Thread by @drlouisehansen

How to hold your Frog: What is bigger? Society or existence? Intelligence or the intellect? Existence or our own psychological structure? I think many in Western culture do not know the difference between ‘intelligence’ and the ‘intellect’. 1/27 #EnoughIsEnough #March4Justice

All life is intelligence. An ant, a butterfly, a tree, a rainbow, a child and even existence itself. Intelligence is primary. The intellect is secondary. The intellect is a tool. It is a cutting instrument. That’s why when someone is smart we say they are ‘sharp’. 2/27

It is like a sharp knife with a pointed tip. That why we say ‘he was right on point’. However, what happens when we use this sharp knife to love someone? A scientist knows a frog through means of dissection. He pulls it apart. Knows all it’s pieces. Then it is dead. 3/27

To experience the same frog requires a different intelligence. To embrace the frog as it is with our awareness. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to intellectualise everything. We want to “know things.” We want to “fix things.”We even do this to our loved ones all the time: 4/27

We analyse, judge and dissect them. We pull them apart. Then we wonder why they feel dead. We do this to ourselves. Then we feel dead. Because it is a sharp knife we have dissected the world into a trillion pieces of good/bad, right/wrong, more/less, sin/virtue, and so on. 5/27

Remember the intellect is a tool. To know things. To fix things. To keep us safe and alive. However, it is used far too often, often incorrectly (i.e. excessively at ourselves or others) and it can only take us so far. There are some things we can never know. Never fix. 6/27

Some things cannot be measured entirely. They can only be experienced: Life. Truth. Love. Young science will only ever take us so far due to the nature of the intellect. The limitation of this tool. At some point we need to put down the knife and take a leap of faith. 7/27

Perhaps the greatest tragedy is we think the intellect is greater than intelligence. This could not be further from the truth. Intelligence is far greater than intellect. Existence is far greater than society. Intelligence is far greater than our own psychological structure. 8/27

Knowing this is freedom. A large scale vision: borderless and boundless. The highest realisation: ‘I am that which is not’. It must be ‘nameless’. For as soon as you label it, it becomes ‘a thing’ separate from the rest. A division created by the sharp knife: the intellect. 9/27

We will always need the intellect. However, we use it far too much. So much so that we have already carved up the planet. One of the greatest things we can do is absolutely nothing. Huh? If we did absolutely nothing for three to six months planet Earth would be thriving! 10/27

Not trying to ‘know it’. Not try to ‘fix it’. Holding your Frog. The psychological mind rejects this. It thinks it’s bigger than intelligence; an inflated sense of self importance (i.e. self esteem: ‘to be special and above average’). It wants to ‘do’. It wants ‘purpose’. 11/27

It can’t accept the universe is absolutely perfect just the way it is. How can we convince the intellect this? Where is ‘trauma’? In society or existence? What creates most ‘trauma’? The intellect or intelligence?What will bring the most clarity? The intellect or awareness? 12/27

Trauma is within us. Trauma is not outside of you. In this sense, an ant, a butterfly, a tree, a rainbow, a child and even existence itself are our greatest teachers. Remember trauma is disconnection: not feeling safe, connected, accepted, a sense of love and belonging. 13/27

Perhaps it’s because we’re viewing life with a cutting instrument. Dissecting rather than holding our Frog. Essentially, we’re also doing self-esteem (i.e. ‘survival of the fittest’) rather than self-compassion (i.e. kindness, common humanity, mindfulness). 14/27

I understand mindfulness is a buzz word and you might be sick of hearing it. However, what if it’s the greatest tool that’s been given from wisdom traditions to young science? Mindfulness is ‘non-judgmental acceptance of the present with a sense of openness and curiosity’. 15/27

Mindfulness is the ‘complete opposite’ of the intellect. A break from needing to ‘know things’ and ‘fix things’ to actually ‘experience’ them for ourselves: Life. Truth. Love. The opposite of trauma: To feel safe, accepted, connected and a sense of love and belonging. 16/27

Beyond words. Beyond ideas. Beyond belief. Beyond fact. Beyond philosophy. Beyond psychology. Beyond science. Beyond spirituality. Beyond politics. What is beyond this?Intelligence: Freedom. The sense of love and belonging that we are inseparable to existence itself. 17/27

Existence created us. It lives within and all around us. An intelligence far superior than the intellect. Now we are talking clarity: to see things just the way they are. Now have some perspective. A large scale vision: borderless and boundless. The highest realisation: 18/27

I am that which is not. Beyond science and spirituality however either will get you here. But you must go the whole way. Breaking the glass wall. Jumping over the edge. Everybody will say no! But it’s too late. You already fell! The bad news: you have no parachute. 19/27

The good news: there is no ground. Enlightenment. You are a life. The byproduct of clarity is ‘peace’. ‘Joy’ is simply peace dancing. In their order of intensity you will find: peace, joy, love, compassion, blissfulness and ecstasy. So do not seek happiness. Seek clarity! 20/27

Clarity is where we operate at our optimal level of arousal. Not trapped in the threat state: hyper aroused (fight/flight) or hypo aroused (freeze/collapse). Clarity is the state of being present: its perfect for awareness, health, performance and most compassionate self. 21/27

Purposeful action is the natural consequence of clarity. You won’t hurt anyone. Cos everything’s connected. You’ll still have the intellect. However, intelligence is primary; intellect secondary. With awareness you’re now holding the sharp knife in the palm of your hand. 22/27

Ready to use if and only when you must. Not obsessively. Do knives kill or save more lives? Knives have saved more lives. They are used every morning, lunch and dinner. They are used to perform surgery on others. They can been used to kill another. To take our own life. 23/27

However, a knife is not dangerous by itself. The danger depends on the hand that holds it. The intellect is not a problem in itself. However, without clarity it is incredibly dangerous. It is an exceptional tool if used correctly; unfortunately, incorrectly and too often. 24/27

It is also ‘considered’ the greatest weapon. This is not true. They say ‘when the power of love overcomes the love of power; the world will know peace’. I say when we experience intelligence just the way it is; we will know peace. This is marriage of science and mysticism. 25/27

So what’s bigger? Society or Existence? Intelligence or the intellect? Existence or your own psychological structure? It will hurt psychology that I asked this. However, it must be asked. Whatever the answer trust it. That’s how you hold your Frog. 26/27

Enough is enough.

Awareness. Compassion. Action.

Let’s be critical (intellect) and open minded (awareness) = Intelligence:

Kindness.
Common humanity.
Mindfulness.

❤️

Dedicated to Sadhguru.

27/27

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