Simply Seeing
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Frequently Asked Questions If I don’t do anything, won’t I become a passive, lazy slob who doesn’t stand for anything? If I don’t resist won’t people just walk all over me? What about self-respect? I have difficulty with your idea that there is nothing wrong with us. Can you explain what you mean? I don’t understand what you mean by simply seeing? How is this different from other forms of meditation? I don’t see how sitting and seeing for 20 or 30 minutes a day can change me that much? I’ve always felt that meditating is like escaping the realities of the world. How do you see this? As resistance is weakened and repressed feelings emerge, how are these handled?
If I don’t do anything, won’t I become a passive, lazy slob who doesn’t stand for anything? What is being suggested is not that you do nothing, it is that you do fully from a state of being and not from a state of fear and confusion. At present most of us live in a state of disconnectedness and fear. In this state we act compulsively out of fear. This kind of doing is disjointed and self-centered, for its main purpose is the preservation of a fearful, disconnected “me”. When we step into being and see the fear and disconnectedness melt away, we start acting from a state of joy and compassion. Whatever action springs from this state has a very different quality for it is selfless. It has the capacity to change the world. It is much more active as it is totally present and resists nothing. When there is no resistance action flows much more easily. This is very different to being a passive, lazy slob. If I don’t resist won’t people just walk all over me? What about self-respect? When we experience something uncomfortable, the fearful “me” perceives this as a threat and reacts defensively to protect its world. This is our usual state of being. Life is felt as dangerous. Viewed from this angle, not resisting seems foolish and tantamount to being taken advantage of and abused. I have difficulty with your idea that there is nothing wrong with us. Can you explain what you mean? This statement comes from seeing beyond the veil of mind created illusion. The mind that has fallen asleep and feels separate from its source also feels alone and afraid. In this state we perceive the world with a root fear of being annihilated. Problems appear a bit everywhere. Everything that is perceived as a potential threat to the survival of who we think we are becomes a problem that must be resisted. This is the world of mind created suffering. Every time we resist something “out there” to protect the “me over here” we strengthen the “me” and the sense of separateness. I don’t understand what you mean by simply seeing? Being able to step out of the confusion and separation that is thought and simply see things as they are without labels, without judgment, without choice. This is simply seeing. This is the state at the source of all our perception and thinking. For without seeing there would be nothing on which to put labels. So this is an ability we all have and use, the moment before we label, compare, judge, criticize, reject, analyze. In other words the moment before we think. So simply seeing happens in the space between thoughts. Simply seeing is being present to the moment, to the now. How is this different from other forms of meditation? Simply Seeing Meditation is different from many forms of meditation in that there is no method one must learn. There is nothing that thought has grabbed on to and packaged as a technique. The objective is to step out of mind activity and any method has the potential of strengthening this. There are no mantras, there are no positions, there is no chanting. There is nothing that must be done. There is only seeing and being and every time these are present, mind activity slows down. I don’t see how sitting and seeing for 20 or 30 minutes a day can change me that much? For most of us, our daily activities are part of a routine. A routine is good if it allows us to do things without having to think every time as if it were the first. However, if we become habituated to the extent that our life is but a habit, from sleeping, to eating, to working, to sleeping, the routine is very limiting. The habits numb us into a state of automatic, mechanical doing where moments of deep aliveness and joy are rare. I’ve always felt that meditating is like escaping the realities of the world. How do you see this? If you sit with the purpose of pushing unpleasant thoughts, feelings, sensations and images away or if you sit with the purpose of pursuing some enchanted forest or imaginary paradise that will release you, then there is a great chance you are escaping reality. Simply Seeing Meditation is not about pushing away the negative and seeking the positive. This still belongs to mind activity. Simply Seeing Meditation invites you to sit and see things as they are, whether they be judged as positive or negative by thought. As the ability to simply see grows and the resistance to what is weakens, you experience clarity in perception and lightness of being in the world. There is no desire to escape anything in this state. Quite the contrary, you are deeply inspired and empowered to face the world with a freshness and an aliveness that can transform it. As resistance is weakened and repressed feelings emerge, how are these handled? They are allowed to be. This is a natural outcome. With a growing ability to simply see, there is less resistance to what is. The walls of the separate “me” naturally weaken and feelings and emotions are allowed to flow again. Life can move through us as experience. As this happens gradually, there is no danger. I already have such a busy schedule I don’t see how I can find the time to do something more. What do you suggest? It is very important that Simply Seeing Meditation not be taken as another task that you have to get done, another check on the activities list. It is not something that you do. It is a space you create during the day to allow yourself to be. ~~~ |