Choosing thoughts and emotions over ‘being’?

 Here we are, potentially enlightened beings, and all we do is remain trapped in our thoughts and emotions, which merely creates suffering for ourselves and others!

Spirituality is about liberation – freedom from these emotions – but we still choose strife. It’s like ‘being’ trapped in a dream-prison, where there are no bars, no doors, no chains, and there is sunlight coming from somewhere…but we choose to stay where we are, festering.

What is keeping us from enlightenment? Habit! That’s it! We are so familiar with our prison surroundings, that we know nothing else. Some of even aspire for a better cell than others, which only makes the situation worse. A few prisoners have mentioned there is an outside (in spiritual terminology, that would be an inside!) but we think these are just stories and theories.

Meditation practice is becoming familiar with ‘being’, and cutting through the habits. However, we choose to wander off into some fantasy. I know I do!

Maybe, just maybe, it’s getting worse. Now that would be fortunate: “The thoughts and emotions are getting worse… and that’s better?” Yes…they’re being noticed! It’s not getting worse – we are noticing more.

How’s that for being positive?!

In meditation we may try to prolong moments of pure awareness…but don’t! The instruction is, “Short moments many times.”

An instant of recognition is all that is necessary. The dream-prison will want to appear again (habit): just re-recognise. It’s like banging a gong once (recognition) – the sound continues and fades (forgetfulness). Re-recognise…and so on. Don’t hold on to anything, neither the recognition nor the fading. Just be aware.

Gradually those instances of recognition become more frequent. What is actually happening is that forgetfulness reduces – the mud is clearing. First we have to recognise the fading, and the thoughts and emotions arising. First recognise…

E s s e n c e  does the  r.. e… s……… t !

In meditation, what needs to be dropped naturally drops away, and what needs to shine naturally shines.