Key 2 - Allow Being to Be
copyright © john lamb 2019
“Be-ing is divine essence; you are that infinitude”- Gururaj
The mind tells us everything we’re involved in is personal, e.g. “I matter, I suffer”, etc. The mind concentrates on ‘me and mine’ for its (invisible, unlocatable) existence. Lamentably, this imagination is a barrier to experiencing how whole truth is formed, like a thick veil over what actually is.
Despite this quandary, by correctly applying meditation we are on the case! The mind can be quelled so as to become a malleable servant rather than a threatening imposter - and that’s when life leaps into new joyfulness, retrenching suffering as joy broadens.
Let’s have a look at other typical thoughts on which the mind subsists, when it rejects our self-reliant position in evolution: ‘I need things / desire things, to keep me from loneliness / unhappiness / unfairness / wearing myself out / boredom; I need comfort, loving spouse, holidays, nights out, intoxication,’ etc. etc. ….. All this centres around the matrix professing it has to solve another matrix-puzzle, which is our space-time model that doesn’t exist either. The impressions we carry forward are what evolves into countless more puzzles until we declare, “enough!”
We use space-time to project forwards and backwards and formulate lots of scare stories because we developed a memory storage within the mind’s matrix. The graphic, for simplicity in following this line of investigation, is shown in Appendix 1.
During meditation we get away, to some extent, from all this quasi-truth; nay, downright lies. But we sometimes encounter a stalemate predicament while we continue to imagine a ‘me’ is sitting here trying to get somewhere else, albeit the somewhere else is a projected state of peace & contentment. This impasse may or may not be clear because it’s often unrecognisable subconscious thought.
On this point, remember that in meditation we are simply taking a rest from thinking. More accurately, we are putting thoughts in a less oppressive position. We shouldn’t be trying to enter some state of euphoria. Meditation trains us how to deal with thoughts, which are almost 100% present.
That mind is darned tricky, isn’t it? If you have an ongoing problem with your mind winning the battle (in meditation) don’t accept the advice to just press on regardless, based on the theory that everything will automatically come right eventually! To me, that’s not good enough. I advise adjusting one’s approach and one’s outlook as often as necessary until clarity is achieved.
Now comes a practical resolution for this dilemma. Instead of doing meditation, try watching meditation. Watching the process takes you out of the equation, I have found to my delight. How can this be done? By allowing being to be.
The question undoubtedly arises, “How do we do this?”
First, a few words about our pure consciousness. Our true nature is being. We rediscover being indisputably when pure consciousness is glimpsed. Glimpsing pure consciousness is a useful goal because it clarifies the meaning of life instantly. Moreover, one glimpse instantly simplifies our grasp of the teachings we’ve explored through meditation, mindfulness, absoluteness and all the associated supplementary spiritual practices.
But, although realisation of the Real-Self is the goal, we don’t have to be intensely concerned with it. Being will reveal itself. We can’t do or seek this revelation we often crave because doing and seeking involves using the mind, which will never understand being. ‘Allowing being to be’ solves the problem of not being able to find what we’re seeking by effectively putting the mind aside.
ALLOWING BEING TO BE during meditation:
The prior application for this technique is in meditation. Using it in meditation can also spur on its use in the waking state, as with other mollifying modus operandi. You don’t need to give up any other meditation you prefer. Just do this some of the time or maybe for a short time while settling into meditation or in the middle of it. It’s for everyone; possibly more for established meditators - albeit there are some newbies out there who get a lot of stillness from day one. [On this point, there is frequently lots of stillness on day one; it’s the weeks and months that follow that provide tests in this regard].
‘Allow being to be’ is a thought - to be repeated silently, clear-cut at first and then vaguely, as an affirmation (see Key 5) or a mantra. Being is all that is, although it’s not an ‘everything’ the mind would construct. Being just IS. It’s our total consciousness. Issuing an instruction like this is a subtle way of telling the mind to shut up - and just let everything BE.
Somehow, this single viable procedure is proficient in getting the mind to lie down quietly like an obedient pet. This is certainly agreed by most folk I know who’ve used it. The mind seems to say, “OK on this one, I don’t need to be there, I’ll wait.” I think it works because we divert attention away from our little self without threatening it.
I spent decades refining this practice for myself, simple as it is. It may be elsewhere in a book or instruction pamphlet but I’ve not come across it. I wouldn’t be surprised if monks use it in some form or another. I tried many things from a basis of sheer logic (oops – using the wrong side of the brain again) and this one I’ve found immensely successful.
You might want to try a slight variation on the words, like, “I allow being to be.” Or, maybe, “All is O.K. as it is” Or, any other variation that gives our true Self the respect we have for IT being there, acknowledging its pre-eminence. I tried “Be as you will”, as well as other variations. I eventually settled on “Being IS.” This could change of course.
The obedient mind doesn’t stay still very long, as we meditators know only too well. But with repeated use, in meditation sessions, I have found a remarkable level of stillness simply acknowledging being as the primary presence.
Also, try it out if ever you get bored in a meditation, or think, “What’s the point in all this?” Yes, this happens, even to the most seasoned meditators!
Allowing being to be can also be a mighty weapon at one’s side, not just during meditation but in all sorts of struggles, particularly if they involve a mind-battle against the flow of life as it is. Personal problems can be sorted out with effort applied in practical ways but refusing to cooperate with truth is a recipe for dissatisfaction.
I unequivocally advise; if you only remember one fact in this book, make it allow being to be.
Click below for the other Keys: