Let me explain what I mean. I will then examine the implications and the alternative, and give you a five step path to freedom from your stories.
The shocking thing to our sense of self is that the mind is hard-wired to make up stories. It has been known by the yogis for centuries, they called these stories vikalpa but it also has been shown scientifically. Experiments with folk who have had the left and right brain hemisphere's disconnected to treat severe epilepsy have shown that one side is constantly making up stories that may have no connection to reality in order to rationalise perceptions. We are literally hard-wired to lie to ourselves! I know, it is shattering. (Could this be true? Want to know more?) Believing those stories can be a source of great suffering.
Shocking ... and liberating
This can be a shocking thing to realise; but when we do it is so liberating. No longer do we need to believe those stories ... like the one that is saying "I am just not good enough", which can take a few different guises, like these:
- I am not good-looking enough, my body is imperfect.
- I am not intelligent enough.
- I am not sophisticated enough (for this job, this event, these people)
- I am a failure at everything
- I am out of my league.
Sometimes the stories come in the guise of blaming. Someone else is to blame for all my suffering.
Then there are the stories about obligations - you should or should not behave in a certain way, like you should (or should not) wear brand name yoga clothes in your yoga class, or you should (or should not) wear your hair in a certain way, get tattoos, body piercings or have cosmetic surgery.
Let me be clear, I am not saying here that we should or shouldn't do any of these things, but what I am saying is that we should be sorting out whether we are behaving in a certain way because of the stories that are not true, or not. After all, a story my brain has made up could well be saying to me not to do something and a story your brain has made up might be telling you to do exactly the same thing.
When my stories intersect with yours
Now we really are in a tricky pickle! When any of us meet from the point of view of believing our own stories, we can either reinforce our delusion, or come into conflict over our delusions. We are all doing the best we can, but when that best is blindfolded by myth, the outcome may appear less than skillful.
Even our love for each other is not enough to lift the veil. How often do we interpret the actions of a loved one as a slight on ourselves, when in reality they are acting on the basis of their story, and we are reacting on the basis of our own?
The true course is felt not thought
None of us are immune. Only if we can recognise when our view, our course of action, is being guided by story, will we be free.
The only true course is one that is free from story, and that course is felt, not thought. To tune into that we need to become still, to listen beyond the stories.
The inner quiet place of Truth
The good news is that we do not need to relegate ourselves to suffering by forever believing our stories. The meditative paths of yoga offer us techniques for accessing the inner quiet place of Truth. It is simple, however simple does not mean instant nor easy, but if you think it is worth being free of your stories, the path is there to follow.
The alternative to action based on stories is not anarchy
What is the alternative to thinking through a course of action, to basing decision making or action upon anything other than the stories the mind presents us with?
Naturally, if you see through the stories, you will no longer be compelled to act upon them. They may still arise but will have no power. So how on earth do we find the right course of action. This is a radical shift.
When we let go of, or see right through the story-telling of the mind, and are free of them at last, does this mean that we are governed by nothing, that all is anarchic? Not at all. Being free of the stories is a stilling of the mind, and this is the object of meditation. When the mind becomes quiet we can "hear" a different voice. I place that in quotes because you don't really hear it, you feel it. Free of the compulsion of stories, we come into an intuitive power that shows us the way through feeling, and the feeling is one of harmony.
Choose the path that feels most harmonious. Which path feels most right?
The five step path to freeing yourself of the tyranny of your stories
I am recommending this path from personal experience. It works. That is why lately I have noticed myself noticing my stories. I am looking forward to continuing to refine the process until I can feel truly free of the stories and be guided solely by that inner quiet voice of harmony.
There is nothing new about this path though. If you care to look you will find exactly this path set out in the writings of the ancient sages.
It's a bit scary ... but then that fear is just another story I am telling myself. It feels harmonious, so I am going there.
Then there are the stories about obligations - you should or should not behave in a certain way, like you should (or should not) wear brand name yoga clothes in your yoga class, or you should (or should not) wear your hair in a certain way, get tattoos, body piercings or have cosmetic surgery.
Let me be clear, I am not saying here that we should or shouldn't do any of these things, but what I am saying is that we should be sorting out whether we are behaving in a certain way because of the stories that are not true, or not. After all, a story my brain has made up could well be saying to me not to do something and a story your brain has made up might be telling you to do exactly the same thing.
When my stories intersect with yours
Now we really are in a tricky pickle! When any of us meet from the point of view of believing our own stories, we can either reinforce our delusion, or come into conflict over our delusions. We are all doing the best we can, but when that best is blindfolded by myth, the outcome may appear less than skillful.
Even our love for each other is not enough to lift the veil. How often do we interpret the actions of a loved one as a slight on ourselves, when in reality they are acting on the basis of their story, and we are reacting on the basis of our own?
The true course is felt not thought
None of us are immune. Only if we can recognise when our view, our course of action, is being guided by story, will we be free.
The only true course is one that is free from story, and that course is felt, not thought. To tune into that we need to become still, to listen beyond the stories.
The inner quiet place of Truth
The good news is that we do not need to relegate ourselves to suffering by forever believing our stories. The meditative paths of yoga offer us techniques for accessing the inner quiet place of Truth. It is simple, however simple does not mean instant nor easy, but if you think it is worth being free of your stories, the path is there to follow.
The alternative to action based on stories is not anarchy
What is the alternative to thinking through a course of action, to basing decision making or action upon anything other than the stories the mind presents us with?
Naturally, if you see through the stories, you will no longer be compelled to act upon them. They may still arise but will have no power. So how on earth do we find the right course of action. This is a radical shift.
When we let go of, or see right through the story-telling of the mind, and are free of them at last, does this mean that we are governed by nothing, that all is anarchic? Not at all. Being free of the stories is a stilling of the mind, and this is the object of meditation. When the mind becomes quiet we can "hear" a different voice. I place that in quotes because you don't really hear it, you feel it. Free of the compulsion of stories, we come into an intuitive power that shows us the way through feeling, and the feeling is one of harmony.
Choose the path that feels most harmonious. Which path feels most right?
The five step path to freeing yourself of the tyranny of your stories
- Intellectual knowing that your mind is always creating stories is a start. Having read this blog, you have taken this step.
- Practice meditations daily that encourage a connection to the deep Inner presence that you are. This is beyond thoughts and stories. (iRest® meditation does this.)
- Watch how your stories arise, unfold and dissolve within this Awaring Presence.
- Keep practising until you can bring this into daily life, find yourself as Awaring Presence, and see the stories arising.
- Keep coming back to Awaring Presence and feel into the action that will feel harmonious. Follow that.
I am recommending this path from personal experience. It works. That is why lately I have noticed myself noticing my stories. I am looking forward to continuing to refine the process until I can feel truly free of the stories and be guided solely by that inner quiet voice of harmony.
There is nothing new about this path though. If you care to look you will find exactly this path set out in the writings of the ancient sages.
It's a bit scary ... but then that fear is just another story I am telling myself. It feels harmonious, so I am going there.
I've been on a journey to try to recognise the stories my mind plays in my head. It's amazing to see how most of them are variations on a few themes that are on loop.
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