It is important to remember that “limits” are inseparable from, and dependent upon, that which we seek to accomplish, or know, for their existence. If we are seeking an answer, or to do something, about something that does not really exist (i.e., exists as an illusion in our minds), what we run up against are limits; but those limits are a product not of the object (which does not really exist), but of our desire/craving. It is in this way that certain (and perhaps all) “limits” are self-imposed, are products of our own cravings and constructed illusions.
Most of the things that limit us come from our own illusions, prejudices, fears, ignorance, close-mindedness, etc. We are usually only limited by the way we look at things, by our limited perceptions and what we infer by them. We are usually only limited by what we want or want to do. To be open to things as they really are is to be without limits.
If we feel limited by something, perhaps we should ponder not only the true nature of that by which we feel limited, but also what we want and why we want it. It is in this way that I feel that only we limit ourselves, that we are not, in reality, limited by anything “other.”
Ultimately, limits are dictated by our own desire(s). If you do not want some thing, then there can be no limits associated with it. We are never limited by that which we do not crave, or (think we) want or need. It’s just like how things only become “sacrifices” when our wants change, when our perspective shifts, and what was once just an accepted means-to-an-end becomes a “sacrifice” or burden when the end loses meaning and value to us. What we were doing did not change—only the way we looked at it.
We are limited only by our wants and perceived needs. I think this is related to the problem of desire itself, in that if we want something but it’s okay if we don’t get it, then we aren’t really desiring it—desire doesn’t come into play if you don’t care if you don’t get it. Desire creates limits. And, thus, like everything else which is created by desire, we should question whether such limits are real, or illusory.
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From my personal notes, 8/19/99.
