Thinking for yourself

You might notice from even a cursory view of the archives of the Direct Way forum, that probably 90% or more of the posts, are "original topics" of the author's choosing - not, replies to someone else's previous post.



You might also note, that on most other lists you're on, the ratios are quite reversed - probably 90% or more of the posts are simply replies to replies to replies ad infinitum, and less than 10% if that, are "original topics" of the author's choosing.



So what?



Here's what: if people did not have Gurdjieff, or Jesus, or Buddha, or Nisargadatta, or Maharshi, or Krishnamurti, or Whomever to talk about, they'd literally have NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT.



This, in the classic sense, is what "thinking only as much as you can" (versus, "thinking more than you have to") is all about. You get interested in "waking up", or getting "enlightened" (because your Mom or Dad or Friend told you about it <---key point), and then you go buy a bunch of books, hole up in your room and read most of them, and then start talking about them with everybody you meet, until they can't stand you anymore, and you start looking for "birds of a similar feather" (like a study group, or a "work group", or even, a *Conscious School*), so you can talk about the books with other people who will, generally, tolerate it.



That, in the classic sense, is what "thinking only as much as you can", is all about.



The Direct Way forum, is about the other thing exclusively: "thinking MORE than you have to, about everything." And the very first thing you, personally, can start thinking about, is "what the HELL is that guy, Bob, actually talking about?" And, for yourself personally, what does "thinking only as much as I can" actually mean? And, then further, what could "thinking MORE than I have to about something" actually mean?



I'll assure you, Gurdjieff, Jesus, Buddha, Nisargadatta, Maharshi, Krishnamurti, have nothing to say about this. So you'll just have to "do your own thinking about it" for yourself.