A feeling I had not experienced before visited during sitting meditation. I have heard whispers of it for a few days now – while ambling along the river in the neighborhood, while listening to a talk at my local meditation center – before it arrived in full force one morning.
It was the feeling that, for anything that arose, be it a thought, a sight, a sound, it was impossible to separate the object and the observer. The “observer” is not me, either – it is just the awareness of this thought, sight, sound, etc. For a brief moment, the boundary of “inside” and “outside”, of “me” and “world” disappeared, revealing a deep intimacy. There was just an inter-arising within which there was no point in rejecting anything. Everything was where it needed to be: a natural consequence of an intricate web of unfolding. This shift of focus – from the tension of a “me” separated from the outside world, to the simple flow of phenomena where all belongs – was relieving and comforting.
There was nothing to do but to love everything, as everything was part of the holy manifestation. Tenderness, lightness, in-awe-ness continued to flow as I opened my eyes.
I feel more inspired now to keep the mind simple, to just follow the practice instructions. To see for myself, to transform for myself. Starting with what is right here, right now.
