In time, when the yogi’s practice of meditation matures, he begins to experience unmilana-samadhi, open-eyed absorption. In other words, from the state of nimilana samadhi, he opens his eyes and his awareness remains absorbed in the Self even though he is in the state that comes after meditation (vyutthana) with his senses fully operating. The term vyutthana means ‘to rise’ or ‘to wake up,’ which I like to think means that, in the most expansive expression of waking consciousness, one has awakened to the perception of external objects bathed in the Great Light of Consciousness.
— Swami Shantananda, The Splendor of Recognition
I woke up thinking about how our personal and collective lives are almost always in the foreground of our experience. Most of our thoughts and actions are determined by what occupies the foreground of our lives.
Unless we cultivate a deeper perspective, no amount of attention to detail will bring the right proportions before our mind’s eye. No matter how noble our struggles to improve ourselves and the world, it is all a futile thrashing when we are not residents of the Heart.
The pull of absorption in the small self, the pallor of sleep, is so strong. To lay down for a moment may mean to sleep for aeons. I think of the many fairy tales that present the pitfall of sleep before us.
There is no hope without the grace that comes in moments of waking. One drop of dew on the grass in early morning can be our salvation. It can slake a thirst we scarcely know we have until that one droplet meets the eye, and takes hold of us in some profound and unexpected way.
I can only pray for the strength to rise to the challenge. To rise and partake of the elixir of early morning after a night of fitful sleep, to practice obedience to the great rhythm of the world, isn’t easy. The body aches, the mind drags down around the ears. Every cell screams for sweet, elusive rest.
I feel enchanted weaving
Of spirit within outer glory.
In dullness of the senses
It has enwrapt my being
In order to bestow the strength
Which in its narrow bounds my I
Is powerless to give itself.
— Rudolf Steiner
This morning the sun was out, veiled by clouds, but bright enough to cause the rain droplets on the flowers to glisten. I couldn’t wait to take photos, so I skipped my nature meditation and walked around the front yard taking photos before the clouds moved in.
I noticed that I shifted in and out of a state where I was aware of myself as part of the picture (no pun intended). When I was not aware of myself I was not witnessing my own actions. I would say this is a shifting in and out of the Witness state. I only knew I had been “asleep” after I woke up– just as when one wakes up from a dream.
An analogy is that of the clouds obscuring the sun, an opening in the clouds occurring, and then back to the veiled situation. There is a cycle of “waking” and “sleeping” that happens in our daily lives, perhaps more frequently when we meditate (participate in practices that still the mind). This experience gives me additional incentive to meditate, because being awake feels so much better. It feels like true freedom.
Artist unknown~
Shared with love Alyson x
(Artist: Tim Coffey , art in Inspirational Doodles)
– Dr. Jessamine Dana of the Woman and the Owl Project: Cultivating Women Spiritual Leaders
image of stones with kolam, South Indian domestic prosperity symbols drawn on them (traditionally with rice flour)
