Why Pursue Discipline?
Are you a Human Doing, or a Human Being?
Western Culture has placed a high value on external productivity, on Doing. Everywhere you look, the one who has designed, created, or built something is glorified. Environmental conditions have dropped the Human into a pressure cooker and demanded he build. Build what?
When you have a moment, it may be useful to ask yourself,
“What am I really after?”
If you haven’t spent time questioning your culture, and what makes you You, the likely response will be along the lines of "That new job, that new car, that new house... a family, a new partner, a better body, more sex, more money, more free time." There’s nothing wrong with whatever it may be, the key here is to be aware of what your mind is after.
Why do you want, what you want? Is it because you want to feel good?
Why do you want power, things, food, sex, travel, family, friends? Is it because you believe these things will make you feel good?
It can be useful to come to realize the often-painful truth. NoThing can make you feel good. Only You, can make you feel good. Now ask yourself again, what makes you/You feel good? What are you really after?
Is it the things, people, and experiences outside yourself?
Or
Is it the sensations that these provide? The sensation of being loved. The feeling of self-worth. The wisdom that I am enough. The experience of peace.
Many of us believe we need things, people, and the culture around us in order to experience these sensations. If we are honest with ourselves, and have the courage to investigate, we may accept that none of this is rooted in truth.
When we do not have the skills to slow down, we are unable to sit through challenging thoughts, and ignore impulsive behaviors. If we cannot achieve these simple, but challenging actions then the ability to truly know why we do what we do - and far more importantly, the ability to know Oneself - is impossible. Many of us either don't have the awareness, or refuse to admit to ourselves that _discomfort is a prerequisite for change._ For those of us who place such high value on being comfortable, it can be challenging to acknowledge change _will not_ occur without pain.
We are living in an ever more complex environment. Due to the rapid rate of technological development, the number and intensity of possible distractions is increasing drastically. For most of us, a small virtual box containing unlimited dopamine hits travels with us everywhere, providing the 'cure' to our boredom. Because of this, many of us don't experience a single minute of quiet throughout the day. From one distraction to the next, we move through the noise of social media, to the noise of traffic and subliminal advertisements; from co-workers, family, and friends, to tv, and music, and back to social media again. What we often fail to recognize, is that these seemingly minuscule influences are capable of completely taking over our being. If we don’t possess this awareness, we unconsciously allow our entire being to become corrupt. That which we consider 'Me' has become nothing more than the imprint of these external occurrences.
The reason we pursue discipline is because we desire in some way to be better. We want to feel, have or become more. If one continues diligently down this path of discipline and self-development, at some point an increase in perspective will be found. When your sense of perspective has blossomed to a certain degree, the development of a non-judgmental space will open for you. It is in this space, when our mind has become quiet, that we may remember...
The things you own, and identify with; as well as the good and bad which you've experienced, do not make you, You. You (with a capital Y) are the presence that remains when all your thoughts and ideas, are recognized to be the mere biproduct of past experiences. When all your confusion and delusion has been brought into awareness, then accepted and released. When you no longer identify with any belief and you’ve released all ideas of who you are; it is in this surrendered space you will find the presence of Unwavering Stillness. When you Know this Peace which cannot be disturbed, a Peace which is not dependent upon the external world, then you will know You.”
Why pursue discipline? There's nothing more fun than getting to know You :)