Self-Inquiry with Vala Kondo-Legan, August 31, 2025

Again working from our on-going Sunday quote for the month of August:

“To go very far, you must begin very near.

But that is very difficult for most of us

because we want to escape from

“what is” ; from the fact of what we are.“

The group focused on what is meant by “To go very far”. There was much exploration of “far” as a goal, including goals of enlightenment, success, elevated status, both within and without a spiritual community.

There was observation of thought’s inherent processes of analysis, comparison and evaluation taking place in real time, within the dialogue. The question was raised whether these activities were comfortably within the usual functioning of thought; and therefore, avoiding the “near”.

To better access the “near”; The group then focused on the actual sensations occurring in the present moment, as we looked at the motivation to  “go far”.

Sensations included desire, pressure, motive etc. Objects of desire were noticed to be our usual focus instead of staying with the internal sensation of “want”.

Various avoidant strategies were named as thought’s “toolkit” to escape “want” and get to a safe zone.

The question was raised as to whether we can look at our underlying structure, a structure that may be in our DNA, who I am. This led to a consideration of possible evolution and the potential to “evolve” to a higher level.

The observation was made that thought always creates a potentially better place, whether that be the Atman, or God, or an evolved state- which excludes a lower part of ourselves.

It was observed that; Thought always thinks it “knows” non-thought.

 

—Vala Kondo-Legan