Observe a response to a thought or a situation going on in your mind or outside of you. Bring your awareness to the conflict created in your mind over the situation.
By Patrick Kelly
Pointers: a bit of advice, a lesson or words that set you in motion toward a goal, understanding, knowledge, etc. A style of teaching that leads the way to or hints at explanations words can only describe. The definition includes the fact that words only point. True state of being in situations must be experienced to be known.
The student spoke to the teacher, stating, “You have taught me many ways to meditate and I have tasted the joy, peace and love that comes when I am not engrossed in the thoughts of my mind. Can you elaborate on what some call the positive state of being?”
“Yes, of course, meditation teaches you how and allows you to separate from the stream of thought that flows through your mind. I can point to it, I can point to a state of awareness in which what you may define as negative goes on, yet you remain unaffected. Not in a state of emotionlessness or numbness; rather, in a state of acceptance and surrender to what is and to what is going on. Not weakness. Not turning a closed eye to what you define as wrong in the world. A state of presence that includes all the workings of your mind and the world, yet you are unblemished. A point of such understanding that you no longer conflict with reality that includes the cycle of life and death. Then you’re free. Your mind no longer pulls you into negativity and joy and love become your response to everything. It is then that you know how to love each other, then when your true compulsions to right the wrongs you define before you goes into action. Despite everything going on… you find that everything is as it is, and you are in such a state of conscious awareness that you are able to and know how to bring some light to the darkness. Not compelled by a desire to do good, naturally moving in a direction to do well for yourself and the world. As one once said, you ‘make presence your goal and peace your greatest gift to the world.’ ”
Meditation: Try this out here and there when it comes to your mind, or not. Observe a response (which you may label as negative) to a thought or a situation going on in your mind or outside of you. Bring your awareness to the conflict created in your mind over the situation. Point out to yourself the cause of negativity: it may be caused by your lack of acceptance, a conflict with reality, a need to have someone take on your views, etc. Whatever the cause of the undesirable feelings are, bring your attention to the part of you observing the situation. Then go back to wherever the next moment leads. That observing presence is you. A state of being with no thought, no conflict, no negativity.
It’s a new day, your day… ••
For more on this topic and meditation practices, visit wakingupwithpatrick.com
