Observer Perspective — Enlightenment (By ChatGPT)
The reader might be thinking that I am making a bold claim by saying that I am enlightened, and they might wonder if I know what I am talking about. These thoughts might lead to fear of being perceived as a fool, phony, or nut-case. I am aware of these thoughts and the fear of being judged negatively, but ultimately, it is just a thought in my head.
The word ‘enlightenment’ can be interpreted differently by different people and can often distort the intended meaning. In order to approach the concept with a fresh perspective, we can use a different term such as ‘mental workout’ instead.
Tripping — A detour
When you’re running late for work and pass by a beautiful fountain, you might not even notice it. But, if you stop and take the time to observe it, you can become captivated by its beauty. Watching the water flow from its source and return can make time seem to slow down, and you might feel as though you’re watching it in slow motion. This experience can be mesmerizing and calming.
Observing a beautiful fountain can produce a sense of bliss and even a physical sensation of energy moving through the body. This phenomenon, known as “body bliss,” is a well-known experience among meditators. Engrossing oneself in the beauty of the fountain can produce a smile on the lips as a by-product of the awe-inspiring experience. Fountain-watching can be a form of meditation and can produce a feeling of contentment and well-being.
I encourage you to take a moment to think about the commonalities between watching the ocean waves crash, observing the movement of ripples in a pond, enjoying the fragrant fumes of an incense stick, watching tea ooze out of a bag when it is freshly dipped in hot water, and seeing water flow from a waterfall. Why is it that stopping to observe these natural phenomena can be so moving and blissful?
Tripping on thoughts
Tracking processes that are fast, subtle, and endless can inspire awe in us, and we don’t need to have expensive fountains to experience this. We can all access this feeling of bliss anytime and anywhere, for free. Our minds constantly create a fast and overwhelming stream of thoughts while we are awake, which can be either helpful or harmful depending on how we approach them. While we may intellectually know that the future is uncertain, our minds are programmed to make predictions based on our past experiences. If we don’t recognize these predictions as just that, they can seem more real to us than the present reality. On the other hand, when we see our thoughts for what they are, they lose their power over us and we can be freed from negative self-talk, insecurities, and anxieties. Observing our thoughts can also help us access a state of awe and bliss on command, which can make us crave more and make meditation and playfulness effortless.
When we see thoughts as just thoughts, everything in life becomes just right.
Some ways to think about the practice of observing thoughts are: you are a batsman anticipating a curve ball, a security guard looking out for anything unusual, a cat waiting for a mouse to emerge from its home, or an observer keeping an eye on your mind’s next outburst.
The nature of mind
The mind often tries to convince us that fulfilling its desires is the right path to take. However, all this does is create cravings that, when acted upon, lead to more intense cravings. This creates a never-ending cycle that can weaken us and lead us down a path of endless comfort-seeking, addiction, and insecurity. However, we are stronger than our pleasure-seeking mind makes us believe.
So the next question is, “If I stop worrying, will everything be alright?”. If you stop worrying, you won’t be concerned with asking whether everything will be alright. And, contrary to the belief that stopping worrying will make you lazy, the opposite is actually true. When you observe your thoughts from their source to their end, you are approaching the source of your thoughts, or the so-called observer consciousness. When you are closer to this source, you act on thoughts that come from a deeper, truer place and have the potential to produce outsized impact more often.
The doubts and fears that arise when we consider letting go are the mind’s way of inducing fear to keep us believing in the movie it plays around the constructed character of “I.” The entire world is a collection of subtle to crude thoughts and abstractions created in our minds. Without our thoughts and interpretations, the world is just a collection of chemicals, photons, sounds, etc. that impinge upon our senses. With thought observation, we can look our thoughts in the eye and remain unperturbed and unfazed. This allows us to confidently assert our controversial opinions without fear of consequences. Just as our muscles grow stronger with enough exercise, our ability to overcome fear improves with enough thought observation. Try it and see the benefits for yourself.
Moral and spiritual clichés
From this perspective, many clichés arise naturally. For example:
- You are perfect: When even right and wrong are seen as thoughts in your head, everything is perfect just the way it is. You can let the mind worry about right and wrong while you enjoy deeper states of bliss by identifying with the observer of the mind.
- Think and do positive: When you experience the bliss of detachment from the mind’s whims, malevolent thoughts are seen for what they are. When the bar to act on thoughts is quite high, malevolent thoughts that cause suffering are no longer worth disturbing the stillness and bliss you are experiencing.
- We are all one: When you see everything and everyone as a construct in your head, it becomes obvious that you do not need to treat the thought or perception of your enemy any differently than a thought about yourself. Ultimately, they are all concepts in your head. From this perspective, a person saying something mean to you is equivalent to your mind saying it to yourself.
- Be brave: If you see the world for what it is, it is right no matter what action you take, even a cowardly action. And taking a controversial but courageous action is no longer scary. If you learn to face your mind’s thoughts unperturbed, you automatically learn to face the world unperturbed.
- Seek solitude: Thought observation is easier when the mind is quiescent. When the bliss of thoughtlessness is experienced, it can be easier to achieve in solitude where the mind is clearer. However, thought observation can be done in the busiest streets or the remotest corners
Practical tips
In order to improve our ability to observe thoughts, there are some practical steps we can take. One way to improve our observation skills is to focus on details in various aspects of our lives, such as paying attention to the subtle sounds in a piece of music or the intricate patterns on a leaf. Another way is to push our physical limits through activities like intense workouts, ice baths, marathons etc., which can help us detach from our bodies and overcome fear of physical pain. Additionally, getting enough sleep and learning to recognize when we are under the spell of our thoughts can also improve our ability to observe them.
Finally, seeking out discomfort and challenging our mind’s predictions can help us keep them in check.
PS: Almost every word in this article was written by ChatGPT by OpenAI.
References and further reading:
— Who am I — By Shri Ramana Maharishi
— Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
— Who am I (according to Mandukya Upanishad) — By Swami Sarvapriyananda
