| Once you understand how your mind works, you must | | | | What occurred is that your conscious awareness was |
| question the truth of what it has been telling you. This | | | | attracted to a distant thought, focused on it, and lost |
| allows you to shift from a closed state of mind to | | | | itself in the thought. This thought process is going on |
| openness. First, we will describe how your mind | | | | within you all of the time. It is the source of the parasite |
| creates your story, and then we will give you a simple | | | | mind's story creation. Throughout your life the parasite |
| method to shift your view of the story it has created. | | | | mind takes imprints from your experiences and |
| Notice we did not say you created the story. Your | | | | creates a blueprint, which becomes what you operate |
| mind did, and as you will see, you are not your mind. | | | | from. For most of your life, this thought blueprint stays |
| The illusory sense that your mind is you is what is | | | | the same, because these thoughts are familiar and |
| often referred to as the ego. Albert Einstein once | | | | safe. They are what you know at the parasite mind's |
| commented that the ego is "an optical illusion of | | | | level. |
| consciousness." The Toltecs of Mayan culture called it | | | | The emotions that arise from your thoughts are also |
| the Parasitic Mind. In Zen Buddhism it is referred to as | | | | recognizable, with fear and love and other types of |
| Monkey Mind. You might have also heard it called your | | | | feelings appearing based on your personal |
| Gremlin. Call it what you will, this parasite mind creates | | | | experiences. In this case, the annoyance arose from |
| the interpretations that you use to create your reality. | | | | self-judgment for missing your exit. If you had a past |
| Your external world is a reflection of this illusion. | | | | experience of being punished for daydreaming, the |
| If you've ever felt as though you've been possessed | | | | resulting emotions might cause an even stronger |
| by an outside entity, it's because in effect, you have. | | | | reaction. |
| Unfortunately, most people have completely lost the | | | | When something happens to trigger an emotion, your |
| awareness that the voice in their head isn't them; they | | | | reaction to the event will be fairly predictable. |
| are in a form of denial. Of course, that denial is also | | | | Eventually, the thoughts and feelings will dissipate. |
| the parasite mind speaking. The very survival of the | | | | Meanwhile, the parasite mind continues to create |
| parasitic mind is dependent on your belief that the | | | | stories based on the mental, emotional, and physical |
| story it is creating is true. When you live in this state, | | | | inputs that triggered the painful emotions. As a result, |
| you are what some refer to as spiritually unconscious. | | | | you lose contact with where your thoughts actually |
| So how exactly did the parasitic mind take control of | | | | originated. Although they were caused by an external |
| your consciousness to create its story? Your parasite | | | | source, they are now controlling you and the way you |
| mind focuses on three types of objects: mental, | | | | live your life. |
| emotional, and physical. These objects are separate | | | | As time goes by, the parasitic mind observes and |
| from your consciousness, but the parasite mind wants | | | | records more and more objects, drawing your |
| you to believe they are one and the same. | | | | consciousness deeper and deeper in to that inner |
| Here's a simple illustration of how the parasitic mind | | | | surround-sound theater. Your parasitic mind has gained |
| works. Imagine you are driving on a long, straight | | | | control because you've lost perspective: the cause of |
| highway. You notice a house that you admire and you | | | | your thoughts is not you. But your true self is always |
| begin to think of all the things you could do in that | | | | at the center, looking out at the feelings, thoughts, and |
| house, your children playing in the backyard, the way | | | | physical objects the parasitic mind is focused on. You |
| holiday lights would be seen by people driving by, what | | | | are not orbiting around those objects; they are moving |
| you would plant in the garden. Your consciousness is | | | | around you. However, the parasitic mind has tricked |
| drawn in to the story the parasitic mind is creating. As | | | | you into believing that the reverse is true. As a result, |
| you think of all the possibilities, your emotions and | | | | you are now living an unconscious life with the parasitic |
| mental reactions draw your consciousness in further. | | | | mind directing the show. |
| Your awareness is now in an inner movie theater | | | | When you lose your consciousness to the parasitic |
| watching your thoughts create a major motion picture, | | | | mind, the natural tendency is to close down because |
| a story that begins to expand in your thoughts. You | | | | the emotions that accompany the parasitic mind's |
| are no longer sitting in your car; you are focused on | | | | thoughts are real, and often uncomfortable. When you |
| the inner show that's playing, which is completely | | | | make a choice to stay safe instead of recognizing that |
| unrelated to your driving. All of a sudden, you look up | | | | your thoughts are the cause of your discomfort, you |
| and realize that you've passed your exit. Now you | | | | become what you are observing and experiencing. |
| have to drive to the next exit, turn around, and head | | | | The parasitic mind and its external focus is driving you |
| back to your destination, quite likely annoyed with | | | | instead of your consciousness and inner awareness |
| yourself for daydreaming. | | | | being the source of your actions. |