No teaching, inspiration.

I once had a talk with a friend of mine who complained of his temper and his boredom. He was almost never satisfied, and that would turn into spontaneous fits.

"I just don't get it, sometimes I'm happy and sometimes I just want to punch stuff!" he said to me.

"Well," I said "Let me see this temper of yours. Show me what it is so I might be able to help."

"I can't just SHOW you!" He said "It comes and goes. Right now I'm fine."

To which I replied "If it is here sometimes and not here others, then it must not be your true nature."

"I'm confused, what do you mean?"

"I mean this boredom and this temper must not be part of who you truly are. It was not something you were born with, or something that was given to you by your parents. If it was, you would be able to show me. Think about that for a while."

======================TRUE=NATURE=======================

True nature is what arises in time of no-mind. When you are drowning, true nature kicks in to fight for life. Being by yourself in the wilderness, true nature kicks in to prevent loneliness. When you are dying, true nature kicks in to create comfort. True nature always shows itself when you are without another. Your true nature is who you are when no one is looking. When you are alone with yourself. Once you learn to always be alone, even in the presence of others, then you will always be of true nature.

A wise man once said "Receive a guest with the same attitude you have when alone. When alone, keep the same attitude you have when receiving a guest."

But how do you discover your true nature? Simple: through observation. This website is observing the computer code, this computer screen is observing the website, your eyes are observing the computer screen, your brain is observing your eyes, your consciousness is observing your brain, and... who is observing the consciousness? YOU are observing the consciousness. The highest rung on the ladder.

I once was sitting on a rock underneath a tree in the middle of a cow field. My eyes were open, enjoying the movement of the grass. My ears relaxed in the peace of a midsummers day. I was calm. I wasn't going anywhere, I wasn't late for anything, I wasn't thinking of food, or water, or of people or places. I was simply being. And in that state of simply being, I noticed an ant that had crawled onto my foot.

He walked around from toe to toe, before making his way up to my ankle. Once he reached the softer skin, he began to bite. He bit once, moved, then bit a second time. As I continued to watch, he continued to bite. Just as I was observing my own nature a few moments ago, now I was observing the nature of the ant.

It is in the ants true nature to bite. Just as it is in the true nature of a scorpion to sting, or a snake to strke. Just as a bull will charge a vegetarian as quick as anyone else. And as I sat there, allowing this ant to bite me, I began to question my own true nature.

It is in the ant's true nature to bite. If I killed the ant for biting, then what is my true nature?

Since I know it is the ant's true nature to bite, if I killed the ant preemptively, BEFORE it could bite, then what is my true nature?

And since it is the ant's true nature to bite, and I know this to be Truth, then what is my true nature if I allow him to bite without retaliation?

There are three sources of action in this world: Power, Fear, and Truth.