Saturday 1 June 2013

Stillness of the Sky

This happened a few months ago...
“Do you know? Today is the 'International Look at the Sky Day'!” We were in a beautiful park, having had our lunch together and just relaxing after days and days of intense study and activity. How wonderful that we can actually now look at the vast, blue, empty sky and what a gift, there were no clouds, just the bright blue expanse and the glorious sun!
So we lay down in a circle and looked up at the sky...
First of all, it was not easy to just watch the empty sky. We wanted movement, activity. We looked for birds, maybe
an aeroplane will come by? We drew respite from the branches of the tree that provided us shade and some activity to be engaged in...
And can you imagine how many things got projected on to this screen? Thoughts, images, ideas, past memories of similar experience and of course, from time to time, a glimpse of the background - the vast empty sky.
How long we lay there? Sleepy after a good lunch and reluctantly breaking out of the reverie, we sat up to share our experience.
As much as we are caught up with the problems of the ever changing reality of our life and seeking desperately to be free of this constant chaos, just being with stillness seems to be such a big challenge - as experienced by this short “watching the sky” practice. The mind was looking for something to get occupied with or was drifting off into sleep. But just to be awake and alert and simply observe and not “do” anything with this mind seems to be such a big challenge!
Why are we so uncomfortable with stillness?
Why do we take refuge in “doing” something with this mind all the time until it is exhausted and ready to give up everything and shut down? Or most often operate from a semi-awake-sleep mode on an auto-pilot driven by its conditioning?
Sankhya and Yoga explain this as the action of the Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. When Sattva dominates, the mind is capable of stillness and clarity, Rajas is responsible for all movement and change, Tamas clouds the mind, makes it more and more indulgent and puts it to sleep. And because the Gunas are constantly alternating, there is very little scope for sustaining Sattva for too long. But there is hope because the mind can be trained to nurture the quality of Sattva.
It will require
  1. Reducing the quality of Tamas in the wakeful state by appropriate food and life style habits.
  2. Controlling the Rajas by disciplined activity and focused engagement.
  3. Enhance Sattva by practices that will strengthen the stillness and clarity of mind.
Through asana, pranayama and pratyahara, with the help of the Yama-Niyama, we primarily try to control Rajas and reduce Tamas. This followed by deeper meditative practices that allow Sattva to surface and establish itself.
Why stillness? What is the purpose of moving beyond the chaotic, conditioned mind?
Like a clear sheet of water or mirror, this stillness reflects the reality of the moment to us without any distortions. We see and understand everything better, we are able to engage in deeper inquiry without getting caught up with the stories of the mind. We are capable of better actions and being the best person we can be.
So, instead of trying to control the mind, judging it, blaming and getting more and more frustrated with its behaviour, can we choose to step beyond all this chaos into the space of silent watching?  
Spending a few minutes everyday in this space of stillness so that we can connect with that unchanging aspect of our self is a very important practice for the mind to be engaged with. It nourishes the mind that is usually fed by it conditioned attachment to rapidly changing realities of life. Perhaps when the mind is nurtured with sensitivity, like the way we take care of our physical body with food, clothing and other material comforts, it has the potential to behave differently.  
The mind draws its nourishment and strength from this experience of stillness and begins to offer us a glimpse of what its true potentials are... capable of reflecting realities with less distortion, offering choices that did not exist for us before, observing a situation or person with less judgement, abiding in peace and joy.
This is what we are capable of, every human being. The potential remains hidden, waiting to be explored...
By the way, the “International Look at the Sky Day” was April 12, and we don't have to wait for another 10 months to do it again! Now is good time. If you don't have access to the sky outside, what about the one within?
Have an expansive, joyful month ahead...

Saras