The root of all phenomena is the mind because the mind is a phenomenon.
How can one verify that the mind, itself, is a phenomenon? By recognizing that every thought, emotion, sensation or sense process, memory, plus specific memories, perception, computational or analytical processes, and intuitive, creative, and inventive processes are phenomena. They occur, are distinct, have quality, and so forth. So, the soil, so to speak, from which any experience of any kind springs is mind which is, itself, phenomenal and a phenomenon.
One function of meditation training is observation. One begins with observing an object outside of oneself like a candle or flower, or the sky. Through this one might notice/observe a) how much one had not noticed before of that object and b) that its not easy to stay focused. The mind prefers movement, activity, and is restless. With this one begins to observe that the emotion-mind complex is almost never at ease or at peace. The process of observing now becomes a functional dynamic of the working mind; and it begins to notice more of the usually not noticed inside, outside, and all around.
All of this begins to create slight gaps or pauses in the here-to-fore automated reactive mind. (Reactive includes name/label, emotion response/reaction, and habits of consciousness including up/down, hot/cold.) We begin to experience the phenomenon of a little space, some gentleness or ease in our mind-emotions, a moment of no thing or no thought. What could read as a decrease is actually a profound expansion. When the common, automated mind is even slightly less automated, more of what mind is can begin to be experienced and expanded.
As such, this meditation is not a pause in our practice but a noticing of the pause and its gifts.
Three qualities: luminosity, dynamism, continuity. Each is within the others, and all experience -inner and outer- is also one or all of these three qualities.
More on the podcast!
Essence, Presence, experiencing present moment. It sounds simple, reads as so, anyway. Why is it so easy to be distracted? Distracted from innate excellence, innate peace.
Let’s meditate
Why the current focus on deepening one’s shamatha practice and one’s capacity of abiding in the light, clarity, and peace of Essence of Being? Because these qualities are real and true. A human being IS essence of Being, called by many names in many languages. A human being is NOT an aging body or brain, a set of financial concerns or abundance, a person of gender identity or any other personal identity. A human being is embodied essence of being; and essence of being is light and lightness, clear, responsive, and always at peace, utter peace. The more we frequent our experience of these true states of Presence, the easier it becomes to navigate the changes of life, body, health, and relationships. The more we live from Presence in present-moment, inner war with our self and others is nullified, thus the energy of war in the world is less fed by our psychic currents. The more we abide in the natural peace and loving-kindness of Presence, the more we psychically support peace and loving-kindness in the world and others.
This week we will use a mantra that we used in the classes and programs I created years ago. The mantra uses the identity of Soul, since that term and sense of identity is fairly common.
I am Soul, source of clear light; giver of dynamic life; director of all my intentions. I am Soul breathing.
