I've always been fascinated with the concept of time. It is an eternal source of wonder. There is this infinitesimally small point in the continuum of time where to one side you have the past and the other side you have the future. One side is open to interpretation, and one side is open to speculation. One side might engender regret, the other anxiety. When it comes right down to it, the only thing you have that you truly own is the now.
Every faith tradition has its interpretation of living in the present moment. Perhaps Zen Buddhism is the most excellent repository of insight into this practice of mindfulness and presence. In its application, we come to a place of peace, acceptance, and surrender. In the end, these are the things that will greet us when we have nothing left to give or take. Peace, acceptance, and surrender are a part of everyone's life practice. The only variable is the level to which you are conscious of them. The more aware you are, the more you leverage them.
Is this what is meant by enlightenment? I often wonder what does it mean to be enlightened. I often think that only the great spiritual teachers are enlightened. However, upon further consideration, I believe to be enlightened is to be on a path toward personal and spiritual growth. The Dali Lama is still learning after all. He freely admits that he is not yet there, nor will he ever be. It's the path. The path is accessible to everyone right now.
In his book "The Mastery of Life," Don Miguel Ruiz puts it this way: "most outward journeys, including the path we follow, are linear. We move from one point to another along a predetermined course. By contrast, inner journeys are more akin to a never-ending spiral. As you walk the path of the Toltec warrior, you'll see that there are circumstances and situations in your life that you will return to again and again, each time with heightened awareness. The work is never done; mastery is always a journey in progress. It should thus be no surprise that the symbol of the spiral has been found as part of ancient Petroglyphs all over the world."
Wow! Let me say that again. Wow! To realize that to be on that path to spiritual growth is mastery is a revelation to me. But, we are "Human," and the failures and foibles of our lives tend to define us. So, in this New Year, perhaps resolve to be a "Human Being." There are two dimensions to us. The "Human" part is the mental and the physical form with emotions and pain of the mind. The Toltecs called this pain "Mitote," which are the negative voices that speak to us throughout the day. Sometimes we add more voices trying to get rid of the voices. Then there is the "Being" form; the formless, the stillness, the presence.
Here are a few tips on connecting to your “Being.”
- Take a few conscious breaths. In and out.
- Try to feel your hands. Feel the energy within them.
- Try to feel your whole body. Felling just your hands might be easier for you at the beginning. When you are able to do that, then try to feel your whole body, scan your body, feel the energy inside. You can try to feel different parts of your body, one at a time and then feel your whole body.
- Try to listen to the silence around you. There is always a dimension of silence around you. Listen to this. It diverts the attention from the thinking mind to the present.
- Accept everything as it is now. The present moment is as it is. Surrender yourself to the present moment. Don’t think, don’t assess, don’t judge.
- Try to observe your own mind. Wait for your next thought. Observe your mind as a rabbit hole. Wait for your next thought. What thought will come out next? Wait for it. Observe Your Mind. If a thought appears, just let it go. Return to presence and wait for your next thought.
- This is a very powerful practice as it allows you to stay in the present moment for longer.
- At the same time, try to feel your body – this will help you to stay rooted in the present moment.
Embrace the journey. Thank you for reading. Happy New Year!
Be well, dear reader.
