"Values" is another buzzword doing rounds of the various circles...

"What are your values?"

"The three values I live by are..."

"I do not compromise on the values of ..."

"I stayed truthful only because of the values of..."

And with this post, I am going to challenge your reliance on them.

Understand that,

"Values"

is just another euphemism for rules and beliefs,

and that...

You need values because you need your Mind.

Yes.

If you already have other rules or beliefs

that you religiously abide by,

why another "mental bucket" for this thing called "values"?

For they are just another set of those.

Or the opposite,

if you "never saw the point in having beliefs" because of whatever reason,

why not go the extra mile,

and see what your reliance on "values" really entails?

Clever and silly mind games, my friend.

Yes, clever and silly, at the same time.

Clever, for it allows you to keep the Mind.

Silly, for the Mind keeps you so.

I realize many of you will still not be satisfied,

and claim that "values" are not exactly the same thing as "rules" or "beliefs".

You will say something along the lines of ...

"Values hit me deeper."

or that,

"Values are for serious matters, where rules are not enough."

To which I will say once again...

...clever mind games!

Do you not see dear friend,

in labeling a matter "serious",

you are simply justifying you using rules for those?

And deep down,

and independent of the matter being serious or not,

you are still a "rule" or "belief" addict!

For let us say, come tomorrow,

the matter is not "serious" anymore.

What will you say about your "values"?

Will they still be "values"?

I think not.

And regarding your first reason,

if something hits you "deeper" than some other thing,

what would it imply?

What would it reveal if you allow it to reveal,

instead of being too fast by justifying your need for values?

And no, I will not give the answer to this one.

But I will say,

that by coming in too fast to rationalize having "values",

you escape the understanding.,

that will free you from such "rationalization"!

~~~

Yes, dear friend.

It matters not,

what "thing" is the point of discussion -

values, rules, beliefs, religion or what have you.

These are, in the end, excuses to continue to need the Mind.

These are the pillars of the "mind bridge" where you currently stand,

and are only able to glimpse the vast SEA beneath.

Pillars, that were built by folks having similar fears centuries ago,

and fortified by others afraid of the same thing.

What fear?

The fear of having to plunge into the SEA.

The fear of having to swim in it for the rest of their lives.

The fear of never being able to come back to the "mind bridge".

Tell me, are these also not your fears today?

Are these not precisely the things that

are keeping you from diving-in with wide-open arms?

Oh dear friend,

if they are, I will say that such fears are illusionary.

For in nature,

they are the same fear which you got,

when you first learned how to swim or drive your car.

Were you stuck swimming or in your car seat?

No, you were not.

You simply stepped back on to the edge or undid you car-belt!

And in giving in to your fear, you were freed from the fear.

And in getting freed from the fear, you were freed (from a part) of the Mind.

~~~

Please understand that,

that the sea which you merely glimpse today,

standing atop the "mind bridge",

held safely by the many mind-full pillars,

is not just any other sea, "swimming pool" or river.

It is the SEA OF FREEDOM!

And exactly like your previous fears,

what is stopping you from taking the plunge is your Mind.

But unlike previous of your "jumps",

with this one, the Mind tries with ALL ITS MIGHT to keep you from jumping!

And every time you contemplate jumping,

the Mind shows you EVERY SINGLE THING you will "lose".

For the Mind knows,

that once you DECIDE,

it has nothing else to do but to step away from your life.

It knows that once you DECIDE,

you will not NEED it,

and it will not be able to KEEP YOU.

But what's the Truth behind the Mind's attempt to keep you from jumping?

It is this...

You will not lose anything!

You will actually GET all the things,

in a way more whole and complete than you have ever known!

For you will not be "stuck swimming in the SEA",

or "never come back to your bridge"!

For you will unleash the ability to FLY!

And be able to put together not just "that bridge",

but any bridge of your choosing,

by merely wishing for it!

Because behind all the superficial choices in life...

"rules" or "no rules",

"values" or "no values",

"religion" or "atheism",

"this" or "that",

...

there is one and only one decision that hides ...

MIND or FREEDOM.

Thank you.