Being Conscious...

Being conscious is cutting through your own melodrama and being right
here. Exist in no mind, be empty, here now, and trust that as a situation
arises, out of you will come what is necessary to deal with that situation
including the use of your intellect when appropriate. Your intellect need
not be constantly held on to keep reassuring you that you know where
you're at, out of fear of loss of control. Ultimately, when you stop
identifying so much with your physical body and with your psychological
entity, that anxiety starts to disintegrate. And your start to define
yourself as in flow with the universe; and whatever comes along ~ death,
life joy, sadness ~ is grist for the mill of awakening. Not this versus that
but whatever.

~ Ram Dass, Grist for the Mill