Contemplation Two

(Photo Credit: Artem Beliaikin)

The practice of somatic meditation allows us to realize a series of developmental outcomes that mark a gradual loosening of samsara. An outcome noted in the first turning is egolessness - simply defined as a relatively ‘I-less’ flow of ever-changing experience. Note a moment from today - during your practice or your everyday activities - in which you glimpsed egolessness.

There’s too much on my plate. Tasks and responsibilities feel like a torrent. Without noticing, I have personalized this stream. ‘I have to get ready for the live talk.’ ‘I have to put together exam questions.’ ‘I have to make this appointment for the bathroom sink, that appointment for our daughter.’ ‘I have to get groceries and tidy the kitchen and ready dinner…’

I wonder if I could edit some of these personalizations. Following our explorations with forum posts, I wonder if some of these are extraneous. If so, what might happen if they’re eased out of my internal commentaries? If ‘I have to get ready for the live talk’ becomes, ‘live talk’? ‘I have to put together exam questions’ becomes, ‘exam questions’? And so on. Car appointment. Daughter’s appointment. Groceries. Kitchen. Dinner…

That torrent immediately slows to a flow. A strong and steady flow, certainly. But nowhere near as overwhelming. Nowhere near as tumultuous. Nowhere near as impossible. Just one thing after the other wanting / needing attention.

The practice of somatic meditation allows us to realize a series of developmental outcomes that mark a gradual loosening of samsara. An outcome noted in the first turning is egolessness - simply defined as a relatively ‘I-less’ flow of ever-changing experience. Note a moment from today - during your practice or your everyday activities - in which you glimpsed egolessness.

- Neil