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.
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.
Thanks for this, Noel & beautifully said. It's funny because I was working this week on a few words about the wonder of wonder. My teacher,Toni Packer, was instrumental in facillitating a shift for me from a willful, Rinzai Zen approach to learning to relax in the wonder. of just being.
Toni Packer must have been a wonderful guide judging by the writing that you and Joan Tollifson (through whose Substack I found yours) produce.
And, what a wonderful thought - "the wonder of wonder." That idea had never occurred to me, but it's so true. Alike to "awareness of awareness." I can "dig it" (aka "feel it") as Alan Watts used to say. Just as I experience wonder at the fact that I experience delight, grief, tranquility, and a multitude of other feelings, now - thanks to your pointer - I notice that I feel wonder at my wondering.
Another aspect of experience - a gift - for which gratitude naturally arises. As it does for your poems and meditations.
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
Thanks for this, Noel & beautifully said. It's funny because I was working this week on a few words about the wonder of wonder. My teacher,Toni Packer, was instrumental in facillitating a shift for me from a willful, Rinzai Zen approach to learning to relax in the wonder. of just being.
Love that Goethe quote.
Toni Packer must have been a wonderful guide judging by the writing that you and Joan Tollifson (through whose Substack I found yours) produce.
And, what a wonderful thought - "the wonder of wonder." That idea had never occurred to me, but it's so true. Alike to "awareness of awareness." I can "dig it" (aka "feel it") as Alan Watts used to say. Just as I experience wonder at the fact that I experience delight, grief, tranquility, and a multitude of other feelings, now - thanks to your pointer - I notice that I feel wonder at my wondering.
Another aspect of experience - a gift - for which gratitude naturally arises. As it does for your poems and meditations.