Two Impulses
There’s an angel and a devil, one on each of my shoulders.
Two impulses that rule my life, or so it seems.
Am I the one doing the thinking? Or do I receive my thoughts from them?
One believes the lie of separation. The other knows the truth of oneness.
One sees another to contend with. The other knows there are no others.
One makes connections, analyzes the data and reaches for conclusions.
The other is connection itself, discards what is unnecessary and allows conclusions to arrive.
One puts pressure on me to prove my being, my worthiness, that I am good enough to belong here, that I am right and you are wrong, that something must be done.
The other is settled in peace and forgiveness, humility and surrender, always unconditional and loving.
One strengthens the small ego. The other burns it away.
One strengthens the sovereignty of my individuality by paradoxically showing me how I am inextricably connected to the All One.
And so,
It seems that thoughts arise, and thoughts fade.
Some of a viral imposing nature; others of a vast wide space that is faceless, nameless.
Do I ever do any of this thinking myself?
Or, are these two impulses running through me, and I simply get to choose which one to lean into, to abide in, to listen to?