The Beginning of True Insight
by Beezone
In everyday life, we often just observe and experience things without much thought, enjoying them without worry. But, for most people, there is a constant underlying search for something more—a search that is never fully resolved.
When we look for solutions to the problems we face, we often come up with technical answers that help us manage life. These answers might fix the practical problems we encounter, but they don’t touch the deeper issue—the dilemma that lies in how we experience life, moment to moment. This dilemma, this fundamental problem we all face, is hidden within the very act of experiencing and thinking. We are not usually aware of it because we are too focused on the external forms of our thoughts and experiences.
Instead of simply being aware as we think or experience, we get caught up in the models of the world our thoughts create. These models shape how we see ourselves, based on the past and the present moment. Sometimes, a person who is searching for a deeper understanding might notice the discomfort and struggle in this way of being. They might try to escape it by controlling their thoughts or pushing through their limitations.
But after trying all these approaches, someone who looks deeper will realize that there is no real way out of this struggle through ordinary means. They will see that this dilemma is built into the very nature of seeking and experiencing. This realization, understanding that the problem is “concealed in the event of cognizing and experiencing itself,” is the beginning of true insight.