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| Arunachala Shiva - Image Copyrighted 2016 - Shyam Lala. Tiruvannamalai |
There are things that happen every day to us, from the
moment we wake up to the moment we sleep. The day passes by like any other day,
sometimes it seems as if time runs by so fast and yet other days seems as if
few moments are too long to bear and sit through. Through all of this we
experience some things that the mind is always thinking about, it could be our
hopes, our desires, our fears, our expectations, or simply things about our
past, thoughts that we still hold on to as our reality.
Through all these moments sometimes there is an urge to find
a quietness that can put us to rest at least for a few moments so we are able
to forget everything and rest in a sense of non intruding, undisturbed peace. When such a desire arises, what do we do? Do we
listen to this or simply ignore it and consider it to be another reason for
procrastination of more important things that we have in our mind to do?
This is a question that we need to consider first, as to how
important feeling that quietness or peace is to our Being. Being silent is not something that can harm
us. A mind full of thoughts needs some rest too. But then, again we may argue
here that a good night’s sleep is enough for us to feel a quieter mind in the
morning and for us to feel refreshed. Why is it then necessary for us to
consider having a quieter mind in any other way?
The truth is, when we sleep our mind retreats back into its
source that is it retreats back into the self, but most times we are not very
conscious of it, we are conscious of it to certain extent and when we wake up
the mind appear back with all its thoughts, and ideas, expectations and fears
so in essence we have only experienced a temporary absence of the mind that
gives us a feeling of some quietness. This quietness does not have a more
permanent quality with it, it appears and disappears and the freedom or peace
experienced with it is also very temporary state. This brings us to question
one thing ‘If it’s possible to experience a more sustained silence or deeper
peace or quietness for ourselves?’
Surely there is a way but it requires an openness and willingness
on our part to accept it and follow it. Mind is going to conjure thoughts
endlessly, there will be one thought after another and it’s a never ending
stream of thoughts that arise and subside, how is it possible then to find a
place deeper within our consciousness to be able to experience and
uninterrupted peace?
The answer and techniques are very simple and effective,
there Is not much to follow here actually its more of a journey that leads to
self discovery of our inner reality of being-ness and the thing we call the
mind.
Simply putting we have to take time out to be Quiet…….
Find a moment in a day where you don’t allow any
disturbance, distraction or mental pre occupation to demand your attention.
This moment need not be long but has to be considered in all sincerity.
It could be anywhere, but it has to be very potent where you
can be by yourself without anybody or anyone disturbing you.
What you need to do then is simply sit quietly, do nothing
just sit quietly and just watch as to what is happening with your mind right
now..
Some may simply find it very difficult initially but its ok
take your time to just to look and observe at what is happening in that moment
within you.
Breathe in and breathe out. Just breathe just feel yourself, feel your body, feel your pain, feel your mind, feel your
exhaustion, feel the life that is pulsating within you, feel its moment within
you, it ok to feel yourself as you are, with no expectations, with no movements,
with no desires, with no mind.
This moment is your
moment of silence, it is your moment of
quietness, it need not have to be under a frame of time, though initially there
are going to be many thoughts arising as
to what is to be done, if this is really going to work or not. But eventually
there is going to be a natural urge to feel quiet and this is what takes over
us. This natural urge to feel the silence is what nurtures us to be more at peace with ourselves. This desire
takes us deeper into our true nature.
As these moments mature into long moments slowly day by day
our mental sense of being becomes more flexible, the thing that we used to call
mind and its reality of thoughts and desires that we would so passionately hold
onto becomes slightly subdued as we watch the process of how mind unfolds its
reality to us. We start treating mind not as our direct self but as subordinate
self, understanding its nature as an expression of inner desires or habits. This
glimpse of understanding is actually very liberating since we realize one more
thing… that the mind that we experience as our nature is not really our nature
but more an appearance what we have subconsciously
accepted to be our self.
This also makes us question as to what is then really our
true nature, or what is then our true self.
How is it possible to know oneself?
This moment determines the beginning of our quest for self
knowledge and self understanding and is accompanied with moments of self
reflection and self enquiry.
We go back to the place we started from, sitting quietly to
watch more and observe more, to feel more with our heart, the reality of our
existence.
The clouds that carry
rain are bound to relieve themselves
Be it in the valleys or the cities it doesn’t matter to them
The earth simply pulls them onto Her bosom
They just let go of what they have carried for so long
Its rain, rain, rain everywhere
The thunders breaking the silence, announcing the storm
They wet the lands, draughts and the farms
When all the water pours itself in the rain
It quenches the thirsty and sometimes floods the rest
So when the clouds of thoughts break their silence
They thunder first and pour later
In moments such as these there is a big release
A rain of tears flooding our being
And as the tears release themselves
The cool waters spread everywhere
The thirst is quenched and everything becomes still
A vast stillness and peace unfolds in our Being.
Shyam Lala - Tiruvannamalai.
