and I told myself -- as I've told myself before -- that the body shuts down then the pain gets too bad, that consciousness is temporary, that this will pass. But just like always, I didn't slip away. I was left on the shore with the waves washing over me, unable to drown.

EvolutionIdeaPerspectiveWordBreaks into our codePer-mutating atomsOf our evolutionary Self-sOur sensory navigating deviceAccepts or rejects the impulse Creating realities of our choiceA natural drift takes us from an amoeba to a human A very determined choice takes us further Allowing usTo squeeze our way through To awake-nTo God and his gift of Aware-ness

The higher consciousness are the ones who get the most pain.

Serious spiritual practice is more than serene walks in the woods, lit candles and incense. You have to be committed. You have to be willing to enter into your own darkness and transcend it.

It__ that short-lived happiness, which empowers us to bear; long-lasting pain in living.

This thing we have, it hurts, he continued. But the pain is almost sweet because it means YOU happened. We happened. And I can't regret that, no matter how little or how long I get to tag along with you and pretend that I don't hate having people recognize me or take pictures or having people whisper about my record--" Your record?"" My criminal record, Bonnie, Nothing platinum there. I'm an ex-con, and starting over and building a new life where I can put it behind me, I'm building a new life where it will never be behind me, and for you, its worth it. It's easy math.