Let’s review our current goals.
- Widen the horizons of our vision
- Take direct approaches to uncover the blocks that keep our vision narrow
- Lift those blocks, however briefly, in order to experience the sense of liberation that comes when the blocks are removed
- Intensify our motivation for freedom
The ego likes to fill our time. There’s an expression that I have used many times in my life. It’s “kill time,” as in, “How are we going to kill time this weekend?” The thought behind that expression is this:
Having nothing to do is so undesirable that we have to find something, anything to do, in order to avoid simply sitting quietly with ourselves.
Filling time is undeniably an ego preservation strategy.
It’s helpful to begin to notice how we fill time. There are some things that we do that are necessary to this human life. There are other things that we do which are guided by intuition. And then there are the things that we do to “kill time,” to avoid simply sitting quietly with ourselves. Are we ready to be self-honest and discern between these three?
Today’s workbook lesson says, “When you are still an instant, when the world recedes from you, when valueless ideas cease to have value in your restless mind, then will you hear His Voice. So poignantly He calls to you that you will not resist Him longer. In that instant He will take you to His home, and you will stay with Him in perfect stillness, silent and at peace, beyond all words, untouched by fear and doubt, sublimely certain that you are at home. Rest with Him frequently today.”
Let’s do two things today.
First, let’s not avoid our meditation practice today. Our gentle healing homework asks us to spend 15-20 minutes in meditation daily. Let’s be sure to do that at least once today. You might also see if you can find 15-20 minutes at least two additional times today. That will help fulfill the request, “Rest with Him frequently today.” Another option is to give 5 minutes every hour. Follow your individual intuition to find your way of fulfilling this request.
Secondly, let’s begin to notice the difference between time that is spent in necessary activities and time that we are “killing.” That is, time that could be used to sit quietly instead of being filled with something that is completely unnecessary.
There is one more thing worth commenting on before ending this tip. You know this, but let’s bring it into awareness now anyway.
Ego will attempt to use any time we allot to sitting for active thinking. Thinking is another way to “kill time” and avoid being still. Remember that your attention does not have to go to thought. Initially, you can place attention on the sounds in your environment, on the breath, or on sensations in the body. Let attention rest with something other than thought, and thought will slow down and quiet. Once thought has grown quieter, place attention with awareness and abide there. “Be still” by holding attention with yourself as the observer. Pay attention to what you are, and stay there, no matter what may happen in mind during the meditation.
Here’s a story that Mooji tells about ‘staying as the watcher’ during meditation. It is called, “The Yogini.” Buddha remained still as Mara attacked with desire, anger and fear. Notice that the Yogini remains still in the same way as the mind attempts to distract her with a different kind of trick:
A great Yogini was deep in meditation. Suddenly, beautiful and melodious sounds could be heard, appearing as if from nowhere and everywhere simultaneously. It was like nothing she had ever heard. She felt, “This music is truly wonderful, but it cannot be what I am, for I am here to hear it.” She remained inside her meditation, and the music faded away.
Next appeared the most exquisite colors, shimmering with so much luminosity and brilliance, like no painter could paint; nor could any flower display it, for it was not of this earthly realm. She thought, “This is, indeed, astonishingly beautiful. However, it cannot be the ultimate, for I am here to perceive it.” This phenomenon, too, she ignored. Shortly afterwards, it also vanished in the presence of her deep and unmoving silence.
Shortly after this, there appeared several beings shaped as if from pure light, floating through space and smiling lovingly at her in a welcoming manner. She felt profoundly touched and filled with loving emotions, but inwardly she somehow kept her composure. “How profound,” she felt, “but this also cannot be what is the unchanging reality, for, were I not here, who would see them?”
As soon as this insight occurred, the figures vanished. Her mind entered her heart and could no more produce any effects. A deep silence prevailed as her mind merged inside her indivisible, unconquerable and essential being. She awakened completely to Truth.
