With all the activities our lives are dedicated to, it is easy and usual to overlook the fulfillment present in this actual moment. In service to our goal-oriented minds, we usually neglect to stop our internal chatter for even just a few seconds. When I use the word "stop" here, I am referring to internal, mental stopping. It is lovely and essential for our physical, mental, and social health to periodically stop activity. Time off is nourishing to all our "parts" and to all our relationships. And obviously without adequate physical rest we become ill.
Being willing to give some of our precious time to physical retreat, whether for a weekend or longer is truly a gift to our selves and our relations, and I recommend it highly.
But I'm speaking here of something much simpler and more readily available. Something so simple that nothing has to change (or not change) for it to be seen.
In the midst of some activity, even the activity of reading this now, it is completely possible to allow your mind to open fully, and in that opening to discover the peace and fulfillment of your own spacious awareness.
No place to go, no thing to get, no goal to be realized; no body to change no perfection to be attained. Simply, in this very moment, you can recognize what is always here. Here underneath all the lists and underneath all the victories and defeats.
In meeting yourself, free of all should's and must's and will's, for even a moment, you realize that even if nothing gets fixed or done, simple natural fulfillment is already here.
Of course there is much in our world, our bodies, and our minds that could use fixing. And part of the human evolutionary thrust is to use our mental capacities to discover what is wrong-outside and inside-and then to begin the work of correction by removal or augmentation. What a truly awesome power of mind. It is a hallmark of the capacity of the human brain.
The problem arises when this evolving, mistake searching aspect of mind rules the life form called by your name. And this problem is huge in our culture.
How much of your attention is focused on what is wrong with yourself or other?
When we see how much is wrong or harmful in our thinking and our and others' actions, we can be overwhelmed by the tasks revealed. This overwhelm can result in giving up and reverting to cynicism or in strengthening our resolve to work even harder. To think and do more.
I am actually suggesting that before the overwhelm, or even in the midst of overwhelm, it is possible to stop, if only for a moment, and return to silence. In that moment, there is the recognition that to be internally free and at peace, nothing needs to be done.
Even a moment of true silence allows for true choice, for authentic, appropriate action or non-action to follow.
Some spiritual traditions refer to this silence as no mind. But for me that term is too close to mindless as in ignorant or stupid. I prefer the term open mind. The open mind is spacious and aware. It finds nourishment in itself, intelligent and aware without the need to follow thought.
In truth, all creative and fresh thinking comes out of this nourishment of aware silence. And it is available for you right now.
Gangaji is holding a silent retreat at Lake Tahoe June 7-12 and will be touring Europe this summer. Read more about Gangaji's events and catalog of books and videos online.
Follow Gangaji on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Gangaji
Thank you so much for these weekly reminders. They are invaluable in keeping me on track.
Love you in all ways!
Peace
Ram-Ram
Fun to read the words you write, and the appreciative remarks of your fans. As to that pause in mid-stream, I am still finding my feet on the rocks, but I sure like the cold on my ankles!
I am writing to offer to you and your readers "an unauthorized and incomplete guide to zazen"; if you google the key words, my home page will come up, and the link is down at the bottom. As all of us can feel, even if we cannot always confirm, the teachings are one body; I hope you will enjoy my piece.
thank you,
Mark
Thank you my dear teacher for your loving words. Please keep up the great work!
Love,
Daniel