"The self says, I am;
The heart says, I am less;
The spirit says, you are nothing."
-Theodore Roethke
Once we strip away all the concepts that create the "self" that we cling to so tightly, what is left? What is the "self," really? Who told you that you had to wear those labels? How have the labels worked out for you? What makes us poise ourselves against one another, especially those who are different? How old was I when I realized that someone else using my toys meant that there were fewer toys for me? And why did I think that was actually true?
What is jealousy but the idea that there is a "limited pie" in the universe? If we think that resources are limited, we will see someone else's piece of the pie as taking away from our shielded slice. But if we reside in abundance, rather than lack, then no one else's share will appear to be taking from our own. The world is an overflowing fountain of resources. If we care for what is here for us, we will have precisely what we need to make it through our lives, and to care for generations to come.
Egos are such a huge part of our culture. We can't wait to add an experience to our resume, a person to our Facebook friends list, a possession to our assortment of stuff, a compliment to our self-perception. Yet, in the quiet hours, most of us only seek companionship or inner peace. Those things can't be gained through the ego's maneuverings. True friends love us for who we are. We are capable of living with, and loving, ourselves, only when we search deeply for a connection with our source. . .with the reason we wake up in the morning. . .with our commonalities in this world.
I invite you to smile at yourself today. Breathe deeply. Notice, and count, your exhalations --one through ten, then back to one again--, while not forcing a certain pace of breath. One of my favorite songs is "Be Still" by Kascade. The refrain says, "The more we think, the less we know."
Zen teaches us that true meaning is found when and where concepts fall away, where notions can not reach, and where intellect can't penetrate. At their core, feeling and experiencing leave ideas behind. Feel your way through life more. Stay awake when you reflexively get distracted. Bring yourself back. Ask, "Where am I, right now? Where is my mind?" Soon, you may realize that you are part of everything else. Knowledge of our unity can make us feel truly alive.
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