Everyone has two selves: a mental self, 
and a non-mental self,
One of them constructively runs your life;
the other one comments on it.
Ordinary people do not distinguish between the two
nor are they supposed to;
only those with that-certain-longing do.
But initially even they do not correctly seize the situation;
at first they only notice that other people live lives that
are at variance with the one they say they do,
but if they get past that observation they go on to realize that the same is true with them, and that there should be the focus of their interest & effort. 
 

The unique herd that is humanity requires that cows live this dual life, and pay it no particular attention;
the few who originally do 
usually feel so bumfuzzled by what they see
that they never willfully turn their eyes that way again.
Theoretically speaking, (of course):  who would be expected to enjoy discovering that they were riding a runaway train even while everyone sits comfy in the club car, expounding on their control of its operation?!
…(Theoretically speaking --  of course.)
But such is roughly the sight gleaned by those who have but a single, brief glimpse of the situation;
the few who want to see more, even after that,
find that the first time was easy -- the next time, tricky.
 
 

Both the mental & non-mental selves operate continually, but only the work of the former can be safely, 
even briefly, interrupted,
and only the mental self can be made aware that there 
are two selves in the same body,
but every time it does so remember, 
its operation almost instantly comes to a halt --
--  and there it is left standing;
like a ghost who’s suddenly had his sheet pulled off.
 

If men did not have these two selves they would not experience the dissatisfaction they say they do;
men would have no more complaints than does 
your average tiger.
Man’s non-mental self expresses no dissatisfactions with life --  only needs, (stomach growlings, e.g.),
while the very existence of his mental self is 
centered around  continuing disapproval of conditions.
Mental self’s relentless unhappiness with things as they are --  how ever they are --  is the engine pulling the club car in which men leisurely lounge.
The over, overwhelming majority of all ordinary cows quickly adapt-to, and accept this state of affairs within themselves, and the few, few, few sane ones who do not --  are more or less left to fend for themselves.
Since man’s non-mental self seems not even aware of the situation, you cannot apparently seek its help in coming to satisfying grips with what is troubling you due to these circumstances,
but when you turn the spotlight of conscious attention
onto your mental self --  
it freezes for a moment………....then --  disappears.
     (A lot of help it is, huh?!.....theoretically speaking, 
       of course.)
 
 

The foolish amongst the few, (which there could in theory, be some), totally ignoring what they already know to be true about their own mental self’s ability to help,
will seek guidance from the mental self of other men.
  (Good entertainment  --  BADDDD business decision!)
 
 

Profitably fending for yourself in this exotic foray 
eventually entails nothing more than a calm, unhurried, extended & open-ended consideration of 
what has been above noted:
the presence in you of two observably distinct selves:
a mental self, and a non-mental self,
and even though in the beginning 
even the mere sight of this is but momentary.
              Persistence pays off for the stably persistent. 
 

It is indeed like a ghost trying to catch a quick glimpse of the trailing end of the sheet --  
just as it is yanked off of him --
and he disappears   --   yet again. 
 

One most promising approach is to continually require that your mental self account for the fact that
even though it talks a great train while sitting at the bar,
it has no workable notion as to what makes the damn thing run, or who is in charge.
Press your mental self with this question, tirelessly,
and one day your head will split --  and everything you have wanted to know will be fully exposed  --   
--  right there  --  right inside your head,
but neither in your mental self --  nor otherwise;
       just THERE………...............inside your head.
 
 
 

                                      J
 
 
 

Everybody gets a sandwich;
most people eat theirs, and forget about it;
a truly hungry man keeps unwrapping, and  rewrapping his until he wears it out.