Strange but true

Most of the people I know, who claim to have some significant understanding of The Work - you know, that nebulous concept that many have only heard about somewhere, but never really grasped for themselves - have almost no understanding at all.

Some call that, "waking up" or "becoming enlightened" or "reaching nirvana" or "self realization", and let it go at that - as though the understanding of all those concepts is "self evident" - but those are just words, more words. Understanding the Concept means something that has escaped their attention somehow. "Strange but true."

For one thing, The Work has more to do with oneself, than about other people. Other people are necessary parts of the equation, of course, but one can not judge their own Work by their approval or disapproval, no matter WHO they "think they are". One simply Knows what they Know, and has the Being to discuss it with those who can and want to discuss it. Just because you can't discuss it with some people does not mean you must Fix Yourself. "Hold your Work!"

Those who have forgotten, or never knew (or cared) about The Work, do not know Who they are, What they are, Why they are here (or anywhere), or What they are doing. They arrive by accident - always and everywhere, even if they (think, or believe, or SAY they) had a plan to be on time - and then they instantly forget The Work, usually in that instant. One big giveaway, is that one can't address or even discuss the question - put to them in all seriousness - "Why are you here right now?" The best they can do, if they even attempt to respond out loud (not realizing it was rhetorical), is from their personal point of view... "I just wanted to be here to kill some time," or "I wanted to listen to the other people and their ideas," or "I wanted to teach the other people," or many other things like that. None of those "apparent" reasons have anything whatsoever to do with it. The first best answer is, "I don't know." The second best answer is, "I have absolutely no idea."And they would not feel uncomfortable in any way saying that.

Those who Know - in their Being - about The Work, know quite well how they arrived here in this moment (i.e., including why they are even reading this blog!) and what they are "doing" while there (or here), and can easily discuss it with others who want to discuss that. Those who Know, can no more FORGET about The Work  than they can FORGET about breathing, and eating, and excreting, and feeling the warm and delicious and life-giving rays of the Sun on their face, and loving the hell out of it. For them, The Work IS life, and life only gets better, and Better, and BETTER with each and every moment that goes by because they KNOW - in their Being - what is going on with themselves, personally, and with other people in the physical world, and even with those "IN The Work"...

That is, they can recognize each other instantly, 

and the bond is permanent.

Those who Know - in their Being - about The Work  also understand and agree with everything in Life. They have "risen above" the need to argue, criticize, condemn, complain, or try to FIX either themselves, or other people, ESPECIALLY their Friends in This Thing we are doing/living/experiencing... and yes, even talking about on a regular basis because we CAN, and understand the need to do it.