“Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace. If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness you will know what His will is.” --Amy Carmichael
A famous Zen story tells of a monk whose temple is invaded by an enemy warrior. "Do you know that I have the power to kill you with this sword?" the warrior says. The monk replies, "Do you know that I have the power to let you?" Such a stillness of the mind is something that I experience most when I'm on the water. But the ability to empty my mind and settle into inwardness can also occur in a crowded room.
I think that I'm beginning to understand that love and trust pave the way to inner stillness. The placing of trust can be in something truly great such as a Higher Power or it can be in something limited such as my own mind or will. The latter will let me down every time.
The program teaches me to to surrender my will, check my ego, and be in touch with a power greater than myself.
Stillness is not something that I can will to happen. But I can be open to receive it. I think that I've been comfortable with the beauty of nature all my life. The moments of stillness that come closest to spirituality are those spent surrounded by the wonders of nature and an unspoiled landscape.
But I have also been part of a working life in which there is very little time to feel stillness. I haven't run to escape stillness but have not let it overtake me when there were things to do and life itself seemed to be in the way. I've been agitated to the point of exhaustion over the alcoholic, my ailing parents, job duties and countless other things that kept stillness at a distance.
Now I'm finding more times during the day when I can be open to the stillness within me. And by being receptive and quieting my thoughts, I am open to answers that come from within.
Beautifully said Syd! Sounds like you're discovering "the peace that transcends all understanding and guards your heart and mind..." I think this is what we all desire.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Laurie said. Stillness to me means peace and tranquility.
ReplyDeleteQuiet the mind
Joe
I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. You post some very inspiring items.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I would share that with you.
Lisa (Scott W's sister)
Whew!
ReplyDeleteThis seems like graduate level stuff.
i can attain stillness when i'm in nature, with animals, in quiet times. i've not mastered stillness when there's noise and busyness around me.
ReplyDeletenice post!
hmmm maybe I need some stillness. I can set that up.
ReplyDeleteI find real stillness so fleeting, I even bought a book recently about meditation which sounds a lot like your posting, the mind is like the ocean and thoughts are ripples on the surface.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of washing machine head syndrome, I am constantly thinking, my brain chrning over and over.
Serenity is what we seek isnt it in AA and Al-anon, though I dont know much about Al anon.
I guess it dont help when I have feelings for this girl in my AA group
I am finding stillness, silence through Centering Prayer and the more I practice it the more I am able to reach for it and find it in my daily life. Along side me while working, driving in frustrating traffic,and the like. I am learning that by practicing silence where I can watch thoughts go by without engaging in them I am consenting to the presence of God. And gradually he is becoming present for me in more than just the times I practice.
ReplyDelete