I really don't have much to say, but since I usually prefer a conversational style of posting over a dry, just the facts kind it's usually lengthy and perhaps somewhat verbose. So I decided to sit down for a minute and organize basically what it is I have to say on this subject, so people can just get the essence of what I'm saying. Outside of this it would really just be chatting I suppose.
As I see it, people are caught up with identities, and identity implies a position. (for this, against that, etc.) I use the word position in a fixed, static, and permanent sense. Position then is basically a resistance to what is, or what reality happens to be presenting in any given moment. (and it does change from moment to moment) Of course, this relates to mental conflicts where one cannot stand the thoughts in one's head and so forth. And finally, resisting what is or what is in fact taking place in reality leads to suffering, or you might call it stress.
For example, you might have someone upset over their relationship with their parents. One might think he's my dad or she's my mom and he/she should love me. Reality, of course, may mean that they don't, or that they love you conditionally, rather than your expectation of what their love should be like.
This "should be" is basically your position, but another way of describing it is belief. (also known as blind faith) It may be logical and reasonable, and could in fact work if everything else is right, (in a perfect world, right) but the problem is again it's simply not what is in many actual, real cases.
Some people might object and say we need beliefs to function, but again I use this word in more of an absolute sense. If you see that your identity (or role) is conditional just as your beliefs are, or in other words relative and dependent upon other things, then there's no problem. Uncertainty is a basic fact of life, and along with that the typical sense of security. If you come to accept that then you'll have a chance of being at peace. (Note: this has nothing to do with pain, pain is just something that tells you there's something wrong - but ending suffering would bring you peace, even if there might be some pain left over)
This, by the way, points to a true selflessness. Much of the time people tends to think "oh I'm so selfless, I do this and that and volunteer and help others" - in what they think is helpful to others. True selflessness starts with the recognition of the impermanent nature of this 'identity' where we think we're 'somebody', and then you're truly open to the needs of others, because you've actually dissolved the artificial boundaries that separates you from others. . .
*edited to add the following:
And without that boundary, you have as your resource all that you've opened yourself to, not just stuff that fits in your belief system. Of course, if you've given up this illusory thing called belief, then your resources is essentially unlimited.
Edited by - Introspection on 11 September 2002 20:35:53