Awareness

Listening to Buddhist and Christian monks alike, and reading many books on the subject; I thought that ‘Entering the Stillness’ started with letting go. Letting go of thoughts and emotions, letting go of earthy desires like striving for wealth and success. I thought that letting go was the starting point in any meditation. I now realise that to ‘enter the stillness’, to enter the unity with God, the Divine Spirit or the Absolute, starts with awareness.

 

The instruction on meditation ‘to watch your thought go by’, or ‘your thoughts are like cars, don’t jump into them, because you don’t know where you will end’ all seemed useful. However, this meditation instruction is about how to deal with distractions; it is not teaching awareness. 

 

Mindfulness, the buzzword of our time, is about awareness. It is being aware of your feet on the ground, your body touching the chair. Mindfulness teaches us not to dwell on the past or be concerned about the future. It is about being in the moment, not running on ‘the automatic pilot’, but being present and aware and noticing what is going on in and around us. 

 

Recently I read ‘Cave in the snow’ it is about an English woman who became a Buddhist nun, her name is Tenzin Palmo. The book is well written and hugely inspirational for everyone on a spiritual quest. The author shows us the life and challenges Tenzin Palmo faced as a female in a male-dominated faith tradition and how she accomplished her goals.

 

What struck me, was the certainty Tenzin Palmo experienced in the way she leads her life. Initially there was some hesitation on her path with young men chasing after her. As she was living in a remote part of India, the mail could take some time to be delivered. At one time she received three letters, from three different men all suggesting she marries them. However, she stuck to her spiritual path with energy and determination, despite the fact she had to go to the other side of the world for it. Her life is an amazing journey, which continues to this day. I recommend reading it!

 

Tenzin Palmo’s quest is how to become perfect; for me, the quest is unity. A path away from duality; Brother Lawrence is my teacher to being present. Brother Lawrence teaches to be present to God in all I do. To be present in the moment, rather than for example, mindlessly eating, or gardening. Something simple as brushing your teeth, without thinking what my plans are for the day, or thinking back to how the day went.

To be fully present to the action of that time, without letting my mind drift aimlessly.

 

 

 

 Seek Peace. Find it within