Here in heaven

...and we're back!

I've noticed that for some people, the transition away from identifiying with false selves (i.e. the IS, OS, ego, etc.) is difficult because they think that this new belief structure requires doing away with a few key core beliefs they might have. Granted, if you are able to control your beliefs to the point where you can mix and match them or simply do away with them, that is helpful in developing yourself and it can accelerate the events that lead you to disidentify with your ego. On the other hand, most people have a tough time with this and attach themselves quite strongly to some core beliefs.

Particularly, there is one good example in this regard: the belief in heaven and hell. All this fuzzy stuff loosely based on Buddhist philosophy that I've been talking about is great and all, but if you want a real test to observe your own attachment to a belief, ask yourself if right now you could suddenly give up on the idea that after you die you will go to some puffy cloud haven in the sky, or some rocky firey pit if you were "bad". Some may laugh, but a lot of people who read this may not. Which one are you?

Seriously, try it. How revolted or defensive do you get when someone challenges this belief? The actual answer to whether or not there is a heaven or hell does not matter nearly as much as having you be able to monitor and observe your own reaction to this challenge. So how do you feel when you think about this? Do you get offended? Do you start trying to reason around it? Do you take up some other position about the subject?

Your heritage, upbringing, history, and background make up the things that constitute your belief system, to start out with at least.

As for heaven and hell, I will say one thing. There are even some Catholic bishops who even think that the fuzzy cloud vision of heaven is not true. For the rest of my personal answer on this, just read this whole blog and see. The answer is there.

In any case, the answer is not important. Again, your reaction is what's important. The thing that takes up a position, for or against the idea, is not you. That is your ego. The ego operates on the idea that if someone diminishes one of its theories or beliefs, then that thing is a threat. When the ego is threatened, it does all kinds of things to defend itself. It can get defensive. It can make arguments. It can get violent, or other things.

That WILL happen to you, and it's normal. If it doesn't happen when somebody challenges your belief in heaven/hell, it will happen when other beliefs get challenged. Do not worry about winning or losing the argument. Just watch. Know that you are not the argument, and be the knowing behind it. That is the Real You, and on that level of awareness, the actual arguments are not relevant to what you are.

Would you be any less if you were proven wrong? Would you be any more if you were proven right? Your emotions would go up or down, but what's the Real effect on the thing behind all that? Absolutely nothing.