Meditation is an act of love, not only for oneself but for the whole world: for the people of the world, the ocean and sky, forests and fields, and all the animals and organisms, from elephants to mitochondria.
Our work in this life is to pay attention to what is, moment by moment, and allow a space for love to shine through. Can we take time to be quiet, turn inward, and give ourselves over to wonder, like a child, asking nothing in return? Can we detach from the mechanism of thinking and just be? Even though it may often feel like an effort to go beyond thinking, it’s important to realize that what calls one to wonder is not the personal little self but something much bigger—something beyond words. It is love finding itself through us.
Reading your beautiful meditation on meditation, Mike, I was reminded of the Goethe quote:
“the highest to which man an attain is wonder; and if the prime phenomenon makes him wonder, let him be content; nothing higher can it give him, and nothing further should he seek for behind it; here is the limit.”
While this statement might not be true for all – since the diversity of beings is immense, it is true for me. I count myself fortunate that wonder (=awe + curiosity) is my experience of meditation. And, I don’t mean thinking about what is, but feelings of wonder and awe that can’t be captured in words or concepts. Perhaps these powerful but peaceful feelings stem from the source you’ve reveal – love.
At my late stage in life, I have the luxury of no longer thinking of life involving “work” or purpose:
"We thought of life by analogy with a journey, a pilgrimage, which had a serious purpose at the end, and the thing was to get to that end….But we missed the point the whole way along. It was a musical thing and you were supposed to sing or to dance while the music was being played." Alan Watts
After years of practice, meditation and paying attention to the present moment feel more like play than work, effortless rather than effortful, and light rather than serious. What a gift! Feelings of gratitude combine with feelings of wonder.
And sometimes with feelings of pain, grief, and regret. And – with grace – always Just This.
With appreciation for all you share.
Noel