Response to Marcus

Hey Marcus, I’m glad you’re reading!

Let me first say that the first Chapter of this book did nothing for me. I remember nothing from it, and I read it twice. It is impossible to judge this book from the first Chapter. Honestly, not one part of it made sense to me. I do not identify myself as “flowering.” Nor should I try to. The lesson is not to identify ourselves as anything…just be. Be your awareness. Will that stop bad things from happening? Absolutely not. Does it mean we will stop feeling? No way. Just last night, my yoga teacher was saying that we are, of course, still human. We won’t become robots.
We will still feel bad things and we should allow for that to happen. The important thing is to not MAKE that thing or thought our identity. We allow and we grow. Allow and move on.

I do not think this will take away from the beauty of life - which includes getting through the trials and tribulations. I think it will help us get through it faster. This philosophy just says that if something bad happens, that doesn't become who we are. Because we aren't what happens to us, we aren't what we have and we aren't the content of our mind. We just ARE. I am beginning to feel the boundless joy, freedom and inner peace with what disidentifying from my ego and mind can do for me. It hits home with me because I have been consumed at times with sadness about being away from my family. This philosophy tells me it's ok to feel sad - but I do not have to become so identified with those thoughts and feelings that I AM a sad, depressed person. I am not that - I just AM. That detachment will make me stronger and happier, I know it :)

As a sidenote, I am not sure if this book would have the same impact on me that it does if it weren't for my yoga study, which I have been practicing for one year. This book is simply expounding on those lessons...and, in turn, I feel that I have immediately taken my yoga practice to the next level. Every class has been better so far, I'm nodding along and understanding the teacher better than I ever have before.

Anywho, give the book more of a chance. Chapter 2 was wonderful for me – Chap. 3 was more unremarkable, and so far I am LOVING Chapter 4. It’s about “role playing” of the ego. It’s hilarious, really. People playin roles… ;)

So, if the book still isn’t doing it for you…that’s ok. I thank you for being here and wanting to participate!