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For more information, contact: Gary Schouborg, PhD (925) 932-1982 |
Schouborg, Gary (2006). "Follow the River of Inner
Rhythm," Common Sense, July-August, 16-17. Follow the River of Inner Rhythm Gary
Schouborg, PhD To say that process is our
innermost reality is to say that each of us is a river (process) of
consciousness in which patterns (sensations and meanings) emerge and
disappear constantly. Enlightenment is an awakening to ourselves as river;
it’s not a process of reasoning. Concrete symbols, icons, ritual, and
theologies serve to apply spirituality in diverse context and in practical
ways; but we shouldn’t identify with or fixate on them. When we do, we cling,
which keeps us from flowing. What enlightens us is not
understanding fascinating (and important) theories, such as what is the “self,” but rather
understanding anicca(changing), anatta (no self), and dukkha
(anguish). We need to awaken to the transitory nature of experience, the fact that no concept or set
of concepts captures all that “I” am. When we fail to grasp anicca and anatta,
we suffer unnecessarily. We are victims of our own mental anguish. This is not to deny the importance of an integrated, healthy ego. Clinging arises
when “me” or “mine” are taken absolutely. Non-clinging arises when they are
understood within the framework of anicca,
anatta, and dukkha.
“Mine” and “yours” are not absolute, but rather interrelated and constantly
evolving realities. Realizing this—having
a felt understanding of this—is to “be in the flow” of what we are, which
experience provides its own, inherent contentment and happiness. What is the pleasure and joy
associated with living in the flow of
our immediate and natural waking state? We have at least three forms of
pleasure—(1) from achieving a goal; (2) from pursuing that goal; and (3) an
abiding somatic pleasure (a basic, primal contentment) that is natural to our
waking state and is independent of
whether we are successful or not in achieving our goals. Pursuing our goals also differs from real contentment in being dependent on
specific goals. In contrast, basic contentment is a primal somatic pleasure
that is present whatever our goal. Independent of our specific goals, our
pursuit of them, and our success or failure in achieving them, basic
contentment abides. We lose awareness of this basic contentment by overly focusing
(insisting) on successfully achieving our goals. Letting go of our insistence
on success, we may first reawaken to the satisfactions inherent in what we do
in pursuing goals. Letting go of
obsessing over our destination, we allow ourselves to enjoy the trip along
the way. Pursuing goals in this
liberated, non-clinging way gives different colorations, a richness to our
lives. Beyond the world of goals,
however, we may eventually awaken to a basic primal somatic pleasure: an
abiding equanimity and contentment in living. Having quiet times of
meditation can be useful for some to awaken to this equanimity and
contentment. Buddhists refer to a “passive/receptive heart” which gets to a
fundamentally important point. It is
in an inner quiet that we realize that our innermost happiness does not depend
on satisfying any of our desires. It
is already here. At this point, we
have no need for the metaphysical scaffolding that hopes in God’s salvation
or in higher reincarnations or in life after death. What we have at this moment is
self-justifying, if you will. We are
unconditionally happy for being awake.
We can experience this happiness even in the midst of intense daily
activity. When we do, we experience
that daily activity as part of life, its joys and suffering. From that felt perspective, we take no specific joy or
suffering as essential to our happiness. (For other essays by along the
same lines, go to www.garynini.com/ist.htm
and especially
www.garynini.com/rhythm.htm. |
