Mirrors of the Mind

Mirrors of the Mind

Adam Holden

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As I observe and experience the world, I have come to realize that you are a reflection of myself, and perhaps you know me as well as I know you, even better than we know ourselves. This is because when I see you, and you see me, we cannot see ourselves. We cannot know ourself from outside our own entanglement with our will and our senses. If we consider ourselves inseparable, labeling the self as a part of humanity, then we can see ourselves much more clearly. Although we do glimpse ourselves in the world from time to time, mirrored in people’s responses and in the effects caused by our actions, so it is that we must see ourselves through the mirror of life. Depending on whether we are balanced and intelligent or otherwise virtually everything we perceive may be an illusion, because all of our impressions and even eye consciousness is filtered through our mental labels.

This attachment of qualities that we call labeling is based on a complex array of unexplored and unrealized subconscious impressions, memories, and experiences—not just worldly events, external experiences, but also those based on the disorganized jumble, a collection of rambling emotional self-conscious narratives and other influences that cloud the clarity of our worldly mirror. The eye consciousness forms and a strong and dark desirable impression , yet it is very unevolved because when we look at the world through our eyes, we don’t realize that what we see is filtered through the subconscious accumulation of impressions, a storehouse of memories that influence our actions. As we find ourselves focusing on what we like or don’t like on our desires in the world, that focus moves constantly and is actually quite hard to manage and contain because eye consciousness naturally jumps like a butterfly from one thing to another.

What we often overlook is that all impressions and occurrences that surround us and filter into our consciousness are also labeled before we become conscious of them and therefore they are not experienced purely, as they too are entangled with past impressions and memories. If we were to understand this, it leads to the knowledge that sets us free through the understanding that our experiences of the world are uniquely perceived through our sense of self, yet all the senses are operated, conditioned and experienced according to the purity of view and quality of the individuals mind and how that person relates to their subconscious accumulation. This affects how they set up and recreate their labels through neural networks, either opening a purer view in harmony with reality or narrowing it, thereby limiting the ability to experience and enjoy life.

Pain is more readily available and attainable, an easier reality to focus on than bliss, as it is always existing it requires less skill. We tend to focus on pain or avoiding it rather than developing the positive qualities of knowledge, wisdom, and good habits that result in bliss and happiness. Therefore, we are resistant to this knowledge, because admitting we had not followed the wise path would be difficult for the ego. Therefore this secret knowledge should remain sacred, offered only to those who request it.

When we are less compelled by the self-image, ego, thought forms, cyclic thinking, and all kinds of narratives that arise from the muddled subconscious and the ever conflicting worldly path, through self preservation and necessity we may learn the good qualities that resolve wrong views and suffering. These qualities rest in and are expressed as harmony with nature, they are experienced in the blissfuly unfolding of life. When the self focus relaxes the opportunity to transcend or evolve beyond the ego arises, we can perceive beyond even the body and habitual conscious perspective or thinking, if we are capable of taking the step which is rare indeed, we can realize that the nature of mind is not in the body but occupies another realm of existence that is nonphysical.

This mental realm like all realms has gross and very subtle and when realize can express within the conscious perspective as a higher perception than the normal worldly consciousness, this potential is expressing and is experienced by all individuals. All of our potential is are the same, but our paths and the quality of experiencing and realizing it are very sometimes extremely different as different as gross and subtle can be you could liken it to a nonmusician trying to play a violin. Some people have the unique ability to spontaneously comprehend the essence of things, the nature of reality, allowing them to extract their purpose, perhaps happiness or bask in the sunlight of wisdom, the true power that doesn’t come at a cost. This is is pure perception. This enlightening view empties the mind so that it can see the nature of whatever is before it without conditions or preconceptions, it doesn’t look through the metrics of what it likes, or dislikes. It purely and simply understands the subtle nature of things, comprehending the gross and subtle nature as the essence of nature that is empty, therefore, basks in make it consciousness itself.

Thus, we are no longer mired, stuck within the lower view limited to perception from within the body looking only out into the world. When we evolve this wiser, more detached view of reality, we gain a much more subtle and yet expensive realization that is still filtered by the subconscious. However, as the subconscious becomes ever more subtle it enlightens the perception making the whole outlook and continuum of that being more vibrant, complete, universal, panoramic, enlightened, and transcendent. Suddenly we have but the realization that whatever the mind or the perception encounters is an aspect of our self and we are not inside or outside the body this awakening opens a portal to another dimension of consciousness that filters our experiences through the essence of nature itself the pure consciousness the emptiness the ability to see things utterly fresh and natural this is utter fulfilment where the world becomes its essence just an expression perceived at one with the awareness.there is no longer a self just nature watching itself flowing through the senses whatever arises is already home so all of the experiences all of the senses are fulfilling the essence of their function.

Because of this illumination, one can experience their own continuum more completely, thereby experiencing good qualities such as wisdom—knowing subtle meaning of everything, including positive and negative outcomes, cause and effect, what to do and what to avoid, what to embrace and what to let go in total surrender.

The grasping desiring nature of all minds is relentless, unless the mind is already completely empty, which may be possible to some degree at certain moments. The continuum of being is entangled in its own version reality, with each individual being at the center of their own universe they stand on the precipice of change of the uncertain therefore they cling to what they know is if their life depended on it. It is absolutely necessary to know that the outside world and perceived reality has a network just like the mind. The mind naturally reflects this network it has the questions to the answers and the answers to the questions, but because we create the world with our minds we create an unsolvable conundrum because we look out into the world and think reality is out there therefore the conundrum can never be solved. The brain, the physical body, and thoughts are all networks created by habits and views that are either in harmony or disharmony. Disharmony wastes energy and creates conflict, making that being incapable of moving and evolving in higher realms, it is as though these realms are invisible and one cannot purchase a position get traction or make out the reality through the veils, these people cannot visualise like a god, they cannot manifest ideas and experiences in a stable way so they become real. The subtle realm of the mind has its reality but requires a stable consistent relationship with the mind therefore it is based on qualities that brings table view consistent perception and the ability to manage the continuum and the energy. One in conflict falls to the lower realms because they are using the same amount of energy as an enlightened being but investing it mostly in conflicts. The enlightened being flies freely conserves energy they float and saw in the ether where is beings in lower realms weighed through the mud of unattainable desires, seeking here there and everywhere for the fruit of higher happiness

By consciously realizing the nature of mind, we naturally understand how to let go of our burdens—the heavy weight we carry from lifetime to lifetime. We comprehend the flowing display of skylike nature of reality and consciousness from which we were born and expresses through our minds as the ultimate nature. As this pure conscious perception pours through all existence filling it with the life, through all beings, their brains, minds, experiences, relationships, and for ever recycles in life and death. Everyone is essentially the same; of course we are all unique as it depends on how the purity of their consciousness flows within their continuum. Can they purify their continuum? Can they develop the will to have that conversation with themselves to motivate themselves to realize the power of cause and effect and what that means in terms of self-determination?

Are they consumed by worldly desire, can they muster the energy, qualities, faith, confidence, and certainty to embrace a greater more fulfilling reality, wholeheartedly and meaningfully, to put their own inhibitions desires and ego down, -- to stop defending their sandcastle, which inevitably will get washed away?

When we are no longer habitually entangled and trapped within the ego and mindset conditioned by past thoughts and experiences, influenced by an ocean of labels rising from the subconscious—mostly coming from wrong views because these human and even lower realm levels of experience are where consciousness are all corrupted, impure, unclear, uncertain, and entangled in each other—all these influences, feelings, emotions, memories, preferences, aversions, years of unrealized desires, failures, and sufferings become the source of spiritual motivation to search for something greater. Because the circle of consciousness and reality has no end there is no difference between the top and the bottom between happy and sad they all coexist but cannot be experienced clearly or seen or utilised or celebrated because we are within the circle even where at the peak we fear decline and when we are in decline we are already gathering momentum to make ourselves better to realize the true nature that is always calling incessantly calling when we see existence from within our circle within the body there can be no pure view unless one has a spiritual awakening and steps out of the ego the cyclic clinging and sees reality from outside of cause-and-effect in this way one becomes reborn and perfect beyond judgement. Here, we should take the word "spiritual" and "awakened" not literally. The spirit cannot be labeled; therefore, people think spiritual is something unwelcome because it’s unknown. The difference between the true nature of spirit is that it’s all that you have! When you think of religion, philosophy, or spirituality. You usually label it all in the wrong way with the wrong intention and view. Spirit is the wind that blows through your mind; it is the space for you to think. It is all of your joy and all your suffering. It is the only thing you possess because, with the spirit, you can create all aspects of your experiences. And when you are unconscious of the spirit you are destined to die. Awakening the spirit is frolicking in the field of all possibilities where yes you can have and experience eternal life and yes you can comprehend the nature of all and become one with that nature the ultimate blissful transcendence.

The world is only a mirror. You may own one thing, you may own many things, you may be proud of what you own, but if you own too many things, there is no relenting and no freedom. There is no pride, of ownership is only a heavy burden. Therefore, this is the meaning and potential of the appearance of labels. A poor person may be excited to own a basic car and may get much more joy from their car due to their gratitude, but the person who owns 100 Ferraris cannot ever enjoy or have a relationship with any 1 of them. They become only a status symbol; they might enjoy other things related to their Ferraris like status and self-importance, but that’s not the pure enjoyment of the car.

Because we are the owners of our labels our emotions are connection with the world our self-created entanglement, we defend it eternally from one life to the next. The sense of self is so focused within our cyclic circle of narratives of self and other that it cannot even see itself. It only looks out into the world and does not realize what it sees—the mirror of its own qualities, intelligence, mind, ability to love, feel compassion, and be connected. Comprehending the nature of all this comprises of very high, highly skilled qualities, and to realize them in their true, pure form is very rare. Yet the qualities are common and they are required to live a meaningful life but because they are not associated with affluence and physical supremacy they are largely ignored and even labelled as weakness, many people rather give up their authenticity than express themselves fully and learned the lessons to becoming a complete person.

Of course, we think we are within the body because it is the most tangible evidence we have when we do not understand the nature of our mind or the realms of existence which we inhabit, of course we must 1st surmount the lower realms before our consciousness opens its view of the world to another realm. The world exists outside in the elements—we see trees, sky, earth, other people—but when we understand the nature of mind, the world evolves into a higher realm. As a more heavenly aspect realm appears to us when we have the qualities to understand the nature of mind, which requires a very basic and committed understanding about qualities: concentration, calm, consistency and respect for others, respect for oneself, a basic level of intelligence, and gathering a fresh view that embodies higher realms and more subtle knowledge. This knowledge creates light, an enlightened view that empties out the shadows and fear from the subconscious memory storehouse of accumulated influences.

And as we rise and develop these good qualities, we inspire the light of wisdom, the light of courage, to boldly embrace the nature, the knowledge of emptiness. With this knowledge, we illuminate our mind because there is no obstacle to cast a shadow, our body, the world, our habits. Our continuum is illuminated, and this opens the door of the subconscious that spills through purifying our consciousness, actions, relationships, and continuum. It pours out and empties all the darkness contained within the subconscious, and what is left is all the fulfilling resolution from countless experiences in this life and past lives, from the beginning of time. Ultimately, we re-realize we’re not separate from anything physically. We become in the flow. Knowing that the body will die soon, mentally we give up struggles and learn to play like innocent children without fear that others are watching and judging us, yet we deport ourselves effortlessly. But soon we grow up, and everything becomes the same in oneness—this beauty, the true nature experience of life. We become one with the consciousness that embodies all things. This is the essential oneness. Of course, we are all individuals, but that’s part of the play, the fun, the magical display.

This is what we base our idea of what is meaningful and our feeling of reality upon, and yet it is all illusion because we created it. We were born as humans because that is where we roamed. There is no limit to the lowest level we can plunge to or the highest summit we can realize. It is a total fabrication. Of course, there are imprints paths and networks of the elements of reality that provide our journey, they fuel the awareness and fulfil our consciousness, yet our understanding of these elements is clouded. They do not appear purely and not clearly perceived from any perspective—not from the absolute ultimate or individual momentary perspective because they are the flowing expression that cannot be contained cannot be judged or measured they are very subtle in their nature but the effect of them is within containable and unstoppable, the long or the short view, the happy or the sad. They are all wrong views because they are all within this perfect circle in which we are all trapped—the circle of self that all beings have inhabit in exactly the same manner and intensity. Whether the being is a little ant with a colony mind, it still feels that same sense of self and itself has determination.

We all don't truly exist because, in the nature of becoming, time ticks, the wind blows, the days pass, we get older, and nothing can stay the same. Over the years, things change; over the months, weeks, minutes, and seconds, there is no ability to control it. The self will always exist no matter what life form you embody and so ourselves are inseparable from the elements that made us and the consciousness that fills our minds. It’s what we do with our self-determination that ultimately matters because there is no limit on anything in the mind apart from the experience of physicality.

We are all constantly changing. There is no point where anything is actually existing by itself. For example, a battery can't exist without the energy within it, and there is no reason for the battery to exist unless there is a purpose. Therefore, the battery is created and labeled; it doesn't really exist separately from its purpose. It is not an individual entity. Ultimately, it’s only an individual relatively, and that’s relative to the mind that perceives it and sees it as dependent on other things. So, there is no singular self. Our body and the battery our same they take up space and that space will soon be recycled it is only the consciousness that drives us forward that determines what the future will bring and who will be and where we will exist.

So at least study this document and extract what you can.

Remember there is no limit to your power to experience the freedom to love to feel gratitude and satisfaction or to experience suffering.

February 28, 2025

Adam Holden

[email protected]