it seems valid to question whether there is any possibility of freedom from the past. if we look globally, leaving our own personal situation aside for the moment, we see that there has not been any diminution of fear, greed, conflict, aggression, defense, warfare, violent retaliation, and unspeakable sorrow all over the world throughout human history.

can there be freedom from it? not by fighting it, overcoming it, escaping from it, or drowning it out, but through direct understanding, having immediate insight into it? insight, or seeing into, is not of the past, is not a reaction or continuation of anything. it is totally fresh and uncaused, undetermined, and not dependent on anything. it happens on its own when a human being is deeply involved in wondering and questioning about oneself and ones's entire relationship with others and the whole world.

toni packer,
the work of this moment.