It is a curious thing is it not? Most of us; all of us? have this nagging sense we could be better human beings... Sad in one way. As human beings we are so extra-ordinary. We can act, we can love, we can think, we can feel, we can reflect; we can do all manner of wonderful things. Yet there is also the downside. The things we are not so pleased with.
So here is the really good news... we all have this innate, infinite goodness. Perhaps it is this we sense, and it is this that creates that nagging sense of we could be better? We sense it. We sense we do have this innate, fundamental goodness. An inner purity. An aspect of self that is beyond good and bad; an aspect of self that is fundamentally pure and unstainable.
So in this post, how to experience more of all this, but first
Thought for the day
As a beginner, when you notice you are distracted,
You come back to the breath.
At the next level,
When you notice you have forgotten, or lost touch
With who you really are,
You come back to the true nature of your mind...
It is always there.
Ian Gawler
Maybe you have caught a glimpse of this inner beauty, this inner purity in some sublime moment. A beautiful sunset. A moment of love. A moment that caught you off guard. Maybe you have experienced it more directly in a moment of deeper meditation? A glimpse? Something stronger?
For those who have experienced even a glimpse of this inner reality, this innate goodness; there comes a certitude. A confidence. There is a knowing. The direct experience of this truth; the truth of who we really are.
Sure, on the surface we may get up to all sorts of mischief, and do things good and bad.
Yet once we know there is this part of us beyond all that, we smile more often, and have a certain sense of humour born of this inner confidence and the perspective that goes with it.
A contentment...
And of course, the reliable pathway into the direct experience of this inner reality is through meditation.
In daily life, there is the all too common experience of having so much to do.
Doing, doing, doing.
Human beings?
Maybe we are better described as human doings!
And the doing, the busyness, tends to obscure this inner reality.
We need to slow down; slow down and let go of the doing, and then, as the mind and emotions settle, it is just naturally there. Like when the clouds clear the sky. It was always there, only now we can see it. Experience it. It is all in the letting go...
This is what meditation offers. A training in how to let go; how to relax deeply. How to be still.
And with the letting go, there comes a relief. When we enter into the heart and essence of meditation, we let go of all that doing, and we rest in our own natural, inner simplicity. The simplicity of non-doing. What a relief. We let go... and we let be... we experience the truth of who we really are...
And the effect?
There is a natural emergence, a natural flow of wisdom and compassion.
The essence of meditation re-awakens our good heart, and brings out all the finest qualities of what it is to be a human being.
Maybe this is what we sense is possible... what it is to be a better human being... the simplicity of being in touch with who we really are... and allowing that to flow into our daily life...
The only requirement?
We do the practice!
Now for most of us, establishing and maintaining a regular daily practice takes some doing.
It is my pleasure, and passion to assist with this. Currently, there are a range of options:
Join me for an evening meditation workshop on the topic of this post
- Thursday March 26th: Meditation in Daily Life – a Way of Being
Dive in deeper at our next retreat 7-13 June: The Heart and Essence of Meditation
Or join daily, online, live guided meditations plus much more on The Meditation Community
Or for those ready and willing, train with Ruth and myself to teach others to meditate – and in the process deepen your own practice and understanding:
Mindfulness-Based Stillness Meditation 11-15May, Contemplation 31Oct-4November: CLICK HERE
Thank you Ian Gawler. I have always been drawn to the inner life. In 1997 I was in a bad state both mentally and physically. I found your first book (I think it was your first book) on Meditation. I bought your tape and I listened to it twice a day. "Letting go" was what I needed and it was then that I was able to go into meditation and deep prayer. For seven months and several times a day I meditated and found out where my depression had come from. I still have the age old problem of distractions, but I know I must keep going. Again thank you for your emails. Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this heart-warming account. Meditation is reliable when we practice regularly :)
ReplyDeleteI welcome your newsletter every time - a differenct message but always pertinent. This morning I found a deep sence of gratitude reading your post on meditation and daily practise. I have found travelling through obstacles and distractions somewhat annoying and reasons to not be calm and at peace, but when I read your posts I find it easy to return to myself with your beautiful and real words really speaking to me and realise I can come back to myself - at any point and move through my distractions without fear and feeling a lack of something within. Your wirds help me pause and remember..and return to who I am without judgement and disappointment. I seem to find a new level of ...moving forward - it's hard to describe, but I feel like I'm back on my journey and it feels familiar, safe and welcoming, finding my friend in me again, and feeling renewed drive and purpose to embrace the world and be a better me and more helpful. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is what it is all about - having a direct sense of who we are and being able to come back to it. It is like a safe and reliable inner refuge. A place of peace and clarity. Lovely to have this in your life - this awareness; and comfort :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your excellent article Ian. Do you mind me asking how do you rate mediation as a significant if not most important part of your cancer recovery.
ReplyDeleteGood question. Meditation provided many things - the capacity to endure, the possibility to transform. It established a ground for healing, a framework of understanding, a pathway into insight and meaning. I doubt I would have survived without meditation... it was a cornerstone of my recovery on many levels, and it changed my life for the better. It remains a regular part of my day... that is why I remain passionate about handing on what I have learnt from my wonderful teachers and all who have learnt with me and taught me even more... Meditation delivers...
ReplyDelete