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How Do I Fit In?
Adapted from How to Know God, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 2000).
The state of “I am” is at the source, and is pure being. “I am” forgoes pain and pleasure. Because all desire is centered on pain and pleasure, it comes as a surprise to find out that what I wanted all along was just to be. There are many kinds of worthwhile lives to lead. Is it worthwhile to lead the life of “I am”? You can live any way you want. By analogy, think of the world as a movie that includes everything; you cannot tell in any way that it is a movie; therefore, everyone behaves as if the scenario is real.
If you suddenly woke up and realized that nothing around you was real, what would you do? First of all, certain things would happen involuntarily. You wouldn’t be able to take other people’s drama seriously. The smallest irritants and the greatest tragedies, a pebble in your shoe and World War II, become equally unreal. Your detachment might set you apart, but you could keep it to yourself.
Motivation would also vanish, because there’s nothing to achieve in a dreamworld. Poverty is as good as a million dollars when it’s all play money. Emotional attachments would also drop away, since no one’s personality is real anymore. After you consider all these changes, not much choice is left. The end of illusion is the end of experience as we know it. What do you receive in exchange? Only reality, pure and unvarnished.
You shouldn’t pay so much attention to the movie.
If someone asks “Who are you?” every answer is misleading except “I am,” which means that we are all misled, even the miracle workers. We are the victims of mistaken identity. Our time has been spent projecting versions of reality, including versions of God, that are inadequate.
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11 comments
add your comment »wow I have always thought life was just a dreamworld. I really have. that we are just walking around going through the motions of life, taking care of and loving our children. I always thought there was a theatre of some sort kind of watching us and what we do. I thought we were puppets being watched in a bell jar. Somewhat similar to that movie that Jim Carrie was in (can't remember what it's called.) Not sure. But I still have faith. I always will.
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Terasa, to me energy and consciousness are I am too. But there is "something" beyond consciousness through which everything is possible to appear. That "something" I call God, others call "it" the absolute/or supreme.
That somehting is not some thing, but rather what is Real and can be expereinced as Reality.
It's like saying that what is Real is beyond all concepts and beliefs and since all concepts and beliefs are of the mind...the supreme is beyond the mind/consciousness/I am.
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How to Know God is one of my favorite books also. I remeber when I read it years ago I was very happy at my level which I think was around 4 and 5, if memory serves me well. Then I lost my husband and my whole world of reality changed. While I am still on my journey I have now been able through deep meditation to catch a glimpse of my soul. How beautiful. It keeps me wanting more of my true self. Cosmic Energy is so abundant and is the only thing real. Yes I feel that I don't "fit in" with people and places that I used to but it is all good! However, I need to learn to somehow tolerate others drama because I think it is the only way to share what you know. I could be pretty happy right now to stay away from all unlike minds, but to know they never had the chance to experience the things I have seen, the real, the soul, well I think once you get it you have to share. We are all obviously alvie for some purpose. I beleive that finding your purpose comes only from I am.
I am still pretty human and have not given up all drama, but that is where my path is leading.
I guess I have a different idea than Vivian. To me consciuosness and energy are the I AM.
As for Lythande's comment, that is exactly where I was when I first read the book. Oh my...how my life has changed. I was very content playing in someone else's movie, being a social butterfly and could never imagine wanting to just go meditate in a cave. The journey has been great!
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That's kind of depressing, not freeing... Why wouldn't you want to be connected to other people? It's better to at least have fun with the movie than to choose not to play along.
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And yet...even if nothing matters...what are we going to do with our time?
Imagine a perfect world....no illness/disease...no accidents...no poverty...no homeless...no abuse...no violence...no depression...no suffering
What jobs would be left? Would the garbage still need picking up? Would the fields still need to be harvested? Would the divine still express itself?
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"Nothing is new, and nothing is true, and nothing matters."
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I have this book I think it is time to re-read it!
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I read this from the viewpoint of never having really believed this all exists. To me, we all accept that the floor is the floor, but I don't believe that means the floor is really there and really solid -- only the common accepted belief holds it in place. Through my own peculiarites, oddities, self-ness, I oflten find I am where some people work hard for years to reach. Escept that my answer to "who are you" is, "I don't know"
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I have often thought that life could probably be just a dream and when we die we find out who we really are.
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Yes, yes, yes! I love the book "How to know God". I was able to relate to it in all aspects. I think this is one of Depak's best books!
Everythinng is an illusion, life's purpose, helping others, helping ourselves, visions, insights, revelations, authors, healers, consciousness, energy....amd even the I am : )
I am free....oops...another illusion LOL
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