The problem with all of the hype about ‘being present’ essentially comes down to one simple point – ‘you’ cannot be present.
The problem with all of the hype about ‘being present’ essentially comes down to one simple point – ‘you’ cannot be present.
Of course we are in the present all the time but the ‘I’, the ego (in the Buddhist sense) is a function of commenting on or noticing the past. Any strategy or technique that is used to be present is, by it’s very nature and intent, already off the mark. The Buddha referred to this way of thinking as doing things ‘in order to’ get a certain result, and mindfulness, being present is not about achieving something, getting somewhere or attaining anything. We are already there. In order to realize this, we need in fact to stop using strategies, techniques and tricks, no matter how clever they may appear.
If you think back to all of those times when you have been fully present, when things flowed or you were ’in the Zone’, the one thing that stands out is the very abscence of self consciousness. When the constant mind chatter and sense of a self watching falls away, the present is revealed naturally. There is no doing anything ‘in order to’ but things are done for themselves alone. Trying to get ‘there’ is like planning to be spontaneous. It ain’t gonna happen. No way, no how.
So what do we do? Do we just sit and wait and hope that somehow, magically we’ll realize that we are already present? Is it a waste of time to meditate, practice mindfulness, pay attention to what we’re doing? Yes and no. If by mindfulness we actually mean watching ourselves, then yes – that’s a complete and utter waste of time. Sadly mindfulness is all too often confused with watching ourselves. In fact, one way to tell if a meditation teacher knows what they’re talking about or not is to look out for whether they start talking about things like ‘being the watcher’ or about producing certain states of mind or using postive thinking to combat negativity. If they do any of that, walk away. They’re clueless. They’re still stuck in the ‘in order to’ mentality. As the teacher Joko Beck says,
"Sitting (meditation) is essentially a simplified space. Our daily life is in constant movement: lots of things going on, lots of people talking, lots of events taking place. In the middle of that, it’s very difficult to sense that we are in our life. When we simplify the situation, when we take away the externals and remove ourselves from the ringing phone, the television, the people who visit us, the dog who needs a walk, we get a chance–which is absolutely the most valuable thing there is–to face ourselves. Meditation is not about some state, but about the meditator. It’s not about some activity or about fixing something. It’s about ourselves. If we don’t simplify the situation the chance of taking a good look at ourselves is very small–because what we tend to look at isn’t ourselves but everything else. If something goes wrong, what do we look at? We look at what’s going wrong. We’re looking out there all the time, and not at ourselves."
- Charlotte Joko Beck, Everyday Zen
I remember at a retreat, many years ago, I was on dishwashing duty and my task was to dry the dishes. The person washing the dishes though was stuck in the notion of ‘watching oneself’ as mindfulness, doing everything very slowly and carefully, trying to be present and to note every bubble, every splash of water. The whole kitchen crew was slowly becoming more and more annoyed because, the longer this person took, the less rest break they would have after the meal. Real mindfulness is not that selfish or blind. Eventually I just grabbed the plate that was in her hand and said, "when you wash dishes, the point is just to wash the dishes. Nothing else." Now of course I had my own impatience and judgements to deal with but that really is the point – that just. To do what needs to be done, in this moment, not in order to achieve something, not to produce some sort of psuedo calm or bogus insight but to do for the sake of itself. So meditating for the sake of meditating, washing the dishes to wash the dishes.
When we experience the difference between doing ‘in order to’ and doing for the sake of itself – strangely we find that we are where we always have been – right here, right now. When we eat, we just eat. When we wash dishes, we just wash the dishes. When we take care of our bills, we just take care of our bills, when we walk the dog, we just walk the dog. It’s so simple we miss it.
"Enlightenment isn’t when you go there, it’s when there comes here. It’s not a place you visit and then remember wistfully and try to return to. It’s not a visit to the truth, it’s the awakening of truth within you. It’s not a fleeting state of consciousness…"
- Jed McKenna – Spiritual Enlightenment: The Damnedest Thing
I don't know a thing about Zen or meditation in the Indian traditions–all my experience has been in Taoist longevity and martial meditations. But I know when I do them I am not thinking about improving my health or boosting my internal power for striking. I just do them.
When I'm working on my book or other writing projects, I find myself frequently in the Zone–a special place where often connections appear for me when I look back at what I've done. Not from conscious thought.
I wish I could be in those places all the time. But I'm not.
Bob…so true…`here, there, everywhere…` …within to without…love all you and zenmonk write…from beachgirl
zenmonk…about this flash…i found it helpful, reforcing this spiritual missives`s key message well before one takes the first bite so to speak… ((( * ))) … that and this closing statement…
`Enlightenment isn't when you go there, it's when there comes here`… and immediately i sense an inner dimension opening.
Zenmonk…Yeah!!! part II … and so true… “It’s not a visit to the truth, it’s the awakening of truth within you. It’s not a fleeting state of consciousness…” in((( contemplation and gratitude ))) beachgirl
Hey Bob, yes, it’s not so much about not having such thoughts as realizing that they’re something that comes afterwards as it were. We can practice every day and every day give ourselves different ‘reasons’ why we do so but when we get out of the way, things are done for the sake of themselves. And sorry for the repeated first sentence – I put in some flash and the intent editor seems to be broken when it comes to flash so won’t let me edit.
A monk is walking back from a lecture at a distant temple and gets lost on the wrong side of the river. He needs to get across to get home but cannot find the bridge. Finally, he sees the Master who gave the lecture on the other side and yells out to him.
"Master, how do I get to the other side of the river."
The master replies: "Son; you are on the other side of the river!"
If I am always here and never there where could there ever be when there is here just as well…wake up and see.
Peace(+)
Dom*
Exactly..matter of your point in your immediate reality..enjoy Zenmonk(+)
Dom*
Zenmonk, liked the the monks and the river.
Rouzanna
quote
< Meditation is not about some state, but about the meditator. It's not about some activity or about fixing something. It's about ourselves. >
.. and where is the 'self ' ? It is nowhere to be found …..and where is any thing to be found upon which we can meditate upon as a truth leading to this ' enlightenment ' ?
Seems to me that there is only the realization that things are as they are relatively and come and go like clouds in sky – when it rains put up an umbrella and when the sun shines put on SP15 or higher
hehe love the story
Or get a tan yes Kay.
) And Rouzanna, I like that story too but here’s another one about Suzuki Roshi that you might appreciate:
Towards the end of a period of zazen at Tassajara Suzuki suddenly leaped off the dais and whacked a student on the shoulder saying “Don’t look at the clock!” Later the student told Suzuki that he was looking at the clock because it was his responsibility to ring the bell at the end of zazen.
“I made a mistake. I
Zenmonk…great story! and Bob…well said. there is hope for us all. I feel a real depth opening as never before from these stories and related shared wisdom. thank you esp zenmonk and all for sharing your ongoing guidance and light.
As an aside, yesterday I listened to another live talk by Adyashanti, the zen `monk` in california to practice after a week here, more depth in discernment. I was very surprised and in comparison to these blogs i noticed a big difference in content…esp when someone called in …` trying to do this or that `in order to` … This mental concept of striving in separateness was not challenged nor helpfully inspirationally corrected. Instead he used author, Byron Katie (The Method) techniques…`what would you be without that thought` ….helpful … not original and … etc.
That said…for a different perspective on life, i just read this news flash!…two feral pigs killed on kauai … and …
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2009102…
life holds many twists, unexpected turns and all subject to change…
in humble gratitude and aloha…beachgirl
I make a lot of mistakes. I must be on the true path!
zenmonk~part2…in contemplation of a talk i heard today about awakening and enlightenment the following rang true…
"We often hear that awakening is to wake up from the one who is seeking to wake up yet actually it is consciousness which wakes up from us… the seeker. That is why it has been said … `there is nothing for each of us in enlightenment … there is nothing in it for you" …
i agree esp as the above coincides with personal insights which arose yesterday…i suddenly realised a desire to awaken and especially be `enlightened` had fallen away…is no longer something to be inclined toward. Just live … mindful and grateful.
Bob has said this many times; i now join his view whereby surprisingly a new inner freedom is refreshingly opening.
that`s all … at peace in simply abiding in just seeing things as they really are… and innately subject to change.
i am happy with that
beachgirl
That you're happy makes me smile. So thank you for that.
my ego is a mother f…..
Vicwat,
I have one of those, too. I can always depend on it to let me down.
Bob
I think I recognize you two now. You sit next to me on buses. ;o)
LOL