cool transcending

Transcending

George Clark 18 June 2007

• How might transcendence be achieved?
• By using the brain in a particular and relatively uncommon, although not unnatural, way.
• Like what?
• The essence lies in stillness of body and of mind.
• Aha - meditation!
• That is a word for it yes. The essential task is to become consciously aware of what is going on in your head ie to notice what 'you' are noticing and to think about thinking.
• Why the inverted commas around 'you'?
• Because, in this line of thinking the concept of you (or ego or self) is problematic.
• In what way?
• If you are to notice what you are noticing then there are two yous - the you that notices and another you that notices the first you noticing.
• It sounds complicated.
• Maybe - but it is easy to experience and it is not difficult to live with it - especially if you make quiet time to investigate what goes on in your head.
• Can I try it?
• Go ahead - there is no time like the present!
• OK, what do I have to do?
• Sit comfortably with your back straight and try to hold your attention on your breathing. The mind will wander off on thought trains but that is OK. When 'you' notice that it has done so simply switch attention back to the breathing.
• That's it?
• That's it! So simple and yet so powerful in what it can lead to.
• What can it lead to?
• That is for you to find out as a result of practice.
• Can you give me a clue?
• You will realise what a chatterbox the untrained mind is. But with training it stops its chatter and 'you' are then in a position to experience the stillness.
• That doesn't sound very exciting.
• Other words can be and have been used - it is the Oneness, the peace that passes all understanding, satori, nirvana and so on. Once you have experienced it you will realize that it is in fact both ordinary and amazing. There is being without ego in a state beyond space and time. There is a knowing of the greater Self that is the universe. It is hard to speak about it because language was not designed to cope with it. But it can be experienced by anybody who manages to still the chatterbox mind. It is sometimes called wholeheartedness.
• That sounds complicated.
• Well just forget about the explanations and go for the experience - it is then self evident.
• So what good does it do to have that kind of experience?
• Try it and you will see.
• Go on - give us a clue.
• It will be more intellectual words
• OK try me
• Well - there is a knowing that most people suffer because they cannot see beyond the chatterbox ego and this is what drives the violence in the world. There is a realisation that everybody's real nature is in essence good, caring and compassionate. There is also a realisation that there can be an end to suffering and thus to violence. So transcendent people are on the whole peace loving and kind although this does not of necessity mean that they are push overs. Some can be quite heavily into working for peace in themselves and in the world as a whole.
• Fanatical evangelists then?
• Not the transcendents - they make change by their example of being peacefully in the world, not by bombing and violence. More the Dalai Lama than the Ayatollah Khomenei.
• Fair enough. I'll give it a shot. How long should I sit for?
• As long as you feel comfortable. It takes time and practice to turn your mind around. The more you practice the sooner you will transcend but it is best to begin slowly and gradually build up. It might be hard to keep yourself at it in the beginning but before long you will begin to enjoy it and the process will look after itself.
• And all I have to do is sit still?
• Exactly. Just sit and the chatterbox mind will still and the true Self will come to the fore. It is stupidly simple.
• Cool. I will sit right here, now.