I don’t know where this will go but I feel moved to begin an investigation. You're welcome to join me in this. Post a comment. Who knows. Maybe this will go somewhere helpful. This is an examination of what's true about the world in which we find ourselves. What can be discovered by a careful, mindful look-see? Not some theory or belief. We may not be able to do this. And, we may in fact be able to do this. I'd like to find out. When we sit quietly, what do we see going on at this moment? At first things might be distorted like peering from under water. That's okay. We start from where we are. What else can we do. I've noticed that when I calm myself down, things generally become more clear. So for me, calming down my mind-body is a big part of this investigative process.

    We all do our best. This is all we can ever do. We also are able to guide just what that “best” is at any given moment. We reflect, contemplate. rethink our lives as we go. We make experimental changes, changes borne from insight and true understanding, and also we make changes from reactions, misunderstandings, misperceptions and even outright fatigue. But, at any given time, we’re doing our best. We may be moving down a destructive unhelpful path. We may be moving down a path of habits - of our own making.

We may be moving down a helpful compassionate path as we do our best. I find seeing this in people personally very helpful in giving rise to compassion, understanding, and seeing commonalities with myself and others.

    The actions of an awakened human being are inherently powerful, both locally and globally. Such actions are influential and meaningful both instantly and over time. These actions carry us forward to a better world and a better life for all humanity.

 With each awakening, both large and small, the world becomes a better place as we individuals become better people. This process moves us toward a self-imposed and self-motivated morality, right action, impeccable human character, and good works in the world by individuals and societies. One finds oneself doing good and right because one sees from a sincere and broad perspective (larger than oneself) that taking the positive path at every crossroad in life is a better way to live and the best path to take.

    We’ve been living in a world built from our senses, combined with, and dramatically affected by our; fears, survival instincts, urges for pleasure, fear of death, fear of emotional pain, physical pain, and all the rest of it. Our world is a very different place because of the way in which we function within it. The world is directly affected, transformed if you will, by us as we go about our day. An act of hatred makes the world a little more hateful. An act of kindness makes the world a little more kind. Sounds obvious but how many of us really consider this as we go about our daily living? Also, this world is substantially different from the world as it is - without all of our mental/emotional constructs. We taint the world almost continuously from moment to moment. And so the world as it is, much of the time IS NOT the world as we see it.

    It occurs, that perhaps seeing things as they are, without all this human meddling, fear filters, and all the rest of it, might be beautiful or at least different. It may even be practically useful in some way. What a concept, right? So, how does one see things as they are? What is that like? What does that even mean? Seems like it should be easy, right? Obvious, right? Some people say it is easy. Some say it’s very hard indeed. I’m suggesting both are correct. Many things seem difficult before one knows how to do the thing. Skiing is hard. I keep falling down. But I stay with it for a time and then I realize that skiing is fun. Its not hard really. I train my body to move a certain way, my mind to pay attention to certain things. I fall down but I get right back up again. This is all part of skiing. And all that falling down leads me to this really fun time I’m having now. I’m skiing, having fun! Maybe seeing the world untainted is a little like that. Let’s find out. Not just read about it or talk about it but explore it, really discover what it’s like. Lets see what this is about.

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