We all try so hard to get there,
Don't we?
There.
This elusive,
Exotic place.
Where I am better than I am now.
Prettier.
Slimmer.
Stronger.
Healthier.
Further on in my career.
More money.
More spiritual.
More enlightened.
There,
Where I imagine myself to be happier.
In myself,
In my life.
But what if that there was just a mirage?
And imagining.
A dream.
That when we get there,
There will then be a new there.
And it just won't be here.
Where is your there?
What is it?
When I am what?
More what?
Better at what?
What's yours?
One of mine is when I am more enlightened,
I will be more gentle and patient.
So the next question is,
So what?
So what if I am more gentle and patient?
Well,
I will feel like a nicer person.
And might stop upsetting people.
OK,
And then what?
If I am more gentle and patient and I feel like a nicer person and stop upsetting people,
What about it?
And when I keep on digging.
.
.
Keep on asking that same question.
So what?
I realise that at the end of the questions is the same answer every time.
That I feel I will have more peace and happiness when I have got that what I want,
When I have reached there.
But what if there was no there?
What if what I was looking for wasn't there at all?
But was actually here.
Prabhuji,
An Advaita teacher and author says,
Perhaps there is no one more step to climb and perhaps it is not even a matter of climbing.
But of getting all the way down from the imaginary staircase.
Sitting down,
Breathing deeply and carefully seeing what remains when you are not trying to improve,
Attain,
Arrive or transcend.
He calls it nakedness without a project.
I wonder if you looked at yourself naked in a full-length mirror?
If you could accept yourself as you are.
Or would you see a project?
Something to do.
Something to change.
Something to tone,
Lose or strengthen.
Something you judge and are critical of.
Nakedness without a project.
What would that feel like?
To be completely content with what you see.
With who you are.
With how you are.
But then is that another one of those pesky their places or?
When I get there,
I'll be happy.
When I'm completely content with what I see,
I'll be happy.
And round and round we go.
What if it's not?
What if that is not a there place at all?
What if it's right here,
Waiting for us?
Prabhuji says,
I'm not referring to anything spectacular,
Like mystical fireworks.
I am referring to the simple,
The plain and the silent.
The simple.
The Plin.
And the silent.
I invite you to close down your eyes.
Become aware of the sounds.
Inside and outside of your space.
And become aware of the silence behind those sounds.
Become aware of the objects in the space that you are in.
Furniture Soft furnishings Cushions.
Photographs.
Pictures.
Ornaments.
And yourself in this space.
And become aware of the space.
That is there in between all these objects.
But it's a space beyond all these objects.
Become aware of your mind.
Of the thoughts.
Not trying to change anything,
Just noticing what's going on in your mind right now.
Just watch the thoughts.
Notice any emotions that have arisen for you in this moment.
Notice any physical sensations that are present for you right now.
That are letting you know they are here right now.
Notice.
The one that is aware of those things.
The one that is aware of the thoughts,
Of the emotions,
Of the physical sensations of the body.
The one that is behind and beyond all those things.
Awareness itself.
Just like the silence that lies behind and beyond the sounds.
And the space that lies behind and beyond the objects.
So awareness is behind and beyond the thoughts.
The emotions and the body.
Awareness is being.
Sink into your awareness.
Being.
Where there is nothing to do,
Nowhere to go.
Being that is completely content here and now.
Being that lacks nothing.
Not in need of anything.
Being is the background of the mind.
It's constantly.
Endlessly seeking.
Believing that they're will be happiness.
Being.
Who you are at your essence.
Behind the roles,
Behind the personality.
Behind the mask.
Being is always here.
It doesn't need to get anywhere.
It doesn't need to leave here.
It is completely content.
Being is aware.
Of the mind.
Of its endless quest.
Constant searching.
For happiness.
Being human's mind.
It knows it doesn't have to take it seriously,
It doesn't have to listen to it.
Because it doesn't need to find happiness,
It already is.
Being is perfectly content.
There's nothing to find.
Over there is not better than here.
That is not better than this.
Being.
The simple.
The plain and the silent.
Nakedness.
Without project.
Nothing to do.
Nothing to change.
Nothing to fix.
Nothing to get better at.
Perfectly content.
Nowhere to get to.
And where is this being?
Remain here.
Do not be taken by the mind.
Who just does not realise.
That keeps on searching.
The hungry ghost.
Perhaps there is no one more step to climb.
Perhaps it is not even a matter of climbing,
But of getting all the way down from the imaginary staircase,
Sitting down,
Breathing deeply,
And carefully seeing what remains.
Thank you.
