Tami Simon, the founder and CEO of Sounds True, shares her insights on lasting happiness and the true essence of being. She explores the concept of awareness deficit disorder and how realizing our true nature can lead to enduring peace. The discussion dives into Zen koans, particularly the idea of the 'original face,' challenging listeners to reflect on existence beyond transient experiences. Tami emphasizes the connection between personal peace and global harmony, urging us to seek fulfillment within ourselves amid life's turmoil.
True happiness is an intrinsic state of being rooted in sufficiency and peace, rather than a fleeting emotional experience influenced by external circumstances.
Recognizing our shared essence fosters compassion and empathy, while celebrating individual uniqueness allows for authentic self-expression and creativity.
Deep dives
The Nature of True Happiness
True happiness is often misconceived as a fleeting emotion; however, it is fundamentally rooted in a state of being characterized by sufficiency, peace, and contentment. Many people associate happiness with external circumstances or experiential highs, leading to a misunderstanding that happiness comes and goes. This perspective shifts when recognizing that true happiness is not an emotion among many, but rather the intrinsic nature of our being. By embodying this sufficiency, individuals can find a deep sense of fulfillment internally, realizing that they don't require anything additional to feel complete.
The Illusion of Fleeting Emotions
While it may seem that emotions fluctuate between happiness and sadness, the underlying state of peace or happiness is constant and unchanging. This constant existence is comparable to the clear blue sky that remains even when clouds obscure it. In moments of distress or turmoil, the clouds may cloud the experience of happiness, yet this intrinsic state is ever-present, simply waiting to be recognized. Acknowledging that this peaceful essence exists beneath volatile emotions can shift one's perspective from believing happiness is transient to understanding it as an inherent aspect of existence.
Recognizing Our Shared Being
The understanding of shared being posits that peace and happiness are fundamental aspects of our existence, connecting all individuals and fostering a sense of unity. This perspective emphasizes that the struggles and conflicts faced in the world stem primarily from a sense of separation among individuals. Each person's journey toward happiness is intertwined with recognizing this shared essence, leading to a profound understanding that all beings are fundamentally one. Emphasizing this connectedness cultivates compassion and empathy, paving the way for harmony in both personal relationships and broader societal interactions.
Embracing Individuality Within Unity
While acknowledging the shared nature of being, it is equally important to honor and celebrate individual uniqueness. The ego often masks this individuality, creating a false sense of separation that constrains personal expression. In contrast, recognizing our oneness allows for a more authentic manifestation of individuality, where diverse expressions of creativity and character can flourish. By liberating ourselves from the conventional limitations imposed by the ego, people can tap into their true potential, enabling each unique individual to contribute meaningfully to the collective experience.
In this episode Rupert speaks with founder and CEO of Sounds True, Tami Simon, about how we may realise lasting happiness, whether we should value both being and becoming, and how to remain at peace amidst turmoil.
They also discuss Rupert’s idea of original ADD (awareness deficit disorder), absolute and relative levels of truth, and the Buddhist phrase ‘original face’.
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