Greetings from the void

[glance left]

Self importance, from a personal perspective, just means unnecessary, distorted over-emphasis on the self...the self that doesn't really exist in any permanent way. To the extent that one cannot detach when the time to detach the "persona", as WG says, comes around. Likes and dislikes...interests...the impetus to explore...I don't see why that has to go, at least while I'm here in this existence. It's just about shucking the part that hinders...that's getting in the way of exploration from a context of freedom. And, for me also, its about identification....not the with persona which, I agree with WG, is necessary to navigate this world...but I don't have to be identified with it, tooth and nail, to the extent that I can't let go when this persona's life has exhausted its purpose. To use an analogy, it's a mask worn to a ball, to be taken off when the ball is over....or an avatar when playing a game, which disappears when the game is finished and the console turned off. So, what's behind the mask? The persona? That's what I want to identify with....the abstract core of awareness. To touch it frequently throughout the day.....at night. To deepen that awareness through meditation. To recognize it, recognizing itself. Becoming aware of itself, while going about my day doing persona stuff. Work, family, playing games, dreaming, eating, drinking, sleeping. All of it becomes much more enjoyable when the abstract core is the thing emphasized, because the energy is there to enjoy and appreciate, recognizing the abstract core of awareness that is inherent in everything. It opens up space...and that space beckons energy, just because its empty. That's when the superficial appearance of things becomes dreamlike (don't get me wrong....I've only just begun to touch upon it!) and wonderful. Because that light that transmits through from beneath the superficialities of the known renders everything magical. It's the source of magic....infinity.

Alright, enough of my rambling Good to have you here!