot try to be authentic. .
you either are, or are not in the moment
you cannot try and be ecstatic. .
you either are, or are not in the moment
You cannot try to be good. .

it just IS.


"If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation."
- J. Krishnamurti

People who aren't interested in seeing how everything is good, get to be right. But that apparent rightness comes with disgruntlement, depression, and separation.

What I need is what I have. This is not something to believe; rather, it is the way things are right now, whether you believe it or not.

"Events happen, deeds are done, but there is no individual doer thereof" - The Buddha


Freedom is awareness not moved by fear or desire.

Freedom is Love.

Who knew?

*(Warning: Any expression of Matt's personality is a direct indication of a desire for something, and therefore occurs out of need. But only ever yours. Matt's personality has been shown to be harmful in large doses, so please stick with doctor recommended dosage. Though Matt's personality is sometimes absent, this is not an indication of an enlightened state, but rather may simply be a sign of fatigue. In the event of sudden realization matt's personality may become absent, in which case the makers of Matt's personality assume no responsibility for any harm this product may cause.)


Even if it was only for the Nerfman you gave me, my Love for you could never pass away.

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