Peace in Stillness
Peace in Stillness not in Striving
The fluctuating moods, energy, disappointments, happiness. Being in the stillness and the mothers breathe. Being with self and non-dualism – where we can be torn between what is good, right, happy, unhappy – more so – just being with all the opposites, conflicts. Striving for complete harmony and happiness brings stress and a constant niggling to be better, to change.
As Jeff Foster says, "Your pain, your sorrow, your doubts, your deepest longings, your fearful thoughts, are not mistakes, and they aren't asking to be healed. They are asking to be held...." Being with the sheer beauty of our human imperfections, the joy of not knowing, the sweetness of sorrow, seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary, the journey from depression to deep rest, finding the courage to face life's discomforts and challenges with grace, the unconditional depths of love, the vast silence at the heart of life.... When all is really OK”.
What is this, the ‘no problem mind?’ It is not always seeing and creating problems. When life, situations, people are not doing, being what it is we want. If we allow ourselves in be in this ‘no problem mind’, without judging as right or wrong, then we have the presence of truly being. The rush and anxiousness have passed and there emerges this deep quiet and stillness. Hard to describe the sense of it fully. It is as though the feelings are stilled, the mind is still, there are no anxious clamouring thoughts needing attention. Non-dualism – quiet, soft, gentle breathes undulate within us.
Breaking those chains that bind, restrict. What are these chains that bind us? Other people’s restrictions, opinions and needs. Also, our fear of crossing other’s boundaries, disappointing, causing harm and most importantly thinking other people’s needs, their restrictions, rules, are far more important than our own. It is finding the balance. Not all the time (that is unrealistic), but enough so that there is enough care for self and only then for others.
We can feel trapped, caught, held in from free expression. This contrasts with our need to express, connect, be held energetically, received openly, with love acknowledged and returned through words, contact, consideration.
We can be torn, more so for me than being confused. Torn between what I would need and what others need. Their needs, are they an imposition? A part of me wants to riel against their restrictions and needs and my needs. Where is the resolution, compromise? The waxing and waning of my thoughts and emotions between being respectful of the other’s needs and the need for me to express and comment freely.
We can step into and express our joy, sorrow, hurt, our need to connect and be with ourselves and others. From there we can move into the stillness of nature, the stillness in our hearts, souls and bodies. The stillness as we sit in meditation being with our breathe, the stillness as we gently tread the earth, gently lie in the water and gently be with ourselves.