Our neural pathways adjust all the time. It’s said that what fires together, wires together. In that way the mandate of the spiritual teachers to achieve silence of thoughts gives you only the goal, but not the means to reach it. A necessary condition for serenity is the lack of wants and aspirations, for as long as there is a desire, our neural pathways will form accordingly and the body, mind, world complex will remind us constantly that we can’t get what we want. A catch 22, seemingly impossible to solve.
What is the solution? Awareness is. Awareness of the illusionary self wanting, aspiring, regretting, fearing; every human emotion possible other than experiencing the situation as is. The answer to the “I can get no satisfaction” dilemma is contentment in the present moment. It’s summer here and I am outside. Can you hear the birds singing, or the cars passing by? It’s a symphony of sorts and when we tune in the travails of the “I” go away. Awareness of life holds all the answers that we need to be content.
How can we spot the “I” at work? We have three dimensions to work with. The thoughts that bubble to the surface, the feelings that emerge, often in response to the people and situations life confronts us with, as well as the message of life’s changing events and occasions. The story of self is embedded in a matrix of body, mind, world. Spot this “I” moment by moment. There is a bit of detective work involved when we seen to disagree with the perceived message of the moment and there is an invite to be still.
Still the mind by enjoying the love and serenity and contentment will follow.
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