Abnormal ease

There is an inbuilt state of mind that is more peaceful and insightful than the agitated and automatic state that passes for normal in normal people. Anyone can, at any time, sit quietly and witness the beginning, middle and end of thoughts and feelings that flow into attention and muddy its waters before passing on. But - only a very few people take time out to let the mud settle and to observe and analyse the goings on in their head.

At various times over the last 40 years I have been one of the few. I have made time to stand and stare. Most times there was despair and an ‘I’ frantically searching for philosophical comprehension and peace. Most times the search was guided by the wise written or spoken words of a guru or teacher. But the intellect on its own could not solve my spiritual problems.

hard-copy spiritual library

My present, spiritual, hard-copy library contains almost a thousand books; and these days there is a massive, open, online source of the dharma in textual, audio and video format. It is thus very easy to engage intellectually in the process of being, knowing, and understanding beyond the intellect. But such academia in itself is of limited value.

The intellectual frame of mind has its work to do in the real world of practicalities but an exclusive overreliance on it is a sure way to reify and delimit viewpoints. But old habits die hard. I am a compulsive intellectual. It takes motivation and clarity of intention to remember about the need for, and the practice of, sitting. 

“Present moment, wonderful moment.” Less than a minute into the past or future. Sit at the keyboard and record relevant mental formations as they arise. ‘I’ have no clear idea of what this piece of writing is about. ‘I’ cannot remember the story line in the above paragraphs. But they can be reread and edited into a cogent and flowing story. 

So might it be said that I am flowing in the zone; and that the muse (the unconscious) is pumping words through ‘me’? Perhaps! The deep truth, the dharma can be experienced but it is in essence unspeakable – words cannot do it justice. But words are what we use for communication. They can be used to make metaphors that reach out into the unknown. Hopefully some of them will be turning words or phrases that unlock the door leading to illumination and inner peace. 

Several times each day –

Turn the mind around

Just sit

Feel the abnormal ease