By Roger Guest
No matter what we do in the name of spiritual practice- be it exercise, meditation, yoga, visualization practice, psychedelic medicines, or ‘what have you’- it is best to begin with a clear, stable mind. A relaxed mind free of unnecessary turbulence is the perfect laboratory for genuine self-discovery. How might such clarity dawn? Don’t overthink it; just stop and listen!
A liberated mind is merely an intelligent extension of the awareness of impermanence or, vice-versa, the impermanence of awareness. This “continuity of discontinuity” happens all the time. Wakefulness leaks through the gaps. Although never separate from it, we only experience its splendor in the here and now. So right here, right now, stop and listen!
If we feel overwhelmed with pain, fear, or other strong emotions, or if we simply can’t contain any more input from the world, our tendency might be to shut down. But would it not serve us better to let go into the immediacy of non-conceptual presence? How might we develop the healthier habit of letting go? Don’t just follow the same old course. This time, stop and listen!
When our struggle with ‘normal’ thoughts and emotional patterns seems to be going nowhere, what can we do? If we stop aimlessly following our thoughts wherever they take us, short, sharp, unbiased gaps will pop up. It may not be possible to figure out what ‘letting go’ means or entails, but if we can trust the intelligence inherent in an open mind, they happen anyway. Take a chance. Stop and listen!
What is the most distant sound, the lowest note, or the highest ping in your environment right now? You don’t have to name it, just tune into its sincere immediacy and go from there. The gaps that naturally arise can soften the intensity of reactive emotions and lighten your load. It's possible they may even save you from the pain and hassle of re-traumatization. So, before your mind gets on the roller-coaster, catch your breath! Stop and listen!
The point of spiritual practice is not only to survive but to thrive. To accomplish this, it's best to free ourselves of mental fixations, discursive thoughts, primitive beliefs, and conflicting emotions. As it turns out, there is an incredible intelligence in stillness if we can only gain access to it, especially in times of stress. Just beyond the veil of discursive ramblings are unexpected insights and fresh connections. The process of relaxing and allowing things to be as they are liberates the conceptual mind. How can we travel the path to freedom? Give up trying to do it right! Just stop and listen!
Repetitive and self-righteous narratives will continue to solidify into inner and outer contention for as long as we live. They will be a never-ending source of pain and mental anguish until we learn to let them go. This learning process seems endless. Yet, when I tune in to self-existing awareness, the intelligence of presence takes over. Do not take my word for it, just stop and listen!
Interrupting the inner narrative of daydreams and worldly concerns lubricates rigid egoic paradigms and frees up awareness. The immediacy of sound breathes fresh air into one’s connection with both external and internal phenomena. It's wonderful to relax into the sky of consciousness, unconfined by the limitations and fixations of the thinking mind. This simple effort is not about making sense of everything going on. Plugging back into the electricity of sacredness simply requires trusting the intelligence of immediacy. So don’t waste another minute thinking about these words. Just stop and listen!
Roger Guest is a student of the great Tibetan Buddhist master, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He has been practicing and teaching meditation for over 50 years. We are sharing the following excerpt from his next book, Listening Mind, with his permission.
You can email Roger at [email protected]