Life is very tough for most of us… and, on the tightrope of life, very few are truly balanced. They lean on their leaders, their authorities, their gurus, their priests, politicians, and systems, and (through such leaning) they never are truly balanced in the true, deep sense (i.e., on their own). Their dependence is their falling. Only when one stands alone (with true independence) from the weight of all their symbols and systems, can one truly move in a balanced, light, and free way. Most of us adamantly and desperately cling to and rely on (i.e., depend on) an image (which is really just another thought) of an “internal central regulator,” or “controller,” or “me.” This image, however, is merely an “absorbed” thought (poured into us from others). Though we habitually and tenaciously cling to it as being “central,” and our core, there is — in reality — nothing truly central about it. This learned image often nurtures illusory conflict, separation, indifference, and friction (both internally and externally); the mind can function vastly more efficiently without it; clinging to it is another primitive, fragmentary form of unrefined dependence. So, many of us have dependencies so ingrained within us we are even oblivious to their existence. Most of us are heavily burdened with cumbersome dependencies, desires, separative viewpoints, and weighty symbols and labels (that they fabricated us as) which, inevitably, pull us down. To be truly simple, light, unburdened, full of poise and stability is (these days, as in the past) a very rare thing. There are those who talk and write a lot, pretending — to themselves and to others — that their systems and ways are balanced, while (in actuality) they are merely rehashing or quoting what was poured into them (furthering the mold that they emerged from and/or accepted). Why is it that to be deeply, psychologically free and balanced is possible, but — for most humans — it occurs only very rarely? Undoubtedly, miseducation has a lot to do with it; additionally, most of us were programmed to imitate. We spend our days repeating what we absorbed from others; most of us are almost constantly mentally repeating absorbed symbols (and we also use these symbols to perceive). People inevitably get bored with the same old thing — mentally repeating absorbed symbols is, indeed, old — and then (especially these days) drugs become involved. Do drugs and alcohol (so popular in this day and age) help in regard to being truly balanced? The answer (unless you are really inebriated and can’t walk the line) is rather obvious. To be balanced is to exist as equilibrium and harmony. To psychologically be in true equilibrium and harmony, the mind must understand and transcend ignorance and conflict… and that cannot take place if one merely lives as the absorbed frameworks of separation and symbolism that most people accept (and remain in) as normal.
On the Tightrope of Life. Photo by Thomas Peace c. 2016
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
>> Only when one stands alone (with true independence) from the weight of all their symbols and systems, can one truly move in a balanced, light, and free way.
>> So, many of us have dependencies so ingrained within us we are even oblivious to their existence.
>> … and that cannot take place if one merely lives as the absorbed frameworks of separation and symbolism that most people accept (and remain in) as normal.
🙂
Take care and have a pleasant weekend, Tom
Regards to both of you.
Thanks, Babu! So glad that you are appreciative of some very relevant points! Hoping your week is magical! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your insights, Tom! Wish our mind and brain are not so complicated to conceive simple things…
Yes, Amy! 🙂 Being simple isn’t complicated… but our complicated minds are — oftentimes — so knotted up that we are too twisted to perceive uncomplicated simplicity.
Just wonderful! 🙂
Thanks, Leyla! So glad you see it! 🙂
Great capture !!!
Thanks, Nancy! From our river bank in the backyard! 🙂
It’s not so easy to behave in an ideal way, if people would at least try and read your philosophical posts, Tom, then the world could be better, regards Mitza
Thanks so much, Mitza! 🙂 “Mostpeople,” for some strange, superficial reasons, don’t care to see deeply.
(Did you see what i wrote about Tweetie in the post prior to this one?)
Maybe I overlooked it, I’m very sorry because I’m really a Tweetie-fan, but I have more than 1200 followers and have to look at so many things every day, which takes a lot of time because English is not my mother tongue and I have to translate a lot of difficult things. But next time, I’m longing for a Sweetie Tweetie post, hehe, regards Mitza
thanks for helping
me understand
why balance
is difficult
& falling
is possible 🙂
Thanks very much, David! When i was very young, i was around a whole lot of people that were really quite unbalanced — my parents, my teachers, and elders — and i was fortunate enough to perceive their insane, unbalanced, “off the beam” state. That encouraged me (fortunately) to question everything, which one is still doing deeply (thank goodness)! 🙂
Perfect photo to accompany your deep thoughts 🙂
Thanks Sci! Keep an eye on that sneaky Little Monkey! 🙂
Will do 🙂
I recall how profoundI it was when I learned I could step back and observe myself. This is a step that most people are not taught.. And only comes in an environment that nurtures introspection and insight.. Thank you for sharing your insights Tom.
Thanks, Val! 🙂 When i was very young — as a child — i went beyond thought and contemplated deep things though my environment was rotten and didn’t encourage such things; so, sometimes, the environment is not a limiting factor.
A deep curiousity and love of learning, and purposefully exposing oneself to different perspectives, can help loosen our self-imposed bonds. We’re all such minor beings in the grand scheme of things, and this realization in itself can be freeing.
P.S. Poor grasshopper seems a bit cross-eyed! 😉
Deep curiosity sure is helpful! 🙂 Real love of learning involves deep inquiry!
P.S. (It is not a grasshopper at all; it’s a katydid.)
Awesome picture Tom.! Beautiful shot.!
Very well put, most of us are dependent on people or institutions to varying degrees. Almost seems impossible to shake off each and every one.
Thank you, Darcy! Most of us are entirely way too dependent. Our very perceptions reflect (and are twisted and tainted by) a whole spectrum of these dependencies. It is very possible to go beyond this… but very few ever really do it.
It’s difficult to break past this, and even confusing because I think one would question whether it would be authentic self expression or still influenced by external factors/stimuli. I think it would take a great deal of meditation and self reflection to even begin to shed these dependencies.
If you continue to “practice” something, like sitting on some silly mat and consciously trying via some methods or will to meditate… then it is just an extension of external factors… which (ultimately) leads to nothing very substantial whatsoever. However, even if external factors pointed out the possibility initially, if one truly goes beyond conditioning… then that is another story. It cannot happen by a mere act of will and effort; will and effort are still a part of conditioning. Real insight and passion, however, are beyond mere will and effort… beyond mere conditioning. Following someone’s steps or practices may be fine if you want to be a great musician, but it has nothing to do with really going beyond conditioning.
We all strive to be balanced in our lives, both in body, mind and soul. Thank you for a beautiful thought provoking post and another striking image. Your photography is incredible.
stunning photograph