Practice Without Integration is a Waste
समावेश किये बिना ध्यान करना बेकार है- कृष्ण दास (१९ मार्च, २०१४)
मैं एक बार रोशी फिलिप कैपलो से मिला, जो "ज़ैन के तीन स्तम्भ" (The Three Pillars of Zen) के रचयिता थे। वो उन पहले पश्चिमवासियों में से एक थे जो जापान गये और जिन्होंने वहाँ गहन अभ्यास किया। वो बहुत उन्नत पार्किंसन रोग से पीड़ित थे और उन्हें बहुत शारीरिक परेशानी थी, और साथ ही इस बीमारी के कारण होने वाले अनैच्छिक ऐंठन से भी ग्रस्त थे। उनकी कही एक बात मैंने हमेशा याद रखी। जब दर्द से छटपटाते हुए वो वहाँ बैठे थे, उन्होंने मेरी ओर देखा और बहुत गम्भीरता से कहा," इससे कुछ फर्क नहीं पड़ता कि आप कितनी साधना करते हैं. अगर आप उस साधना को अपनी रोज़-मर्रा की ज़िंदगी में नहीं उतारते, तो वो सब बेकार है।" इस कथन की शक्ति उनके आत्म-बोध की गहराईयों और उनके पार्किंसन की बीमारी से हर दिन चल रहे संघर्ष से निकली थी, और वो सीधा मेरे मन में उतर गयी।
हमें हरदम भय के साथ नहीं रहना चाहिए। हमें हर समय खिन्न और अकेला महसूस करते हुए नहीं रहना चाहिए। हमारे जीवन के सभी सम्बन्धों में जो विशवासघात और पीड़ा के भाव हमने महसूस किये हैं, हमें उन्हें जकड़ कर नहीं रखना चाहिए। हम चाहे कितना भी ध्यान, कीर्तन, योगाभ्यास, या किसी भी किस्म की साधना करते हों, फिर भी अपने दैनिक जीवन में आने वाले डर, और पूरी दुनिया से अलग होने के अहसास को उखाड़ फेंकना बहुत मुश्किल है। लेकिन असली आध्यात्मिक ध्यान का नतीजा आखिर इस डर और अकेलेपन के भाव को कम करना ही होगा। अगर हम असल में गा रहे हैं या खुद को या किसी दूसरे को करुणा भरा (loving kindness), समर्पण कर रहे हैं, तो हम अपने बारे में राय नहीं बना रहे होंगे। ये वो क्षण हैं जब हम उन अनात्मबोधी प्रक्रियाओं (unconscious programs) से शक्ति खींच रहे हैं, जो हमारे दिमाग में हर वक्त चलती रहती हैं कि हम कितने छोटे हैं या कैसे हम प्यार और वातसल्य के लायक नहीं हैं।
हमारी रोज़-मर्रा की ज़िंदगी में बहुत-सी चिंताएं हैं, बहुत-सा तनाव। हम बहुत जल्दी चलते हैं और आम-तौर पर अपने दिन के अचेतन प्रवाह में खो जाते हैं। हम अपने बाहर की चीज़ों को नियंत्रित नहीं कर सकते। हम औरों को अपनी इच्छा के अनुसार नहीं चला सकते। हम खुद को भी उस तरह नहीं चला पाते, जैसे हम चलाना चाहते हैं! अच्छी बात यह है कि अयोग्यता की भावना, हमारा आत्म-निर्णय, बस बेकार है; ये वो नहीं है जो ह्म असल में हैं। चीज़ें आती-जाती रहती हैं। जो आता-जाता नहीं रहता वही बताता है कि हम असल में कौन हैं और क्या हैं। इसका अनुभव करने के लिए हमें आध्यात्मिक साधना की ज़रूरत है।
जब हम कोई साधना करते हैं और अपने अस्तित्व की सूक्ष्मता का अनुभव करने लगते हैं, तो हमें दिखाए देने लगता है कि लालची होना, भयभीत होना, ईर्ष्या रखना, क्रोध करना, दूसरों पर खुद को थोपना, और अपने रिश्तों में चालाकी दिखाना, असल में हमें दुःख देता है। जब हम इनमें से किसी उग्र स्थिति में फंसे हुए होते हैं - हममें से ज़यादातर लोगों ने सिर्फ यही जाना है - हम से ज़यादा कष्ट कौन पाता है? कोई नहीं। हम अपने भारीपन के बारे में सच्चाई महसूस कर सकते हैं और सोच सकते हैं कि हमारे दर्द का कारण कोई और है, लेकिन हम ही हैं जो इस आग में जल रहे हैं! ऐसे क्षणों में ध्यान करना बहुत मुश्किल है। उदाहरण के लिए, अगर मैं किसी बात पर बहुत नाराज़ हूँ, तो बैठ कर जाप करना बहुत मुश्किल है। जब तक मैं चीज़ों को छोड़ना और अपने ध्यान की तरफ फिर से बढ़ना शरू नहीं करता, कभी कभी मुझे कुछ समय के लिए जलना पड़ेगा।
- कृष्ण दास "ज़िंदगीभर का जाप" (Chants of a Lifetime) से कुछ अंश
विचार के लिए कुछ मूल प्रश्न: आप अपनी ध्यान साधना का अपने रोज़-मर्रा के जीवन में समावेश कैसे करते हैं? क्या आप ऐसे समावेश के बारे में अपना कोई व्यक्तिगत अनुभव बांटना चाहेंगे? जो कुछ इस समावेश के रास्ते में आ रहा है, आप उसको कैसे छोड़ पाते हैं?
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you integrate your practice into your daily life? Can you share a personal story of such an integration? How do you let go of what's stopping your integration?
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30 Past Reflections
On Mar 25, 2014 Erica Eden wrote :
Most nights I sit in bed and meditate for up to 45 minutes. I see the thoughts fade to the background of consciousness. Then I drift off somewhere for the sit's duration. Some nights, too tired to sit up I prop pillows to elevate my head, start the chime, and begin to meditate, and eventually drift into a calm deep sleep. I trust that the beginning chime and the ending chime marking the usual period of time I sit, have become a signal, even though I am sleeping for the last chime, that I have integrated whatever is necessary to continue the process. No forcing, just allowing what is needed to move forward. Gentle, sweet. Grateful for the Dharma.
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On Mar 19, 2014 Ganoba wrote :
Practice is action, not intellectual discussion of a topic. For practice to lead to learning it needs to be experimental. In experimental practice we are not looking for a definite outcome. Observation/mindfulness is an essential part of experimentation, observing what is being done and the consequences there of both within us and outside. This needs to be done playfully. We need to do it in different settings. This allows the learning to go beyond a fixed space-time box and becomes universally applicable. This also allows it to get integrated and internalized. Subsequent action would then become automatic not a matter of cultural choice making.
This how I practice and it has carried me forward on the spiritual path smoothly.
1 reply: Me | Post Your Reply
On Mar 19, 2014 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
I learned spiritual practice by experiencing spiritual values such as love, compassion, truthfulness, service and kindness. The foundation of spiritual learning was constructed in my childhood. It is like planting the seeds and slowly growing and blooming. To me it is an ongoing process. It is a way of living. I am not perfect and there are times when I deviate from this path. With mindfulness, I come back and contnue my journey. Meditation, following my bliss and serving and helping others with love and gratefulness fills the cup of my life.
Namaste.
Jagdish P Dave
1 reply: Jo | Post Your Reply
On Mar 19, 2014 lakshmi wrote :
The last activity of mine before going to sleep is to meditate. The days events and actions makes my mind restless and body tired. So the meditation helps. I just sit and put my mind inside my body, it travels and points out various places of aches and pain. I start with breathing without watching. Slowly i begin with mind in and mind out breathing. Then the mind settles below the navel. The conscious stomach breathing helps. After five minutes, I can feel the mind calmer and body relaxed. I practice for 20 minutes and then go to sleep. This integrates my body and mind. We cannot change people nor can we accept all the bad vibes thrown at us. But we can certainly eliminate those negative feeling by integrating mind and body and throw out the negatives. After practice I find that my reaction to people's meanness has lessened. Good sleep and energetic awakening in the morning. I'm neither the victim nor the victor. I'm the whole 'ME'!
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On Mar 18, 2014 Deb Hill wrote :
Everyday I practice meditation - usually Dr. Joe Dispenza's meditations on re-wiring my brain from living in survival to living as creator of my experience. I practice being in the now over and over everyday because I go into unconciousness over and over everyday. I practice radical forgiveness of myself and others by realizing there is nothing to forgive because nothing happened. I ask God to help me truly see when I am playing the victim role so I can chose something different. I practice joy by making my face smile when no other part of me is wanting to do that. I practice being the watcher of my wide-range of situations and experiences but not getting completely caught up in the illusion. All of this is "practice". I do not claim to have mastered any of it. As someone once said "I haven't arrived but I have left".
1 reply: Me | Post Your Reply
On Mar 18, 2014 kunta wrote :
One can forgive but not forget. Every reminder of the past occurrence re-ignites the pain. One loses the trust. That is the time to guide your mind to positive thinking and be peaceful. Fearlessness and love towards the deliverers of tsunami towards your sensitivity, ego and your physical body, will build dams strong and high enough to withstand the force of destruction of your well being.
2 replies: Amy, Christina | Post Your Reply
On Mar 18, 2014 Pius wrote :
Every religion practises fasting some time or other. Why do we fast? So that when life comes up with situations where I have to let go, I will be more prepared to do so. It is like in a drama. We practise and practise so that we will do well in the final performance. Practice flows into life. From life we get inspiration and energy to practise more.
1 reply: :) | Post Your Reply
On Mar 18, 2014 Naomi wrote :
I try to remember to repeat:
Thank you for each miraculous moment and the Love, Joy and Appreciation that I am...you are...And the World Is!
1 reply: A | Post Your Reply
On Mar 18, 2014 Pauli wrote :
2 replies: Christina, Me | Post Your Reply
On Mar 18, 2014 Jitu wrote :
It is so true. It reminds me of my early thoughts as a child about what religious was being preached and practiced around me. I have tried to practice, but it is hard. Our habitual patterns get in the way. It is a very good reminder and time to refocus back. Thanks.
1 reply: Christina | Post Your Reply
On Mar 18, 2014 Shirley A. wrote :
This particular piece was most helpful to me today. I have to remind myself of this so often.
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On Mar 18, 2014 Christina Thomas-Fraser wrote :
Acknowledging and experiencing my fear, anger, upset, etc., and "owning" these (accepting that they belong to me) and breathing will help to dilute and dissipate them. Just as good health returns after one vomits toxic contents from the stomach, the sunshine of our true spiritual nature can shine through when toxic emotions are safely experienced and emptied. Pretending that these do not exist means I will tend to project them onto other persons and events and will stay stuck. Such pretense gives rise to self-righteousness and other egoistic inflations. Having the intention and willingness to do my best to serve the divine and the highest good and accepting that I essentially am just an ordinary human being and forgiving myself and everyone else for mistakes goes a long way toward helping me to be loving in each new moment.
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On Mar 18, 2014 Mish wrote :
Try to stay centered in love/light as much as possible....life is so beautiful when I am "there"....for me & everyone around me. When I get "off-track", bring myself back to center as quickly as I can. Forgive myself :)). Constant awareness/observation/practice.......
1 reply: Jo | Post Your Reply
On Mar 18, 2014 Abhishek Thakore wrote :
To me, any practice that goes deep enough to change our being will necessarily percolate into other areas of our life.
A student practicing Kung-Fu every day gets attacked suddenly - instinctively the defense response will be kung-fu based. Because the practice changes the being.
Practice therefore is a deliberate, concentrated act that eventually becomes habitual, however gradually. Moroever, even the ACT of practice (irrespective of the practice) - the honoring of the practice has its own power.
In my own life, I have seen practices becomes imbibed.
The only caution is when practice comes from a space of looking good / showing to others (or self) that Hey I am practicing! This could be a time when integration doesn't happen because in our heads its actually a performance rather than a practice (I meditate an hour every day = I am cool).
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On Mar 17, 2014 rajnikant wrote :
What I have learned from the Holistic Scientist which is helping me in my daily life is "If we will observe, the first effect starts within oneself. Apart from bad feelings for others, one’s happiness inside is disturbed. When we say words that hurt, give bad opinion, or have a clash with someone, we always get disturbed first.”. That is why Adjust everywhere is a good mantra with the understanding that world is an echo of your past and you are wholly responsible for what is happening. Other people are just messangers. What goes around comes around.
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On Mar 16, 2014 david doane wrote :
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On Mar 14, 2014 Conrad P Pritscher wrote :
My sense is burning for a while is practice. Letting go is practice and returning to one's practice is practice. When one is mindful in the present moment, one is practicing. I do not know how I integrate my practice into my daily life and I do not know what is stopping my integration. Most of what I do and say is unconscious.. Accepting my not knowing and accepting my my present state of unconsciousness helps me be more conscious. Thanks for the opportunity to respond. Wisarm and kind regards to everyone.