Our True Nature

Natural Functioning

Bob uses the term Natural Functioning to describe the functioning of the Human without the 'Illusory Mind-Made Sense of Self'.

'The Illusory Mind-Made Sense of Self' - by this is meant the conceptual sense of 'me' that is made up of thoughts, emotions, feelings and whatever else you want to add to it that is mind content. The self image. In that context there is a 'me' that is common to all of the mind content - content that may be different in other ways - but it is the recurrent 'me' thought that is the 'glue' that binds the content together.

Before the age when conceptual thought comes about - which is about the age of two or two and a half - all functioning is Natural Functioning. During that time and the 9 months before birth - the biggest growth, the biggest changes, the biggest development, the biggest skills development, the hardest part of language acquisition occurs (the first bits). Motor co-ordination occurs, walking starts. In this context you can convert 'Natural Functioning' to 'Aliveness' if you like.

Laughing and happiness occurs, sadness and crying occurs, anger occurs, irritation occurs. So-called good things and so-called bad things happen - as the wise man once said 'Shit Happens!'. It is the Dualism of the world. Nothing says that Natural Functioning is all good - just watch a Natural Functioning cat eat a Natural Functioning mouse.

At this stage the personality is there, in my experience - seeing our own children in the early years. I am sure that you also perceived that in your own children.

Which means that Natural functioning is not separate from personality, not separate from learning, not separate from development, not separate from growth, skills etc. Not separate from any of these things.

It is what looks out of the eyes of a young child. It is Life Itself. Without Natural Functioning / Aliveness / Consciousness (whatever pointer is used) none of these things would happen - no development, no growth, no skill learned - no nothing! The Aliveness that we are is the 'source' (not a term I like that much as it is Dualistic) of the energy that we have. It is Life Itself.

What then would be the situation when an older person lives from Natural Functioning?

This is living without a belief that the 'me', the self image, is our true nature. Instead of using a self image as a reference point - there is no reference point at all. All there is, is the aliveness that has always been there, now in full view and in plain sight. There is no need for a reference point, a self image at all. Who needs that when there is the actual!

All the things that normally happen in a person's life are still there. Many more things are learnt so nothing changes here. Skills are gained, practice occurs just as it always has. Emotions occur just like they always do. Memory is used, more memories occur. Arrangements are made.

Arguments happen from time to time. Grief, anger and the other emotions are expressed . Good and bad things happen, just as before. People get married, get divorced. People die of cancer or get run over by a truck! The personality, which is already present, is expressed. Decisions occur, preferences are held. Natural functioning is what looks out of your eyes. Life itself. Aliveness itself.

The difference is that there is not a conceptual 'me' there to take delivery of all the bad things, or resist them, reject them, run away from them. Not a conceptual 'me' there to grasp after the good stuff, hang onto, want to have it again just like it was before etc, etc. The so-called 'spiritual person' who wants 'to escape from life' is an aspect of this.

Not a 'me' and 'my story' that is clung onto. Not a 'me' there that we think is us. Not a 'me' there that we think is Life itself.

It is the 'me' that is the cause of suffering and without that cause the effect falls away.

Written by Mike Graham, 19 Jan 2008, last edited 9 Mar 2008