Poem
Musing
Existence
The Source
The Source is nameless and timeless. The Source gave birth to one. The one gave birth to two. The two gave birth to three. The three gave birth to temporal reality. Temporal reality is the mother of all things. All things in it come into Existence (names and forms) and return to Non-Existence (No-thing-ness) in an eternal loop precipitated by the illusions of space and time. The Source appears in temporal reality as Awareness. The mind, which arises from Awareness, is no more than a bundle of thoughts. The first and foremost thought in the mind is 'I Exist'. The 'I' is the ego or the idea of separate and distinct existence. The mind projects thoughts on the screen of temporal reality. The Source gives life to the thoughts and temporal reality gives them names and forms. The Source embodies the names and forms and experiences temporal reality through their eyes.
Inner Stillness
Inner stillness is where bliss lies; it's experienced when awareness is focused inwardly and outwardly at the same time but remains non-reactive to the movement of thoughts, emotions, and circumstances. This state is also known as Existence-Awareness-Bliss. Inner stillness cannot be achieved through physical effort or intellect; it requires us to be choiceless and effortless. How then do we relate to people, events, and situations? We remain centred in the blissful knowledge of our inner essence and engage playfully with a heart and mind that are ever cool and tranquil. We simply play our role without becoming entangled in the drama.
The World is a Mirror
The external world reflects our inner world. We manifest experiences based on our conditioned thoughts and beliefs. Our habit of thought on any subject is moulded by impressions derived from past experiences and desires for fulfilment in future experiences. Our thought patterns influence the way we perceive everything. Nothing is inherently good or bad, right or wrong. We have recurring experiences because we are unable to change our conditioned thoughts.
Quiet the Mind
As soon as resistant thoughts arise, turn within and ask, 'To whom are these thoughts occurring?' The unspoken reply would be, 'To me'. Ask further, 'Who am I?' without conceptualising an answer; then, observe the gaps in-between thoughts. As you repeat this exercise regardless of how many resistant thoughts arise, the reactive thinking mind would lose momentum and calm down. Why? Because the depths of who you are is 'Stillness', and mental noise - which is no more than movements on the surface - would subside when you stop engaging in resistant thoughts and be the non-reactive observer. You would need to be alert and ask the question as soon as resistant thoughts arise. Over time, this self-inquiry will lead to a noticeable reduction in mental noise and a corresponding increase in inner peace.
Existential Reality
Existence is not an objective experience; it's a subjective dream. Every point of awareness is experiencing a unique individual existence. Most of us are unaware of the dream state due to the veil of illusion. Eventually, the dream state would lose its stranglehold and our false sense of self will start to erode, giving rise to doubts and confusion. In our darkest moment, an inner voice will nudge us to go within and inquire, 'Who am I beyond the body, mind, and emotions?' As we persist with this inquiry, there'll be signposts to guide us in the right direction. This gentle and gradual awakening process will culminate in the knowledge of our innermost essence. We'll awake in the dream by remembering our nameless and timeless nature.
Awakening
Once awakened, a three-fold transformation occurs: first, we'll become centred in self-knowledge and simply play our role in the dream; second, we'll no longer become overwhelmed by or unduly attached to everyday experiences; third, we'll adopt a light and playful attitude towards people, events, and situations because we've ceased to treat the unreal as real. After the awakening, we'll go back to living our lives as before but minus the worry, grief, and anxiety that plagued us. We'll continue to slip in and out of the dream state due to the laws of duality but without being trapped.
Creative Playground
We came to have unique individual experiences through our physical perspective and navigate the maze of unpredictability through our non-physical perspective; it's a co-creative process. Our physical and non-physical perspectives are two sides of the same coin. We are spirit and matter in one manifestation. We are the experiencer, experiencing, and experienced. Each experience will run its course to a natural conclusion.
Pain & Suffering
Pain is the opposite of pleasure. The moment we experience pleasure, pain is born. Like rain, pain comes and goes with varying intensities and for different lengths of time. Pain can be experienced without any suffering. At the root of all suffering is one or more of the following reasons: first—ignorance of our true nature; second—belief in separate and distinct existence; third— ‘attachment’; fourth—lack of equanimity; fifth—fear of death.
Do Nothing
Existence•Non-Existence is a hologram. The hologram is an imaginary bubble that encapsulates your existential reality. You - the embodied awareness - are inside the bubble. You - the indescribable reality - are outside the bubble. You, on the inside, are physically focused with a limited perspective. You, on the outside, are non-physically focussed with a limitless perspective. Each inside-the-bubble perspective gives birth to unique preferences from its vantage point. All preferences are of equal value and will influence the changes to the hologram as things evolve. Your preferences will manifest as new or changed experiences, but you must first stop trying to make things happen through action. You must refrain from using force, manipulation, or purposeful actions and go with the natural flow. What does that mean? First, don't strive for anything—take things as they come. Second, accept all, resist nothing. Third, don't react—wait, only respond if necessary. Fourth, align your thoughts and actions with the path of least resistance. Fifth, don't obsess over outcomes.
I am That
Every form that exists - be it animate or inanimate - is a different version of your nameless, formless, and timeless self. There is nothing in your experience that does not reflect an aspect of the indescribable 'You'. Once you merge your ever-changing mind with unchanging awareness, you'll no longer judge or resist anything. You'll stop meddling or interfering with unfolding experiences knowing that everything bows to a natural order and will work itself out in due course.