Dear Friends,
In Gil’s fifth short talk on the faculty of sati, he gives a overview of the progression thus far, and then briefly expands into exploring awareness itself.
https://www.audiodharma.org/talks/11130
Starting with a simple mindfulness – to connect to what’s here. Then having some recognition. Leaning back and observing without interference. Sustaining observation overt time, we notice the flow, the ever changing experience – impermanence.
As the grip of our attachments and resistance loosens, there can be a resting back into a spacious sense of awareness. “Some people describe this as a field with things simply existing within it. Things arise and pass, and there’s a strong sense of a quality of awareness, or clarity, space, beingness, or restful presence. Things happen, but that sense of awareness doesn’t change.”
Although it’s easy to believe this might be an absolute progression (step 1, tick, now on to step 2), Gil is careful to remind us that “we’re all beginners at times. The essence of practice is to be at the stage where you are. Practice with how you are.”
We don’t need to feel like we’re a bad meditator if we’re coming back to this moment, and coming back and coming back. We can call up faith or confidence to put in the effort to keep practicing, and the conditions will come together when they do. We’re building skills that will serve us well in life and in practice.
What I find useful is to have some sense of the possibilities so that when the conditions do come together, we can say, “oh yeah, that’s what’s here right now.” And then let that be part of the experience.
Meditation:
There’s a meditation practice some teachers call “big mind” or “big sky” that can help us rest into a sense of the sky-like nature of the mind. With sounds of singing bowls, we can allow sounds (or any other sensations) to come and go in awareness. We rest back – not need to do anything special. Here’s one of my favorite versions from Howard Cohn (30 minutes):
https://www.dharmaseed.org/talks/27230/
As Gil closes his talk, “The faculty of mindfulness is … the place where you most belong. It’s a home you can take with you wherever you go.” So may you find ways to rest into this home.
With good wishes,
Andrea