Читать книгу May I Sit with You? - Tom Catton - Страница 22
ОглавлениеChop wood, carry water. What is the sound of one hand clapping? The long-sought-after experience of enlightenment among seekers is at times considered out of reach, attainable by only the disciplined sages of the Far East.
In my early studies, I assumed that only years of practice, consisting of hours of meditation each day, or even an inevitable expedition to the peaks of the Himalayas penetrating the ashram of a wizened or withering guru, were the ways to capture this elusive experience. I discovered a different truth altogether as I began to actually practice meditation. Enlightenment is available to everyone.
I do a daily practice of meditation as part of my working Step Eleven. It doesn’t include sitting upon a meditation cushion praying for enlightenment. Rather, I sit and observe what arises, always returning to my breath. This simple act of coming back to the moment again, and then again, is my practice. The doorway to enlightenment is not the entrance to a cave, but the simplicity of being in and staying in the moment. Enlightenment is not a mirage, nor is it a game show that we somehow “win.” Enlightenment is a life choice, if not a vocation.
Anyone who has experienced joy or bliss arising from within, for no worldly reason, can attest to the fact that they had no power in manipulating this experience. This is where the paradox comes into play. It is suggested to meditate every day, and yet we are told to expect nothing, that even this actual craving for enlightenment can cause more separation and greater suffering. We just sit and observe thoughts, paying attention to the sensations that arise, placing no labels or expectations on them.
The experience Bill W. (the founder of AA) had in his hospital room seemed to come out of nowhere. There were no days of extended meditation that preceded this event. When Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now, awoke and was suddenly struck by enlightenment, he found himself sitting on park benches with feelings of bliss for the next two years. These experiences seem more like a gift than something people can consciously orchestrate in their lives. These examples of enlightenment are as personal as they are universal. Anecdotes such as these are proof positive that miracles are real because they forever alter the life of the recipient.
Enlightenment can seem like a random awakening, a strangely delivered gift. And those who are truly enlightened seem equally gracious in sharing how they came into contact with this experience. So it seems that enlightenment is based not on selfish evolution, but rather on a clarion call sent out to those who will listen.
There’s an abundance of spiritual books describing enlightenment and transcendental states of consciousness; some recount different levels the soul must experience to obtain complete freedom. Such writings often leave the reader longing for an experience that seems to be kept behind lock and key, forever hidden in some mystery school or discipline practiced in a far-off land.
When grace snatches me out of the hands of ego, and I find myself present, I cannot deny feeling grace’s presence. It’s like landing in the lap of the divine. The joy and bliss that arise in that moment cannot be described with mere words. Is there more to enlightenment than being caught up in the moment? Maybe, maybe not.
After forty-plus years of practice, I’m drawn to the simplicity of being present; I will remain open to the possibility that there is more. Perhaps my patience is an indication that I have glimpsed enlightenment. My duty now is to continue the practice and help shine a light for others to see.
Living each moment of the day with mindfulness is the switch that, when flipped, awakens the spirit, preparing us for enlightenment, which can come at any moment. We never know when enlightenment will strike. But it seems that it is a reality, and we must be in the present moment to receive its life-altering grace.
