It dawned on me awhile ago that my “meditations” were often about doing something. Working on myself, fixing myself, healing myself, inquiring, praying, asking, directing energy, figuring something out, getting peaceful, reaching for a particular feeling (in order to achieve something particular), or trying to quiet. I am literally giggling right now as I type this. So cute, so silly, so understandable! Maybe like you, I was so sure it was hard to feel wellbeing. I was making it complicated and scrambling to DO something to get there, rather than realizing that wellbeing is the default setting of, well, everything. As the quote goes, “The place you are looking for is where you are looking from.” ― St. Francis of Assisi There are many, many similar quotes from various spiritual teachers throughout the ages. (see below!)
For me, there is a clear connection between simplicity and truth. In my experience, it’s the mind the makes things complicated. The mind, the identity, the “doer” wants things to be complicated and hard. Minds like to have things to figure out, be busy and have a lot to do! So, what if all that is busy work, but unnecessary. What if St. Francis and the bunch were right? What if we are trying to get something we already have, already are?
So my favorite meditation right now is this:
“Hello God.”
I get comfy, say hello to God, and simply sit in the presence of The Something Bigger. It is that Presence (Love, Light, Source, God, Nature) that aligns everything. That Something Bigger, that Life Force Energy, takes care of every single particle of the universe(s). Nature knows where everything goes, how it fits together, the perfect connection, the inherent unfolding. I, from my limited perspective, don’t have to figure out, do or direct anything. I just say “Hi God.” And I sit in that. And I feel it. AAAhhhhhhhh…… Such a relief. I realize how much pressure my thinking has put on me to be in charge and responsible for things that I have never been in charge of. My whole being relaxes when I remember that the miraculous, unknowable Something Bigger has always been taking care of everything.
Smiling and loving this human ride with you,
Christina
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PS, that whole “what you are looking for is where you are looking from idea has been expressed by many mystics and spiritual teachers. Here is a list of variations, which I’ve included because they are like little, sweet candies!
“What you are looking for is what you are looking with.” -Ernest Holmes
“The place you are looking for is the place from which you are looking.” -Mooji
“What you are looking for is already in you… You already are everything you are seeking.” -Thich Nhat Hanh
“The truth is that you already are what you are seeking. You are looking for God with his eyes. I suggest you ask, ‘What’s ultimately behind this set of eyes?’ Turn around to see what is looking.”
-Adyashanti
“What you seek is seeking you.” Rumi
I just read your e.mail. My mantra during meditation is “god” for the exact reason you described. When I’m feeling stressed during the day, I just say “god” to myself. For the EXACT reason you described. Nothing allows me to unclench more easily xoxoxoxo
This is so beautiful to hear! Yeah, you too, huh? Of course! The simpler the better! If we bring it back to the whole point – God (or whatever we want to call the Intelligence that animates everything and exists in everything!) Remembering that, and that is what it ALL is, including us! And that remembering allows us to unclench. To relax more and more back into HOME (which could be another word for God!)