Stringing It All Together

I've had an echo of the dream I described in my earlier post, Special Green Plates, where I was having a meal in the open air, surrounded by people and feeling inexplicably happy. But on this occasion, it happened while I was awake.

We were out at the theatre, having a drink before the start of the play. As I sat there, I allowed my thoughts to drop away and focussed on being there now, in the present moment, paying attention to what was going on around me instead of to my own internal mutterings. I made the connection I talked about in the previous post Feeling What Is, tuning into the peace and subtle energy which are always there in the present moment if we give ourselves chance to feel them.

All too often, a connection like this is very brief. A turn of the head is enough to break the spell. But on this occasion, the feeling lingered. As I looked around at the crowds that were gathering before the play, the peace remained and the feeling of joy that I'd felt in the dream returned.

It is probably worth mentioning here that the drink we were having before the play was tea, rather than anything stronger, but there was something else about the evening which might also have helped me to have the experience I did. The play we were going to see was The Wizard Of Oz - and tonight it was dress-up night.

All around, there were witches, lions, tin men - and the occasional little girl with a dog in a basket. Everywhere we looked, there were excited children. The scene could not have been better prepared for a magical experience. Everything seemed to sparkle. Even as we finished our drinks and made our way into the theatre itself, I was feeling echoes of the joy I'd felt in that dream all those years ago.

This is usually the difficult part - at least for me!- carrying the peace of the present moment with us as we move around and interact with others, for all too often the events of the world tend to chase it away. Yet here I was doing just that, as I believe I did in the dream, aware of what was real from one moment to the next, carrying that awareness with me and stringing the moments of peace together - like precious stones on a necklace.

I believe that your comments on the dream I described in Special Green Plates may also have helped to trigger this experience. It was intriguing - and indeed inspiring! - to learn that so many of you have had similar experiences, whether asleep or awake, and perhaps your responses helped to reinforce the idea that such a thing was possible. It doesn't help to anticipate such experiences, for this seems to chase them away, yet what they are about is knowing - and experiencing - what is real. Some would say that we live in a shared illusion, caught up in our artificial world of thought. Perhaps to share time - or even blog space! - in the company of others who share an alternative vision can help to bring what is real into focus and dissolve away the veil which can keep it concealed.

Eckhart Tolle's books The Power Of Now and the condensed version Practising The Power Of Now are the best guides I know to experiencing the present moment. And if you click here, you can take a look at The Secret Of Life reader Sally's site, which lists details of local Eckhart Tolle groups in the UK, where you can experience the present moment in the company of others. For Eckhart Tolle groups worldwide, click here.

 

This may also be of interest:

Special Green Plates

Comments

[Andy]

In my experience we maintain a great deal of habitual behaviour (built upon mistaken/misguided beliefs) to take us away from what is often termed as 'a state of presence'. As we drop these habits this state becomes more frequent and occurs for longer periods. Identifying and dissolving these habits (which we either do not see or use much energy justifying) seems to be a large part of the process - and how to do this without going out of the moment is quite an art.

You also neglected to mention what you were dressed as?! I'll hazard a guess at The Tin Man?

[Simon]

At least you didn't suggest the scarecrow, Andy! As it happens, the dressing up wasn't compulsory, so I went as myself. But it's interesting to think which character would be appropriate for those on a quest for self knowledge. I can understand why you suggested the tin man. If we grow to understand that everyone and everything is connected, then a new heart will grow to encompass our fellow creatures. But I think that for me, the lion might be more appropriate. I often lack the courage to do what I think I can because I am caught up in my ego's fears of inadequacy and failure. I'd like to leave those behind! But, of course, I can do it all right here in Kansas...

I wonder which habits you are thinking of that need to be dissolved? Getting caught up in emotions can certainly get in the way - as Nick Roach suggests - but the constant need to think is also a problem. So many of us seem to be hooked on mental chatter - it's like needing a TV or a radio on in the background all the time. I got agreement from my mind last week to start shutting up, but it seems to have reneged on its promise already.

[Mark]

Simon,
Thank-you for sharing these special blessed moments of being able to string together moments of peace while awake and interacting with others. I too am working towards finding moments to cease the inner chatter, put the ego aside and just "be".

[Simon]

Thanks Mark and good luck! A large part of the challenge with me is convincing my brain that I don't *need* it to entertain me all the time with its constant chatter. After all I don't need the TV on in the background all the time, so why should I need my brain?

[DotMySpot]

Hiye, just stopping by from blogexplosion :D howdoyoudo?

[Andy]

Hi Simon,

The tin man just sprung to mind. Considering it more I feel you would consider the scarecrow and lion costumes to be impractical (lets leave Dorothy out of the equation).

Its funny that you mention the TV and radio. I was raised to have one (or both) of them on in the background and never questioned this until a couple of years ago. Strangely (perhaps) when I visit my family these days they always switch such things off without any prompting.

It can be quite usefull to realise such habits on an individual basis. To name a few: fidgeting, preening gestures, face pulling (e.g. doing a 'I'm thinking' expresion when someone asks a question), talking (and thinking)about the past, not taking responsibility and thinking rather than taking action. The impact of reducing any of these is suprisingly large.

[Simon]

Hi Dot - Dobedobedo to you!

Andy - This is fascinating. I hadn't thought of stopping fidgeting as a spiritual practice (though I think my primary school teachers might have agreed). I suppose it's doing anything to break with the old program, is it?

[Andy]

Fidgiting is indeed an interesting one - how many times were we told by our school teachers or parents to 'Sit Still'.

I suggest (as with all behaviours) you look for when other people do it - catching yourself is usually more difficult but generally comes as you become more concious of it in others.

[Marion]

Thank you for describing those moments of peace so wonderfully...I try and try to describe the feeling, and yet fall short...

The world is indeed a luminous place, when those moments, and sometimes hours, happen!

[Simon]

As it happens, I think your writing is wonderful, Marion. I shall put in a link to your blog.

Thanks so much for your comment. I very much hope that the world will become such a luminous place for us all...