Dedication - for mature audiences only

Even though he will never read this, I would like to dedicate this blog entry to Justin. A "nice" 30 something ( at least he was under the norm, which is 60 around here.) gentlemanly sells man I met yesterday. He was so polite, cordial, and interested in me, my RV, and that I am solo.

Just saying.

If this had been, even 4 years ago, Justin, my man, you would be here, right now, as we speak, doing whatever, in my house van.

Just saying.

And this leads to Yoga. Not that I do it on any kind of routine basis but I do know what a downward dog is.

Hence the relation between Justin and this post. (Just kidding. I don't want to be offensive but I am thinking I need to do something to grab everyones attention.)

So, according to the book 'Beyond Birth and Death',  the very first step in self-realization is realizing one's identity as separate from the body.

It says the body is composed of senses, and the senses are always hungry after their objects.  The eyes see a beautiful person and tell us, "Oh, there is a beautiful person, let's go see." The ears are telling us, "Oh, there is very nice music. Let's go hear it." The tongue is saying,  "Oh, there is a very nice restaurant, let's go taste it." In a way our senses are dragging us from one place to another, and because of this we are perplexed.

"As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a man's intelligence."

It is imperative that we learn how to control the senses.

But, is it? Would we ever have any fun if we did? Would we really be making the most of this life?

The book also says: Bodily pleasure is flickering and intoxicating, and we can not actually enjoy it, because of it's momentary nature. Actual pleasure is of the soul, not the body. We have to mold our lives in such a way that we will not be diverted. It is possible for us to establish our consciousness in its true identity beyond the body.

Well, at least, according to this book, I am doing something right.

But, for now, I am going to look for Justin.