If there’s a phrase that sums up for me the grand ‘AHA!’ of my retreat here in India, it is the above comment…
The quote is on the calender of the Oneness University, and comes from Amma Bhagavan. The perspective here is that, until we realize that we are not the mind, and that we cannot change the mind, we will suffer. And as soon as we realize that the thoughts, beliefs, emotions that come from the mind have nothing to do with us and that we can do nothing about them, we become helpless…
And helplessness is exactly the condition wherein the indwelling Divine can reach, embrace, transform and awaken us…
Its a radical departure from what I have lived. And while I have resisted this perspective for decades, (including the belief that we cannot awaken ourselves, and that awakening can only come as an act of grace), I have fully embraced it during my time here.
The results are transformational… ‘I’ watch this mind’s endless habit of creating meanding and significance and judgment upon every action. We did an hour of gardening seva the other morning. I grabbed a hoe and began weeding. The thought stream was endless…
“I’m good at this, I worked on a farm as a kid”
“Look how well I can swing this hoe!”
“I’m doing a great job, better than anyone else”
With blisters forming on my palms, ‘I’ think “Look at what a passionate worker I am!”
“I’m one tough guy!”
“I’m no sissy, I’m rugged, but I won’t tell anyone about these blisters (that’ll make me even more rugged!)”
I set down the hoe and start weeding around a rose bush… the mind narrates; “I’m very good at this, I learned how to do this as a child”
“I am faster and better at this than anyone here!”
“I love nature, I have a unique relationship with nature. My relationship with nature is special”
The endless commentary is laughable… The more I just witness the thoughts, realizing they are not ‘me’, the more I am aware of a profound sense of peace and quiet…And the subjects and topics and triggers of the past, the alarms and hot buttons and painful judgments, are somehow gracefully losing their importance… and the simple joy of swinging a hoe, pulling a weed and washing my clothes is more and more evident…
This morning, as the sun rose into the humid Indian sky, I walked the grounds, enjoying the feeling of absolute helplessness…. celebrating the truth that I am helpless and that I know nothing!
Namaste from India!
Joe
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Love that AHA Joe, it’s very profound.
One of my first insights when I came into spirituality was that I could see everyone telling me to get into the driving seat, but my own innate wisdom was telling me it’s time to stay in the passenger seat and this time let God do the driving, which for me meant going from straight from ‘victim’ to surrender – and it’s taken me 2 years to learn how to do that fully in every area of my life, whilst at the same time discerning and disconnecting from the ‘empowerment’ stage which most people seem to be teaching these days. Every time I found myself in ‘empowerment’, everything became a struggle and hard work – and more and more I was shifting over to surrender, or helplessness as you called it, the more flow came into my life and the more syncronicity started to show up. I’ve got a sketch I did on this, I might scan it and stick it on my blog.
Thanks for sharing Joe, very inspiring.
Love & Light
Back in the day. I gave away everything we owned and asked the universe to prove to me that my instinct was correct. That the universe would take care of me more than a hundred percent if I followed the synchronicity and believed whole heartedly in the one. The love. The light. I wrote it down.And published it as my book Dreams of Grandeur. New relationships, endeavors and life creation keeps me on my toes. Dancing and writing truth. Thank you for the refection. And going out of your way to prove it.
Love and light all around everyone !! darkness and light in a dance as the otters. XO PS No More War 17 weeks at #1
Wonderful Joe !!!! It’s amazing when we start paying attention…. and witnessing our thoughts… it is totally laughable.. what endless thoughts are constantly going through our heads…and when we really pay attention to what we are doing in the moment…and be really present… Yes for me it’s total AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!! love you xxx Meredith
Hi Joe,
That came just when I drew the angel card “surrender” and felt so helpless, to make my life work.
Dearest Joe! I’m in the middle of teaching an awakening course this weekend and my peeps are being initiated today. I am going to read this to my ladies– so. love. it. all. around.
Mwah to India and to you!
love love + some more love, mags
Hi Mags! Aloha from India! What great timing, say hello to them for me! ;)
Love & Hugs to you!!!
Hi Susana! Its amazing how wonderful helplessness feels, particularly after decades of trying to ‘fix’ the mind! :)
Hi Meredith! I am finding that surrendering to the inevitable comments of the mind allows me to also love and appreciate it, amidst my laughter at its absurdity! ;)
xoxoxo
17 weeks and counting! Way to go Heidi! Here’s to our total surrender to the grace of the only One who truly knows what right action is! Love and blessings to you! :)
Hi Becky!
The West has taught us to be so interventive, so ‘in charge’… just more arrogance of the mind, more hard work and effort…. I am loving effortlessness! Blessings to you! :)