Cultivating Stillness
There is a space between the thoughts. The first lesson I gained in learning meditation was that I am not my thoughts.
There is a space between the thoughts. The first lesson I gained in learning meditation was that I am not my thoughts. The one observing is not creating these thoughts and feelings.
They arise like weather systems. If you simply watch them without interacting or making a story about them, they return to the nothingness from whence they came.
There are in my experience two minds. The observer and the intender. The intender brings things into form and the observer dissolves them.
By allowing thoughts and intentions to dissolve one learns to tame the intender and bring harmony. The intender is often out of control. Like a drunken monkey dancing on hot coals.
As you continue to observe without interacting the space between the thoughts and feelings grows bigger. The mind stops running. It calms down. It can't become calm by will or by effort. Only by observation. This practice is called Vipassana. It generates an infinite boundless stillness.
When the skill of observation has been practiced, then one can practice concentration or Samadhi. One begins to focus on a single object or image. Mentally transfer into it and become that thing. One's egoic self is forgotten and one realizes oneself as awareness. Not meat. Not thoughts. Not memories. Not skills. Not relationships. Awareness.
Once this is attained one develops a one pointed focus of limited stillness. Where the limitless stillness is soft, limited stillness is hard, like a blade. You want to cultivate both.
A lot of times we get caught up in practices. Are there Buddhist or Daoist or Hindu or Christian or Wiccan or whatever. All practices cultivate stillness.
It is from stillness that we begin to see ourselves grow into something more. We have to willingly cultivate stillness through meditation and prayer to gain insight and understanding beyond mere intellectual conjecture.
Whether the practice is prayer, affirmation, meditation, chanting, recitation of scripture or just observing it cultivates stillness. And that's the gold we want to gather for our physical, mental, and spiritual progress.
Stillness heals. Stillness helps us grow. Without it we are stuck telling ourselves stories on an endless loop.
Belief is not necessary. In fact belief can be an impediment because belief is a thought. We want to observe and allow things to arise and fall away. To either watch all thoughts or focus intently on a single thing.
Anyone with a nervous system can practice the accumulation of stillness. No special thing is required. From a place of stillness your movements and action can be focused and powerful. Not scattered like most people.
In a world obsessed with constantly doing something, stillness is a rare and beautiful thing.
Won't you join me? Test what I am talking about and see what comes up for you.
If it works and you find benefit, practice it. If it does nothing for you? Forget it and move on. You have all the equipment you need. A mind and a body and thoughts. No lessons or seminar or exercises needed.
If you want to learn some games to play in pursuit of stillness then check out my online Kung Fu and Qigong school.
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