Nameless

The last few posts have dealt with the possible links between science and spirituality. I'm intending to return to that subject soon, but just for now - by way of a change - I'd like to suggest some things you can do to connect with the source of energy which we've been talking about.

I've already mentioned Eckhart Tolle's books, which provide some practical suggestions for making this connection. I particularly recommend Practising The Power Of Now, though if you'd like to know more about his underlying ideas, then you might prefer the longer The Power Of Now. There are some links to various Eckhart Tolle resources in the sidebar.

The next "teacher" I'm going to talk about is Nick Roach, who has a similarly straightforward approach to that of Tolle. But first, I'd like to share with you something I tried myself the other day...

I was in a conversation over at Forgetful God's blog and I brought away the idea of dropping my preconceptions about things, of looking at things as they really are without the labels we normally place upon them. I must admit that this sounded a bit too wacky to me at first, but I had to make a half hour bus journey, so I decided to put away my mp3 player and stare out of the window and give it a try instead. I was out in the country so I could choose to focus on either a sheep or a tree. I chose the tree.

I stared at the thing, thinking "that's a tree" (as you do) and then slowly allowed the label to dissolve away in my mind, so I was looking at it as a tiny child must do, without putting a name to it. I could go on and describe what happened next but I don't think I'll do that for now. Instead, I invite you to try the same thing yourself and then let me know what - if anything - happens. What did you experience?

You don't have to try it out on a tree, though I think that's a good subject. You might prefer a sheep instead, or it could be anything. Just look at it and allow its name - the label we have given it - to dissolve away in your mind. Then see what you see.

 

This may also be of interest:

Taking The Lid Off

Comments

[Sally]

Yes Simon to look at a tree without naming it as "tree" is a very powerful practice which enables you to look beyond the mind based thoughts around it and really see the essence of the tree.
That is a great starting point..... to go out into nature and perceive without labelling.
From there could we not begin to look at a fellow human being in that same way? (although I admit it is not as easy as with a tree) To just look without labelling that person with our preconceptions and ideas. These ideas are generally based on past experiences and have no place in the here and now.
This is true presence in action and out of that arises an acceptance and compassion which is way beyond the mind's limited comprehension.

[Forgetful God]

Well said Sally! I think that abandoning our ideas of "other people" seems harder to us because it strikes a little closer to home...it means we have to abandon our labels for ourselves as well. This is what it all boils down to...letting go (of everything...especially our ideas.)

I think the most important part of practicing this "lack of perception" is not beating yourself up for slipping back into old habits...baby steps...first the tree, then the "world", then people, cats, dogs...eventually it all leads back to the self. When we can abandon our ideas of "love", "hate", and so on...that's when the fun begins. In the end, it is all just "experience" and "perception"...variations of the same thing in an infinite amount of ways...but still the same thing.

Thanks for the smile,

A Forgetful God

[Sally]

I do agree baby steps indeed as you say. Its so important not to beat yourself up when you don't succeed, just noticing the old patterns is enough.. in fact that shows us our progress if we don't let the mind get in there. If the mind steps in our "Spirituality" is in danger of becoming just another stick to beat ourselves up with!
My practice is to meet each person as if it was for the first time (especially those I have previously found a bit of a challenge)as I find it loses the replaying of old conversations by the mind.
Then acceptance is the key.
I do agree that abandoning our labelling of "others" does in fact bring us back to having to abandon all of our ideas about "our selves" That is where the fun start!
My motto these days is not to take my self too seriously. Keep the light in Enlightenment eh?
Sally

[Secret Simon]

The idea of greeting fellow humans in a non-labeling way is a wonderful idea - though I think it's rather more difficult than doing it with a tree! Especially - as you say, Sally - when it's someone you have previously found challenging. Very liberating, though, if you can manage it. After all, any *stuff* we have with them is much more of a burden for us than it is for them. Why keep carrying it around?

I keep getting a difficult thought coming up about this, though, and I wonder if anyone could comment on it? If I treat someone as though I am meeting them for the first time, even though I perceive that they have treated me "badly" in the past, am I sending them the wrong signals? Am I saying it is OK to use me as a doormat? And is that encouraging them to do the same to me again - or to somebody else?

[Andy]

Hi Simon,
In my experience it is when you stop creating and carrying round this 'stuff' that others lose their ability to use you as a doormat.

Of course its quite a change in our perceptions to see that we are creating the problems ourselves and been able to see this requires a great deal of honesty.

In practical terms practice feeling inside (remember to do so when interacting with others) to what is going on there. You may notice discomfort with regard to certain subjects or certain people and you must enquire, with the utmost honesty, as to why that discomfort is there. With diligent practice you realise at ever deepening levels that the cause and cure lies within yourself.

[The Artist]

Great tree exercise, must give it a try.

Sally in regard to people who have treated you badly. My experience is you can negate such actions by responding with the strength of kindness.

[Sally]

Well said Andy .....when you really look within you do see that the cause and the cure does lie within you. I find that when I meet people who could be described as "irritating".....I really look within and see that nobody actually can be irritating.....it is purely my perception...based on my "stuff". After all other people may think that person is great!
I also feel that what you give out you get back and so it is unlikely that you would be treated as a doormat....your non reactivity has a drip effect on people.When you no longer act from the old conditioning and them pushing all the old buttons no longer works, things begin to change. Try it ....it could take some time but its a fascinating experience!

[Sandy]

I like this post. I'm just back from a Zen Buddhist retreat, where abandoning labels and preconceptions is key. We even left our names at the door and lived in silence for the weekend. Never felt so meaningfully involved with people. Those labels are lethal, though. They all come down to right and wrong, and that's always divisive, painful, and destructive.

[Secret Simon]

The Artist - Do let us know how you get on if you try the exercise!

Sandy - That retreat sounds great.

Andy & Sally. Thanks very much for your words but we seem to have hit a real sticking point for me here, so I may as well say what's on my mind. I fully accept that if I get irritated by another person then it's down to me, because anything I suffer as a result is really caused by my own reaction, which I have it within my power to control. This is something I know I can address - indeed Nick Roach provides an excellent technique for doing so, which I'd like to discuss in a main post shortly.

However, to then go back and deal with that person as though nothing at all has ever been wrong is not something I seem to have the will to do at the moment. To sit down with them and talk things through, see each other's point of view and come to some sort of understanding, yes, I can handle that. Great! - though people rarely seem to want to look at themselves enough to make that possible. But just to wipe the slate clean and pretend that nothing has happened, I don't see why I *should* do that.

Though I accept that what we give out we get back in a global (or universal) sense, my experience suggests that this doesn't necessarily happen with each individual relationship. It is possible to give a lot to someone over a long period of time, only to be treated like sh*t in return. In such an instance, how does it serve anyone - least of all the other person - to give them the green light to behave the same way again in the future?

Like I say, this is obviously a sticking point for me, and I'm kind of surprised at how strongly I feel. Anything anyone can say to move me on will be appreciated!

[Andy]

Hi Simon,
You are looking deeply at this (and therefore yourself) in an increasingly concious and honest manner. You obviously feel that you should have this out with this person. You've been watching conciously the effect of not having it out so if you choose to confront them then watch that conciously also. It is in this manner that we learn about ourselves - by observing ourselves at all times.

When you know more about yourself then you simply cease to build up anything on the slate to wipe clean. But in the mean time let go of this concept (as experience will show you this -intellectual graspings really are optional) and simply watch what is happening whatever action you do take.

[Sally]

I have to say I agree with Andy again here. I would say you need to realise that this experience is unpleasant only for you ....the other person is generally oblivious to how they make you feel. So if you drop your reactivity you drop the pain. Sh*t is only important if you accept it. At the end of the day it is your peace of mind that is the only thing that matters.....to you ....be true to you always.
Let go of resistance and see that it is the Ego needing to defend itself that causes the problem.
I did say it is a drip effect and it takes time for our lack of reactivity to have any impact on others. Stay with it Simon cos even if it doesn't change that is not your failure at all .....just that the other person is so unconcious that they are not ready for a change.
Letting go is a huge step ...but it does work.
I care less and less what people think of me as I speak my truth more openly.
My best
Sally

[Amit]

Hi there,

This reminds me of an experiment I also did a while back which was to see the spirit of all human beings. So instead of seeing just the physical, I focused on the ultimate spirit that is human beings. I focused on the soul, remembering that every individual that I encountered was I and I was them. I had some extraordinary results, Random people smiling at me on the street or coming up to me and talking to me, it was a true testament for me of the power of consciousness, not only on me, but how it permeated my surroundings too!

Amit

[Andy]

I was reminded of something Vernon Howard said:

"Every event presented to you by life is pure in itself. It appears distorted only when personalized thought leaps in to declare 'I like' or 'I dislike.' In this conditionwe do not see the event as it is, but according to our experiences and acquired preferences. Two men can look at the same woman with opposite reactions. One of them, hoping to meet her, sees a charming girl before him. The other man, who has been hurt by her, looks bitterly at a deceitful woman whose surface charm can drop like a brick.
Not seeing her impersonally, both men are slaves to their own reactions. The first man is enslaved by impulsive desire, while the other man is chained by resentment.

A conscious man sees everything with unclouded vision. This is possible because mental clarity contains no self-reference. The false self is absent, leaving only pure perception. A conscious man is aware of human deceit, but is unharmed by it because his psychic system resides on a higher level than the deceit.

We can live under events or above them, depending upon our cosmic level."

[Sunflower Optimism]

Well, Simon, I have tried your little experiment of letting the label of "tree" melt away. I find that I am paying more attention to the detail of the tree. The color and texture of the bark; the lichen on the trunk, the shape of the trunk and the burst of branches.

I have to admit that during this time of the year I have not been able to sit and stare at a tree for a full half hour or more. So I am not sure if my noticing the detail is due to not using the tree label - or if the removal of the label in my mind has forced my mind to find other ways to categorize the tree. I know that is how my mind, trained in engineering, tends to operate - I categorize, find patterns, compare, etc.

I will try this again after the holidays and see if there is a different result for me. Rest of discussion has also been interesting - need some time to mull it over - and now is not the time!

[Secret Simon]

Welcome Amit! Many thanks for your comment. Yes - remembering that the other people we come across are us and we them is another remarkably powerful technique, though I find that I am only able to do it for short periods of time before my ego kicks in and starts telling me that other people will think I'm some kind of freak for smiling at them all the time! So I lose my grasp on reality and I'm back in the illusion again. Isn't it ridiculous to let bliss slip through my fingers like that? At least I *know* it's ridiculous, and self-awareness is the first step towards change.

Of course, as we've been discussing, I find it much easier to meet strangers in such an open and innocent way than I do some of the people I've previously met. Thank for your latest advice on this, Andy and Sally. I shall have to allow it to simmer and see what happens!

Sunflower - it's great that you tried the exercise! Yes - it may be that your mind was searching around for other categories since 'tree' had been taken away - though it also seems to me that in dropping the tree's label, you opened yourself up to experience more about it. I guess the important thing is not to judge whatever experience we have and simply let it be. We all tend to have different reactions to exercises like this and I guess we just have to be open to whatever happens. I'll report back my own experience of 'the tree thing' in the next main post.

[Secret Simon]

Oh and Sunflower, please don't get yourself cold sitting outside and staring at trees! You can try the unlabelling exercise with things you that find indoors as well. Choose anything you like - it doesn't have to be a tree. Thanks for sharing your experience by the way...

[Sunflower Optimism]

LOL, not to worry, Simon. I thought that if you were able to watch trees from the warmth of a bus, it would be ok to stare at a tree through my kitchen's picture window which overlooks the backyard and woods.

There is a lot going on with this and your later posts - unfortunately, Christmas crunch time and husband's birthday on Sunday are getting in the way of a "proper analysis." I will get back to this, eventually, I promise! I really enjoy all the opinions here.

[Secret Simon]

It sounds like you're getting your blog-life balance right, Sunflower. My wife isn't sure that I am!