A Worthy Path

There are, as I see it, probably seven formal steps on this way. The Buddha spoke about a middle way; the path between strict asceticism and flagrant hedonism. We don't need to flog ourselves for our shortcomings, nor do we "piss into the wind" with our relentless pursuit of pleasure (I’m sorry for my language, but that’s really what hedonism is).

The path I have experienced is like this: The first milestone is developing a practice. I prefer Zen Mindfulness myself; the second: realizing a spiritual connection to nature, however brief; third: realizing a deep loving kindness (the I Am); next: confidence in these experiences; fifth: transmitting these experiences to others, no matter how meager the transmission at first; sixth: awakening your inner spark (your ground of wisdom); and seventh: realizing unity.

So, where do we begin? The first step is simply to start a practice. This is the journey of a thousand miles beginning with a single step. It's not easy to admit that you need a practice, but if you've read this far then maybe you can read a little more. I said earlier that Zen Mindfulness is my practice; Basically Zen is a series of practices that aim to free us from all kinds of psychological bondage. Mindfulness meditation is pretty simple but hard to teach, so I'll do my best... 

Meditation has its own reward, even before unity. It helps with stress, calms the mind, diverts attention from the obsession with our private “selves,” etc… It’s being used in therapy for everything from PTSD to Bipolar disorder and beyond. When you’re ready to start a practice, get started, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. It may take some time to get in your groove, but it’s worth it.

When you're ready for your meditation go to a quiet space; no music, no TV, no phone. I understand the chaos of kids, so pick a time when your children are sleeping or at school (early is better than late). When you're in your quiet space, sit in a comfortable chair. Relax. Some people cross their legs. Some keep them on the floor. Remember, there really is no official form that you need to embody. It is not yoga in that sense. Rest your hands in your lap. Close your eyes. Breathe. And when you breathe, breathe deep, comfortable breaths. Listen to your breath. Feel your breath in your lungs. Be aware of it.

Thoughts are going to arise, traffic noise may distract you, an ambulance, dogs barking whatever the case may be. We are training ourselves to ignore distractions. Return to your breath. No judgment. If critical thoughts arise like, "I can't do this," or "This isn't working," ignore those too. You can imagine them like clouds floating by. Don't engage them. Just let them dissipate or float harmlessly away. Return to your breath. All you're doing is sitting and breathing. Distractions are to be expected, so don’t get frustrated. Return to your breath. Remember, this is exercise. Your body doesn't get stronger by watching TV. You have to work out.

Anything meaningful takes time and effort. Mindfulness is exercising the deep self; the soul self. If you want to say a brief prayer during your meditation, you should, but don't spend too much time on it. The point is to let go of the grip of the egoic mind and its neediness anyway. Keep gentle focus on your breath like in the part 7 "Zen" post. We want to be gentle, because right now we’re weak. (There are many good books on mindfulness available online that will explain this further, I recommend Thich Nhat Hahn to start). Do this for at least one session of 20 minutes a day. If you can do more it's good, but just start with one. When your 20 minutes are done, take a few more deep breaths and thank the universe for your patience. When the universe is ready, it will speak; when you're ready, you'll listen. 

Many people like to meditate outside; In nature or on a bench; that's great! You should take whatever opportunity you have to be with nature. After meditating for awhile, you might start to notice a connection to nature like you hadn't noticed before (even if it’s just in your neighborhood). The breeze might start to take on a kind of magical quality, or the birds will sound sweeter. It won't just sound like noise anymore. This is the second milestone. Many people have enjoyed nature their whole lives, but for me it's been since my practice that I've noticed the change. It's refreshing to not be an alien in the world anymore. Of course, sadly, these feelings are only temporary at first, a little gift of the universe. If you make time for this stillness, and practice often, It'll make time for you. Keep on the path and practice.

The connection to nature is great, but is that it? No. I say again, patience and sincerity fuel the unified life with great loving kindness. When you've had some reward over time, you get even more dedicated. Breathe. You can start practicing in the world now. Breathe when you have a moment or when you're stressed. You don't have to give up your meditation practice and you start to be able to connect quicker. You may meditate with some confidence now. You've established your practice. In this space another step comes… It is stillness; It is peace. It has always been nearby. It will convey compassionate, loving kindness and a deep quiet to you. This is the living God. Maybe it will manifest during your meditation or during your daily activities. It is likely to be a surprise. This loving kindness is like you may have imagined it to be before the world got ahold of you, but in fact, this is the essence of living well. 

"So, if this peace, this loving God, is so special, why Is there so much suffering in the world? Can't it intercede?" I’m sorry, there's no perfect answer, but here's mine: In each of our many lives, we grow closer to enlightenment. I firmly believe, based on personal experience and intuition, that we cannot escape the great momentum of karma without a deep awakening. The personal religion or god that you pray to is still bound by the universal law of cause and effect. It is woven into the fabric of the universe itself. Christianity says it this way, "what you sow, you shall also reap." Buddhism teaches that Samsara is the earthly realm that we are born into over and over again (because of our karma), until we wake up from the slumber that imprisons us. The Roman Church teaches that Purgatory is the place we go when we die and haven't yet achieved a saintly state. To me, these are attempts to explain the same phenomenon. Maybe they're just different ways to explain the evidence. 

  Next, you'll start to trust in the inevitable return of stillness and your part in the natural world. This is beautiful. Even though the peace may only come for a short time, you know that you are on the right track. The universe isn't offended by missteps, so don’t fret. Continue with your mindfulness and you will be guided. It is your grounding practice. You may not want to meditate, or maybe you are busy, but it is essential to stay on the path. There is more to learn. Setbacks happen, though, so hopefully you've gained the confidence to return if you do slow down at some point.

I believe step five is essential for step six. If you have some close friends you can share your experiences with, do so. It helps to formulate your own thoughts and views about your practice without trying to evangelize people. You'll find that Zen has a pretty good reputation in the US, "The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better," says Richard Rohr. After you've fumbled around for a while trying to make sense of what all this means (personal experience), you'll begin to be much more comfortable with your practice. Don't forget to examine yourself and your motivations daily. Remember, sincerity is important.

  The next step comes when you discover a point of intuition within you. It is like the ground of wisdom in your mind. It seems to be irreducible. Knowing yourself is peace. By this time you will know yourself well. Continue to practice and you will reach this milestone. I suspect you will be quite sure when it is real. It took me some years to get from step three to this milestone and some time to figure out what it was, but I hope you’ll be sped along. This is another level of ascent.

This inner point is a relief. At the time I was experimenting with mantras. As I was becoming more Buddhist, I wanted to use my meditation to bring peace to my little world. Not just to myself, but to the people I encounter in my daily life. I began practicing a loving kindness meditation where I would breathe health and wellbeing into my little world. This sixth milestone came soon after. I would say something like, "peace to all sincere seekers," or, "loving kindness to my little world." intuition is more a realization of what was already there, rather than a new formation. When it introduces itself, I'd imagine that anyone would want to share it. Don’t be too caught up by timeframes, just practice. I am sure that practicing loving kindness is always good, but start with your mindful meditation and take it one day at a time.

This point in you is powerful to re-center yourself when you are distracted. I put my hands together and touch the crook of my nose, and breath. It is very helpful when you're stressed too. It aids with meditation, and all peaceful prayer. Some would call it the third eye, but it's not really an eye, per se, it's a point of wisdom and intuition within you.

The seventh step I only began to experience around the time I started writing in ‘23. The goal is to realize your place in the universe as essential, and as One Being with it. “You are the eternal energy of the universe,” (Alan Watts on “waking up”). Many have been teaching this for a very long time, and I’m sure that when you’re ready, you’ll get there. Remember, don’t get the cart before the horse, you can only get there at life’s pace. Worrying about awakening is an obstacle. You must be fully yourself. Hindus call this Atman, Buddhists call it awakening. The Buddha, when asked if he was a god, replied, “I am no god, I Am Awake.”

The Buddha spoke in depth about transcending suffering by transcending desire. I believe he meant to transcend the ego, the small self, the false self. The Buddha got us to the heart of the problem, ego, separation, the conditioned personality, and illusion (wrong view). Life is a challenge, but it's here to awaken you. Without heart, the mind just perpetuates itself until it dies. Look deeper. Connect to the Deeper Self, the Soul Self. You might call that Nirvana. 

We thought the life experience was a journey to some end, but it is the point. The ever unfolding present moment. It's where we become conscious. When this wave subsides we will once again rejoin the ocean. Maybe we'll come back to the surface as a new formation yet again. The goal is to grow, not to complete anything yet. The self that is one with the universe, The deepest self, will continue to grow far beyond this lifetime. 

The only Zen you’ll find,

On the mountaintop,

Is the Zen,

You bring with you.

Zen Proverb

Here is a list of how long it “takes” to arrive at the different milestones, from my experience of course. All times are from the beginning of the practice

Starting a meditation - anytime you want

Nature affinity            - a few months later

Stillness awakening  - 18 months

Confidence                - 2 years

Sharing the story       - 2 years

Third eye awakens - 5 years - there are further levels to this

Full realization             - you’ll probably be working on this your whole life. Good Luck!

Remember, meditation has its own reward, even before awakening. It helps with stress, calms the mind, diverts attention from the obsession with our private “selves,” etc… When you’re ready to start a practice, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. It may take some time to get in your groove, but it’s worth it.

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Peace to you and yours...