Trying to Stop
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Condensed Transcript
Jan Cox Talk 2563 – August 11, 2000
Copyright Jan Cox, Jan’s Legacy 2015
Notes by Cfish January 2015
Suggested Title: “Trying to Stop”
Begin: All on the journey (awakening, enlightenment) are attempting the same thing. They are trying to stop. Anything more complicated is lies that lead you to “believe” that you know more than you do. Constructively one knows nothing. (ex. secondary realm)
Some scoff at the notion of there being a great secret of which ordinary men are unaware. But the scoffing is misplaced because there is such a secret. It is everything that goes on naturally all around you while you are too absorbed in thought to notice.
There is an overlooked law of physics in the secondary realm that bears directly on this journey. “Nothing affects anything else and everything effects everything else and only your thinking about these things keep you blind to the fact.”
05:00 “What a picture” — The beautiful little sailor, up in the crow’s nest, constantly scanning the horizon, on the lookout, for the promised land. But in truth – he is it. He is the only it there is. What a beautiful picture, story, and sight. (And though you did not ask, it is one of my favorites.)
It is “my little mind” and yours I might add, struggling frantically, beautifully, like it wants to burst out of my forehead, always looking for the missing piece, to the awakening “out there.” And in the end it is what it is looking for. I bet your ordinary mechanical ears are hearing that as a metaphor.
But it’s not a metaphor. That is what makes it beautiful (chuckle producing) to me. A lifetime of looking, with some saying, it is themselves looking. Some born with this “LoJack” device keep looking out there. (ex. teachers, books, travel to foreign countries) “The mind” is looking for itself.
10:00 “The mind may say, “What does that mean?” But that just means the mind is looking again. News: One man asked a mystic: “What are you trying to do – “Trying to awaken? No, said the mystic. The man then asked “Trying to achieve enlightenment?” No said the mystic. I am just trying to stop.
From somewhere up in the rigging, the folks on the deck of the ship, heard a voice cry out, “Unnecessary mental ornaments are not the promised land.” And the endless lapping waves continued to ask “trying to stop what?”
15:00 That is the end of the news. Back to “stopping it.” If you did not try to stop it you would not be wanting to stop it. (Did anyone catch that one in your teeth?) I am personally taken by the description “trying to stop.” I also cannot encourage one enough to “think differently.”
“Thinking differently” is all you need to get to the bottom of this activity. Based upon experience it has been a continual hobby in “looking” for a new description. In most cases of “thinking differently” you should not say anything about it. It is just unnecessary attention and grief to one’s self.
20:00 I know the reality behind the terms awake and asleep and I use the terms to just keep talking. But “thinking differently” and trying to see things from a different angle, (ex. everything I know, understand, the continuing methods, writings and musings) trying to awaken is “trying to stop.”
25:00 It is the pared down version of the view that hit me first: “Trying to stop it.” You are not trying to awaken, all you are trying to do is “trying to stop”. It’s the hidden property (Microsoft terminology) of “trying to stop” “my mind” from drifting off. It may be talking and arguing with a billboard.
You are just driving along, you and your head, and the billboard thought turns to something that happened years ago that made you mad. Then you and your head say I have got to quit going to sleep, stop chasing the dog of “my mind.” (I have done them all.)
But my latest favorite (made up) is I discard “my mind” and I no longer am trying to awaken but I’m just trying to stop it. And then “my mind” goes “stop what?” “My mind” wants specifics. Its as though I have pointed my finger into the midst of this continual chaotic activity. Saying its got to stop.
Imagine the “Parliament of Birds” (Sufi story). No one (many “I’s: many “thoughts”) sits down, no one is in charge, many of the thoughts in conflict, many of them ignorant of other thoughts’ existence and I have pointed my finger into the midst of it. And said stop.
I kind of see them all at one time rather than serially. So imagine all these fragments, these little minds, making up this “bigger mind.” And I point my finger into its midst. “What are you pointing at?”
30:00 I do not think of myself as being awake or unawake. I think about what I am doing now. I am on a continuing quest to stop it. In a sense my ordinary mechanical mind is annoyed by it. But the ordinary mechanical mind is not annoyed by threats to awaken. (It coexists quite easily with the aim)
I don’t talk to myself but look at your mind, the actual words, trying to stop it. I wish I had thought of it years ago. No offense to “wanting to awaken.” Just get to the point. And even if a few had seen it years ago the ordinary mind would still be asking “trying to stop what?” Be specific. (No, can’t, won’t)
35:00 When I am not as awake as I could be I think: “I am just trying to stop it.” And that in a sense throws “my little mind” off. (which is the point) I can picture how it went in the early days. Maybe a Confucious grandfather, probably talking about a way to stop it.
Saying you just go off alone, sit and relax, don’t talk, and with no point. And the whole point was to upset your mind. But look at what that has become. (Some monastery monks doubling down and sitting alone for twenty hours a day.) You do something to upset the mind and it adopts it as habit
40:00 Simply “thinking differently” becomes the norm the next day. The mind can believe its making progress when all it is doing is changing its underwear. And the mind cannot see that. There is nothing wrong with this. Ordinary men live life thru the mind rather than instinct.
I wrote a new article about a man who had been struggling with this thing for years. (waking up, trying to stop) And he said he noticed something quite curious. He felt, knew, and would not argue the point, that there was no doubt in his mind, he had made some sort of progress.
He was not the same person he was when he had started this journey. (trying to awaken) He said I am not satisfied with the results but I am satisfied that I have changed, grown, and that I am more awake. The curious part being “my mind” has been left behind.
I guess you have to be “pretty awake” to grasp that. From my view few people realize that. But do you notice that looking back (though you are more awake, but still no Buddha) your mind has been left behind back into your teen years.
45:00 I agree. “My mind” quite literally has been left behind. Outside, I would not try to tell anyone that. It’s not possible “I” have gone thru these changes and “my mind “ not been a party to it. 53:33
The News
COPYRIGHT 2000: JAN MARVIN COX 2062-1
THERE WAS ONCE A MAN WHO SHARED OUR CERTAIN INTEREST, AND WHO LOOKED INTO ACTIVITIES KNOWN AS:
“WORKING FOR AWAKENING”, “SEEKING ENLIGHTENMENT”, & “STRUGGLING FOR LIBERATION”, AND QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THEM ALL TO BE THE SAME THING;
AND AFTER YEARS OF PRIVATELY PURSUING THE MATTER,
AND ARRIVING AT HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT, HE CAME UP WITH HIS OWN NAME FOR IT
TO HIMSELF, HE THOUGHT OF WHAT IT WAS THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DO AS: “TRYING TO STOP.”
IN THE ALLEGORICAL JOURNEY FROM PARIS TO ISTANBUL
THERE IS THE EVENTUAL NECESSITY FOR YOU TO PAY NO MIND TO THE
SUPERFLUOUS SCENERY ALONG THE WAY —
AND NOTE THAT:
ALL SUCH INNER SCENERY IS COMPOSED OF NAUGHT BUT THOUGHTS AND WORDS,
WHAT BETTER DESCRIPTION IS THERE FOR WHAT AN EXPERIENCED & INSIGHTFUL TRAVELER IS ATTEMPTING TO ACCOMPLISH THAN FOR HIM TO SAY: “I’M TRYING TO STOP.”?!
— TO CALL IT ANYTHING MORE COMPLICATED THAN THIS IS TO TELL LIES ABOUT IT -LIES THAT CAUSE YOU TO BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT IT THAN YOU DO — WHICH IS, CONSTRUCTIVELY — NOTHING.
SO – NO MATTER WHAT NAME MEN MAY GIVE TO IT, AND REGARDLESS OF HOW THEY MAY DESCRIBE THE GoAL. OF THEIR EFFORTS,
ALL WHO ATTEMPT TO MAKE THIS JOURNEY ARE AFTER THE SAME THING,
THEY ARE — “TRYING TO STOP.”
2062-2
SOME SCOFF AT THE NOTION OF THERE BEING A “GREAT SECRET” IN LIFE OF WHICH ORDINARY MEN ARE UNAWARE,
BUT THEIR SCOFFING IS MISPLACED FOR THERE IS SUCH A. SECRET, AND IT’S THIS – IT’S
EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON CONSTANTLY ALL AROUND YOU _
WHILE YOU’RE TOO ABSORBED IN THOUGHT TO NOTICE.
AND SOMEONE CARPS: “BUT THERE’S NO NEED FOR ME TO BE AWARE OF EVERY SINGLE THING THAT’S GOING ON AROUND ME.”,
SIR, I’VE NEVER SAID THAT THERE IS,
BUT HIS KVETCHING CONTINUES:
“PLUS, MOST OF WHAT GOES ON DOESN’T INTEREST ME, AND T
CERTAINLY DOESN’T EFFECT ME.”
— OBVIOUSLY AN ORDINARY, REASONABLE MIND IS SPEAKING HERE,
AND ONE TO WHICH ANY FURTHER COMMENT ON THE MATTER WILL BE WASTED.
2062-3
ONE MAN, (APPARENTLY NOT SO ORDINARY AND REASONABLE)
HAS A TATTOO ON ONE ARM, RUNNING FROM WRIST TO SHOULDER, WHICH READS: “SO HERE I STAND! —
MY MIND CONSTANTLY LOOKING OUT AT LIFE — SEARCHING FOR THE GOAL, FOR AWAKENING, FOR ENLIGHTENMENT,
WHEN IT IS MY MIND ITSELF — AND NOTHING ELSE — THAT IS IN FACT, THE ACTUAL GOAL THAT IT’S LOOKING FOR.”
IF YOU RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SUBJECT AND AN OBJECT, AND SEE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN, “IN HERE”, AND “OUT THERE”
THEN YOU
HAVEN’T GOT A CLUE.
THE SECRET MISSING PIECE FOR SUCCESS IN THIS IS TO REALIZE THAT
LIFE IS EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ON WHILE YOU’RE TOO BUSY THINKING TO NOTICE,
THERE IS AN OVERLOOKED LAW OF PHYSICS IN MAN’S SECONDARY REALM THAT BEARS DIRECTLY ON THIS MATTER:
“NOTHING EFFECTS ANYTHING ELSE, AND: EVERYTHING EFFECTS EVERYTHING ELSE — AND, ONLY YOUR THINKING ABOUT THINGS KEEPS YOU BLIND TO THIS FACT.”
WHAT A PICTURE: THE DUTIFUL LITTLE SAILOR UP IN THE CROWS’ NEST
CONSTANTLY SCANNING THE HORIZON ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE PROMISED LAND, WHEN IN TRUTH, HE IS IT!
— HE IS THE ONLY “IT” THERE IS.
WHAT A PICTURE!, WHAT A STORY! -WHAT A STORY! — WHAT A SIGHT!
2062-‘4-
ONE MAN HAD GONE OFF TO ONE OF THOSE SO-CALLED, “MYSTICAL SCHOOLS”, AND HAD NOT BEEN HEARD FROM FOR MANY YEARS, AND FINALLY HIS BROTHER WENT TO SEE HIM,
AND AFTER GREETINGS AND HUGS, THEY SAT DOWN IN PRIVATE AND THE BROTHER
SAID: “SO TELL ME: WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING HERE ALL OF THIS TIME?”, AND THE MAN ANSWERED: “I’VE BEEN — TRYING TO STOP,”
(BY THE BY: THE BROTHER LEFT, FAIRLY SATISFIED WITH HIS VISIT — EXCEPT THAT FOR DAYS HE PUZZLED OVER THE QUESTION: “TRYING TO STOP — WHAT?”
2062-5
A MAN ASKED A MYSTIC: “CAN YOU TALK AND BE AWAKE AT THE SAME TIME?”, AND THE WISE ONE REPLIED:
“ONLY IF YOU TALK R-E-A-L-L-L, R-E-A-L-L-L, SLOW
2062-..6
To BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE “I” OF YOUR MIND THAT DIRECTS YOUR LIFE
IS TO BE GREATLY DELUDED,
AND TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS SOME IDENTIFIABLE, SUPERNATURAL FORCE OUTSIDE OF YOU
THAT DIRECTS YOUR LIFE
IS TO BE EVEN MORE DECEIVED.
Now — I TRUST I HAVE’ CLEARED UP THIS MATTER ONCE AND FOR ALL. HUMPH!
2062-7.1
AFTER HAVING BEEN PRIVY TO ONE OF TONIGHT’S EARLIER NEWS ITEMS,
ONE MAN RUSHED OFF TO HIS NEAREST MYSTICALLY INCLINED FRIEND,
AND SAID:”TELL ME WHAT IT IS THAT I’M TRYING SO HARD TO DO.”,
AND HIS FRIEND OFFERED: “TRYING TO WAKE UP?!”, AND THE MAN SHOOK HIS HEAD, No,
THEN HIS FRIEND TRIED: “SEARCHING FOR ENLIGHTENMENT?”, “NOPE!” REPLIED THE MAN,
AND HIS FRIEND TRIED: “STRUGGLING FOR LIBERATION?”, AND AGAIN THE MAN
SHOOK HIS HEAD, AND SAID: “No, I’m JUST — TRYING TO STOP.”
THEY WERE THEN BOTH SILENT FOR QUITE A LONG TIME
‘TIL THE FIRST MAN STOOD UP, NODDED TO HIS FRIEND, (AS THEY BOTH SLYLY SMILED), AND LEFT.
FROM SOMEWHERE UP IN THE RIGGING,
THE PEOPLE DOWN ON DECK HEARD A VOICE CRY OUT:
“AH, VERBOSITY AND UNNECESSARY-MENTAL-ORNAMENTATION -THOU ART NOT THE — PROMISED LAND,
AND THE ENDLESS LAPPING WAVES CONTINUE TO ASK THE QUESTION: “TRYING TO STOP – WHAT?”
,29628-1
ANYONE WHO SPEAKS ABOUT LIBERATION, AND IS NOT THEM SELF FREE, ONLY REPEATS THE WORDS OF OTHERS.
(THIS INCLUDES THE MATTER OF YOUR OWN THOUGHTS TALKING TO YOU ABOUT IT.)
2062- 9,
A BOY COMPLAINED: “MY MIND IS TOO-FULL-OF-ITSELF.”,
TO WHICH HIS FATHER RESPONDED: “All, BUT NOT ENOUGH -FOR IF IT WERE COMPLETELY SO — YOU’D BE FREE OF IT,”
TRANSLATED INTO A DIFFERENT SETTING: H.
THIS IS WHY ONLY ACTUALLY, “STOPPING IT” IS ADEQUATE, AND MERELY “TRYING TO” IS NOT,
THERE IS NO GREATER EXAMPLE IN THE LIFE OF MAN WHEREIN IT IS A MATTER OF IT BEING:”ALL OR NOTHING,”
WHICH BRINGS US TO THE END OF THE NEWS, AND ASKS IF YOU ARE READY FOR TONIGHT’S, POINT-BLANK, SHOT-IN-THE-FACE:
ARE YOU READY? OKAY, HERE IT COMES:
IF YOU DIDN’T TRY TO “STOP IT” YOU WOULDN’T BE WANTING TO STOP IT,”
(DID EVERYBODY CATCH THAT ONE IN YOUR TEETH?”)