"Awakening is not changing who you are but discarding who you are not." Deepak Chopra
By experiencing more of our true nature, we can reduce suffering and experience more joy even while everything outside is in a chaos.
To experience our true nature, we need to remove obstacles to it which are our ego mind, beliefs and associated attachments.
To experience our true Self, we need to empty ourselves from mental notion of who we are, how things should be and experience what is there with humility and desire for truth.
At first we may feel emptiness and void. It may feel like death of what you have known and sacrificed for. It may feel the same as loss of a job, wealth or a loved one.
After that we may have experiences of our true nature and clearly realize the roles we are playing is not us. We realize that we need to play our role the best way we can, but we do not allow it to define our worth or define who we are or attachment to expectation of the outcome. It is like being a rose; being the best rose we can be without concern for who may look at us, like at us or appreciate us.
Meditation and silence are some tools to remove the obstacles in knowing who you are and experiencing your real Self. It requires courage, letting go of your beliefs and tapping into your inner knowing in the vast emptiness.
I ponder on the following questions before meditation, to take me into emptiness and silence of mind quicker.
Who are you?
Who are you without your degrees?
Who are you without your savings?
Who are you without your job and status?
Who are you without your children and parents?
Who are you without your family and friends?
Who are you without your prized causes and stories?
Who are you without all your important responsibilities?
Who are you without all your worthwhile sacrifices?
Who are you without your fit or unfit body?
Who are you without all your deep hurts?
Who are you without all your fears?
Who are you without your plans and to-do-lists?
Who are you without your good luck charms?
Who are you without all your creative work?
Who are you without all your followers?
Who are you without your prayer books?
Who are you without all your spiritual knowledge?
Who are you without your guru?
Who are you without your busy mind?
Who are you without a known future?
Copyright .2018 by Shervin Hojat
as always, spot on
timely, important, inspiring
never stop writing
m
Ron