I’m an ass is a descriptor by which I choose to identify as it is a declaration of three things: 1) life is messy and I understand that; 2) we are more the same than different in our shared humanity, or stated differently, we humans create problems out of thinking, and often times because we do not know otherwise, take actions that create and exacerbate suffering; and 3) each of us has the innate ability (and right) to thrive in collective reality regardless of individual circumstance.
Or, to state more simply as I have a habit toward verbosity when it comes to words, saying "I’m an ass" makes me laugh at how serious life becomes when I start to believe the story line as it is expressed by the chattering mind, which it cannot help because the mind is only doing what the mind does!
When I first came upon such a description while reading Anthony de Mello over 20 years ago, which actually reads, “I’m an ass, you’re an ass”, I was offended and elated. Now, I appreciate such a sentiment as it leavens divisive human constructs of what it means to be, leading to a choice of being accountable and responsible for using thought, word and deed to create vibrancy in being, moment to moment, rather than living from the fear and despondency in conditioned thought.
Being an ass, I recognize the folly in the human condition and no longer want to misuse the human habit of interpretation in ways that will distract from one single moment of being in connection to the moment because life is endlessly interesting as long as I'm sensing and responding rather than thinking and reacting.
Or, to state more simply as I have a habit toward verbosity when it comes to words, saying "I’m an ass" makes me laugh at how serious life becomes when I start to believe the story line as it is expressed by the chattering mind, which it cannot help because the mind is only doing what the mind does!
When I first came upon such a description while reading Anthony de Mello over 20 years ago, which actually reads, “I’m an ass, you’re an ass”, I was offended and elated. Now, I appreciate such a sentiment as it leavens divisive human constructs of what it means to be, leading to a choice of being accountable and responsible for using thought, word and deed to create vibrancy in being, moment to moment, rather than living from the fear and despondency in conditioned thought.
Being an ass, I recognize the folly in the human condition and no longer want to misuse the human habit of interpretation in ways that will distract from one single moment of being in connection to the moment because life is endlessly interesting as long as I'm sensing and responding rather than thinking and reacting.
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