The nature of struggle, conflict, and resistance

 A The three questions of torment

1. Did I do “right” when I did so and so. (Past)

2 Am I doing “right” by doing so and so? (Present)

3 Will I be doing “right” if I do so and so? (Future)

B Attempt to change self

1. Self, with a small “s”, is our feeling about things.

2. We did not create ourselves, nor can we change ourselves. 

3. We can change our responses—X will change the self.

C The fallacy of being bound by “should” and “oughts”

1. The “shoulds” and “oughts” can be valuable to show us what might be to our advantage. 

2. The “shoulds” and “oughts” might then become “coulds”.

D The meaning of being “out of time”

As a car gets out of “time”, so do people get “out of time”.

1. Their attention is directed to what was or what will be, thus missing the experiment of this moment, of what is.

2. They are in a constant state of worry, struggle, conflict, and resistance about wasting time. 

3. There is a mental preoccupation with the past and the future, living half numb to the reality around them,

E The futility of trying to live in the past and the future.

1. There is nothing we can do about the past. 

2. By looking at the past, we judge what was then, is now.

3. Once we think we “know” someone or something, we close our minds to the thrill of discovery.

4. We look to the future for our “happiness” and tomorrow never comes.