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Pay Attention to Your Consciousness
You’re a Puppeteer Here. But You Keep Identifying With The Puppet.
Look closely. Do you know who you are?
You aren’t what you think you are most of the time. This manifestation where I’m sitting down to write this and you’re sitting down to read it — what is it, really? Is it so wild to imagine that you might have been something else five minutes ago, or that you’ve somehow found yourself in Wonderland all of a sudden? In dreams, we “wake up” to a totally new world with only bits of similarities to our waking lives, and no recollection of “reality” or how things are “supposed” to be. We’re like puppets on a kids’ TV show — unaware that we’re just playing a character instead of the character itself. So, I think if we start understanding that we’re puppeteers instead of puppets, we will find liberation.
I’m not saying the plot will automatically change when you understand what’s really going on. But your relationship with the plot changes, giving you greater joy. You will stop worrying so much about the plot and just find it amusing to observe.
Liberation is when you rise above your situation and practice non-attachment.
What does non-attachment mean? It’s the way you approach life.
If you’re a puppet, then you’re very drawn into the scenery and the character conflicts. You’re in your feelings. You can’t see the big picture. There’s no way of telling how you go there or why. You aren’t aware of the puppeteer. There’s no self-awareness. You’re attached to the make-believe self — even though you have no idea where it came from.
Haven’t you ever noticed that puppets are so over-the-top and ridiculous, but they usually aren’t aware that they’re a puppet, even when they’re standing next to a human? Indulge me in this analogy.
That’s you. You’re an elaborate character that’s getting mad because another kid stole your chocolate milk from your school lunch. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just had a breakup or one of your nails just broke. If you’re getting upset about it, it’s because you’ve been drawn into the plot and you’ve forgotten who you are.
