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Mind-Body
Numerous recent scientific studies have confirmed the connection between a positive mental attitude and good physical health but an understanding of the relationship between mind and body is nothing new. For example, around 200 AD, the Greek author Galen wrote that melancholic women are more susceptible to breast cancer than sanguine women .
When we think of “existence”, what comes to mind is usually that which we can sense – see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. However, there is another level of existence – the interpretation of that external existence by the mind through thought. The first type of existence relates to physical form and the latter to thought form. Thought form, however, is not limited to the interpretation of physical form but thoughts can exist on their own.
We identify ourselves typically with our thought forms. These have been conditioned by our experiences and result in a set of core principles, whether or not explicitly formulated. Our core principles interpret existence through the prism of experience. In this way our past thoughts influence our current thought forms and our projection of the future.
So the past and the future exist only as thought forms, as conceptualizations. In my clinical experience, the origin of much unhappiness is rooted in ruminations over the past and anxiety over the future, neither of which exist.
Obviously, we cannot “be” in the past or in the future as these are merely concepts. One of my favorite expressions is that we can learn from the past and prepare for the future but can only be in the now. That brings us to the present – where external form resides. This encourages thought forms that are more focused on the current moment. External and internal existence then can resonate.
When we think of “existence”, what comes to mind is usually that which we can sense – see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. However, there is another level of existence – the interpretation of that external existence by the mind through thought. The first type of existence relates to physical form and the latter to thought form. Thought form, however, is not limited to the interpretation of physical form but thoughts can exist on their own.
We identify ourselves typically with our thought forms. These have been conditioned by our experiences and result in a set of core principles, whether or not explicitly formulated. Our core principles interpret existence through the prism of experience. In this way our past thoughts influence our current thought forms and our projection of the future.
So the past and the future exist only as thought forms, as conceptualizations. In my clinical experience, the origin of much unhappiness is rooted in ruminations over the past and anxiety over the future, neither of which exist.
Obviously, we cannot “be” in the past or in the future as these are merely concepts. One of my favorite expressions is that we can learn from the past and prepare for the future but can only be in the now. That brings us to the present – where external form resides. This encourages thought forms that are more focused on the current moment. External and internal existence then can resonate.
Mind-Body-spirit
While as indicated in the previous section, it may be useful to conceptualize the mind and body as a dyad, expanding those concepts to include the spirit can be misleading.
Mark Twain wrote :
“Between (Kipling and I), we cover all knowledge; he knows all that can be known, and I know the rest.”
This humorous sentence astutely differentiates knowledge and concepts, or form, from that which cannot be “known” in the conventional sense. Any attempt to explain or conceptualize the spirit is not spirituality. The Bible is not God but it points our spirits toward the spirituality that is God.
However much we know or can know about the mind and body, that is not the “spirit”. There are many definitions or descriptions of what this “other than mind and body” element of ourselves is or is not. But certainly there is a general agreement that there is something “more”. We “know” or feel this intuitively.
To “be” is deeper than the outward physical form of the mind and body, of existence. No concepts, external or internal, are necessary to “be”. No physical forms or thought forms are necessary – in fact, they can impede simply being present in the now. We all have experienced such a spiritual state if only for a few moments. Even physical forms can precipitate such moments. For example, the art historian Sister Wendy stated:
“There are some works of art that are so beautiful … that all we want to do is look at it, in silence .”
The spirit resides in this silence, the stillness, while one is fully aware, fully present but without thought. Only then are we be fully conscious.
Mark Twain wrote :
“Between (Kipling and I), we cover all knowledge; he knows all that can be known, and I know the rest.”
This humorous sentence astutely differentiates knowledge and concepts, or form, from that which cannot be “known” in the conventional sense. Any attempt to explain or conceptualize the spirit is not spirituality. The Bible is not God but it points our spirits toward the spirituality that is God.
However much we know or can know about the mind and body, that is not the “spirit”. There are many definitions or descriptions of what this “other than mind and body” element of ourselves is or is not. But certainly there is a general agreement that there is something “more”. We “know” or feel this intuitively.
To “be” is deeper than the outward physical form of the mind and body, of existence. No concepts, external or internal, are necessary to “be”. No physical forms or thought forms are necessary – in fact, they can impede simply being present in the now. We all have experienced such a spiritual state if only for a few moments. Even physical forms can precipitate such moments. For example, the art historian Sister Wendy stated:
“There are some works of art that are so beautiful … that all we want to do is look at it, in silence .”
The spirit resides in this silence, the stillness, while one is fully aware, fully present but without thought. Only then are we be fully conscious.
CONSCIOUSNESS: I AM
The infinitive “to be” is an irregular verb base form typically used as a noun. We do not say “I be” but “I am”. In Exodus 3:14, Moses asks God by what name should he refer to Him; God answers:
“Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’ ”
This is an important distinction: God is beyond names, beyond mere existence, beyond form. God “is”.
The question of whether or not God exists is an ill-posed question. A well-posed question requires there be a solution . But to assume that God exists as an external form or a thought form makes the question of which physical form or which thought form an ill-posed question for which a solution is not possible. The “I Am” is formless consciousness.
Consider the exercise of filling in the phrase ”I am ____”. If your mind fills in the blank, that is a thought form. If you cannot find a suitable expression, that points toward your conscious essence. This is another example of an ill-posed question that has no solution. The same can be said for the proverbial question “Who am I?”, an ill-posed question for which there is no answer.
In the sense of consciousness alluded to above, many of us are “unconscious” spiritually throughout the day, totally absorbed in the world of form. An objective of Christian Mindfulness is to bring into our daily lives opportunities of consciousness, even as we meet the obligations of physical existence.
“Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I Am has sent me to you.’ ”
This is an important distinction: God is beyond names, beyond mere existence, beyond form. God “is”.
The question of whether or not God exists is an ill-posed question. A well-posed question requires there be a solution . But to assume that God exists as an external form or a thought form makes the question of which physical form or which thought form an ill-posed question for which a solution is not possible. The “I Am” is formless consciousness.
Consider the exercise of filling in the phrase ”I am ____”. If your mind fills in the blank, that is a thought form. If you cannot find a suitable expression, that points toward your conscious essence. This is another example of an ill-posed question that has no solution. The same can be said for the proverbial question “Who am I?”, an ill-posed question for which there is no answer.
In the sense of consciousness alluded to above, many of us are “unconscious” spiritually throughout the day, totally absorbed in the world of form. An objective of Christian Mindfulness is to bring into our daily lives opportunities of consciousness, even as we meet the obligations of physical existence.
THOUGHT FORMS
Certainly, thinking is an integral part of our daily lives. It is critical for the continued existence of our mind and body. However, relatively few thoughts are “maintenance” type thoughts. Typically, the vast majority of our daily thoughts are uncreative and unproductive for our existence. There is typically a steady, unending stream of “mindless” thinking influenced by the bombardment of distracting stimuli in our environment or arising purely from an untamed thought process. Unfortunately, some of these thought forms can range from unpleasant to even dangerous for ourselves and others.
In psychology, we utilize controlled thinking to improve our emotional states and behaviors. For example in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the most effective evidence-based therapeutic approach to thinking, unpleasant external form is reinterpreted by the mind until a thought form is achieved that is more aligned with reality and leads to a more improved emotional state and behavior . Typically, this involves reducing the influence of the misguided core belief, the conditioned “prism” we see the world through, to reveal an unrefracted reality uninfluenced by unpleasant or distorted interpretations of the past. In doing so this can help to re-establish a new, corrected core belief structure.
CBT is not new. The Bible mentions in Romans 12:2:
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think”.
Also in Philippians 4:8:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Creative thought is less likely to emerge from uncontrolled, unfocused static than from clarity of thinking.
Related to creative thought is intuition. My own professional career started with focused thought in the field of mathematics. However, after achieving a level of academic understanding in this field at Princeton University, inevitably I came to understand that the thought process involved was ultimately a high level of “connect-the-dots.” I turned more to applied mathematics and ultimately to study of the mind-body through psychiatry. I found that to be effective in such a complex field, one needs to integrate knowledge with intuition, to allow intuitive thinking.
In psychology, we utilize controlled thinking to improve our emotional states and behaviors. For example in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the most effective evidence-based therapeutic approach to thinking, unpleasant external form is reinterpreted by the mind until a thought form is achieved that is more aligned with reality and leads to a more improved emotional state and behavior . Typically, this involves reducing the influence of the misguided core belief, the conditioned “prism” we see the world through, to reveal an unrefracted reality uninfluenced by unpleasant or distorted interpretations of the past. In doing so this can help to re-establish a new, corrected core belief structure.
CBT is not new. The Bible mentions in Romans 12:2:
“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think”.
Also in Philippians 4:8:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Creative thought is less likely to emerge from uncontrolled, unfocused static than from clarity of thinking.
Related to creative thought is intuition. My own professional career started with focused thought in the field of mathematics. However, after achieving a level of academic understanding in this field at Princeton University, inevitably I came to understand that the thought process involved was ultimately a high level of “connect-the-dots.” I turned more to applied mathematics and ultimately to study of the mind-body through psychiatry. I found that to be effective in such a complex field, one needs to integrate knowledge with intuition, to allow intuitive thinking.
logic
One of the most profound moments of my own personal spiritual awakening came while waiting for an 1840s Parisian party to begin. While refuting certain theological concepts proposed by my stage partner, and both of us holding champagne glasses filled with tap water, she simply said:
“You are limited by your logic”.
Just about then the curtain rose and the first act of La Traviata began, but I was less focused on my role as party-goer and chorus member as I thought about that statement.
As a mathematician and scientist, I used logic as the basis for everything, even my spirituality. I can no longer recall the specific point that was being debated back-stage in that 1977 operatic production at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah, but it involved my limited view of spirituality. A spiritual concept that I could not explain was only a limitation of the current extent of knowledge, likely primitive in comparison to that of the distant future.
But the idea that one could “access” a spiritual state using means that have fewer if any limits was certainly exciting.
At the time, I was in excellent physical condition, but I began to “step-up” my running exercises in the mountains around my home in Park City, reaching a “zone” where thoughts were less frequent and there was a deeper level of well-being.
Every day at home or in my office at the University of Utah, I practiced progressive relaxation to clear the mind and relax the body. My technique was from a set of audio tapes I borrowed from my mother titled “Self-Hypnosis for Salesmen”, and it was effective in my development of a deeply relaxed physical state. After some months of practice, I was able to reach a state of deep relaxation rather quickly.
Because I had no interest in “sales”, I would turn off the tape when the progressive relaxation was completed and the sales affirmations began. But in the silence, thoughts would begin to intrude, lessening the experience. I decided that I would direct my thinking, while in a deeply relaxed physical state, to a scene or situation that was positive and expansive and relaxing, such as being on top of a favorite isolated snow-covered mountain well-known to me from mountaineering in the Wasatch Mountain Range.
The sense of being there on that mountain, in silence, with what seemed like an overview of the world evoked feelings of peace, permanence, and somehow understanding. The imagery of the mountain scene then faded, leaving the wonderful feelings alone. Eventually the feelings themselves grew more abstract, giving way to an amplified intense state I might describe as “spiritual” or “presence.”
With time, I was able to become deeply relaxed and choose a concept on which to focus, including the teachings of Jesus, allowing the concept to serve as a springboard to my spiritual state.
In Christian theology, fideism is any of several belief systems which hold, on various grounds, that reason is irrelevant to religious faith. According to some versions of fideism, reason is the antithesis of faith; according to others, faith is prior to or beyond reason, and therefore is unable to be proven or unproven by it.
Martin Luther taught that faith and reason were antithetical, in the sense that questions of faith could not be illuminated by reason. He wrote ,
"All the articles of our Christian faith, which God has revealed to us in His Word, are in presence of reason impossible, absurd, and false … Reason in no way contributes to faith.”
“You are limited by your logic”.
Just about then the curtain rose and the first act of La Traviata began, but I was less focused on my role as party-goer and chorus member as I thought about that statement.
As a mathematician and scientist, I used logic as the basis for everything, even my spirituality. I can no longer recall the specific point that was being debated back-stage in that 1977 operatic production at the Capitol Theater in Salt Lake City, Utah, but it involved my limited view of spirituality. A spiritual concept that I could not explain was only a limitation of the current extent of knowledge, likely primitive in comparison to that of the distant future.
But the idea that one could “access” a spiritual state using means that have fewer if any limits was certainly exciting.
At the time, I was in excellent physical condition, but I began to “step-up” my running exercises in the mountains around my home in Park City, reaching a “zone” where thoughts were less frequent and there was a deeper level of well-being.
Every day at home or in my office at the University of Utah, I practiced progressive relaxation to clear the mind and relax the body. My technique was from a set of audio tapes I borrowed from my mother titled “Self-Hypnosis for Salesmen”, and it was effective in my development of a deeply relaxed physical state. After some months of practice, I was able to reach a state of deep relaxation rather quickly.
Because I had no interest in “sales”, I would turn off the tape when the progressive relaxation was completed and the sales affirmations began. But in the silence, thoughts would begin to intrude, lessening the experience. I decided that I would direct my thinking, while in a deeply relaxed physical state, to a scene or situation that was positive and expansive and relaxing, such as being on top of a favorite isolated snow-covered mountain well-known to me from mountaineering in the Wasatch Mountain Range.
The sense of being there on that mountain, in silence, with what seemed like an overview of the world evoked feelings of peace, permanence, and somehow understanding. The imagery of the mountain scene then faded, leaving the wonderful feelings alone. Eventually the feelings themselves grew more abstract, giving way to an amplified intense state I might describe as “spiritual” or “presence.”
With time, I was able to become deeply relaxed and choose a concept on which to focus, including the teachings of Jesus, allowing the concept to serve as a springboard to my spiritual state.
In Christian theology, fideism is any of several belief systems which hold, on various grounds, that reason is irrelevant to religious faith. According to some versions of fideism, reason is the antithesis of faith; according to others, faith is prior to or beyond reason, and therefore is unable to be proven or unproven by it.
Martin Luther taught that faith and reason were antithetical, in the sense that questions of faith could not be illuminated by reason. He wrote ,
"All the articles of our Christian faith, which God has revealed to us in His Word, are in presence of reason impossible, absurd, and false … Reason in no way contributes to faith.”
SPIRITUALITY
It is difficult to define “spirituality” or any aspect of it as it involves the non-objectifiable – that which cannot be explained in words – the “sacred”. We can only point toward it, suggest ways to reach it, or talk about what it is not. Ultimately intuition is our main tool here.
What do we need to know about spirituality of the “spiritual world”. If this is a non-objectifiable state, is there anything to “know”?
Whatever spirituality is, it certainly is not thought itself. The reason why this must be true is that the spiritual is ultimately reality – and that is going on right now, not in our thoughts, not merely a concept or a past or future event, but always and only now.
Portals to the spirit
The corporeal body itself can be utilized in our quest for the spiritual. It is possible to use our five senses to achieve focus on the present moment, where spirituality resides. Naturally the more we can remove the mind and body from the situation, the better. Therefore, total focus on a sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch can lead to a spiritual focus or centering. Pleasant sensorial experiences are recommended as one wants to remain there longer and come back to them later.
Becoming more aware of our senses could become an everyday technique. It could help us to feel more “alive”, because we are more fully present in the moment. Should these sensorial moments lead to positive emotional or spiritual states, one can recall the circumstances of the senses to “recall” the positive emotional/ spiritual experience .
Some formal religious practices provide a series of circumstances that prepare the body and mind to be more receptive of the spiritual. Often they employ the senses, as above, to not only focus one’s attention to the now but also, through associations and conditioning, to suggest a higher state of spiritual awareness. This is exemplified by the Catholic Church with majestic cathedrals, chanting, sculptures, incense, Holy water, organ music, and transubstantiation. Thus sensorial experiences can suggest that it is the right time to enter a different state of consciousness, namely the fully awake and unfettered state of spiritual glory.
Another portal starts with thoughts of a situation that are very spiritually based. Here the thoughts alone are the focus. This may be a spiritual reading, such as passages from the Bible. Then, as a particularly simple concept is realized through this thought process, that simple focused thought fills the mind. What happens next cannot be forced through thought but an allowance is made to go beyond this simple spiritual thought to a spiritual state just as sign posts lead toward a destination.
Occasionally we experience rather magnificent moments, uplifting events, possibly bordering on the miraculous. At the other extreme, it is known that a crisis can have the dual nature of danger and opportunity for spiritual growth. What these extremes have in common, and the key to their utility, is that they take us into the moment, the eternal moment; that’s where progress can be made.
What do we need to know about spirituality of the “spiritual world”. If this is a non-objectifiable state, is there anything to “know”?
Whatever spirituality is, it certainly is not thought itself. The reason why this must be true is that the spiritual is ultimately reality – and that is going on right now, not in our thoughts, not merely a concept or a past or future event, but always and only now.
Portals to the spirit
The corporeal body itself can be utilized in our quest for the spiritual. It is possible to use our five senses to achieve focus on the present moment, where spirituality resides. Naturally the more we can remove the mind and body from the situation, the better. Therefore, total focus on a sight, sound, smell, taste, or touch can lead to a spiritual focus or centering. Pleasant sensorial experiences are recommended as one wants to remain there longer and come back to them later.
Becoming more aware of our senses could become an everyday technique. It could help us to feel more “alive”, because we are more fully present in the moment. Should these sensorial moments lead to positive emotional or spiritual states, one can recall the circumstances of the senses to “recall” the positive emotional/ spiritual experience .
Some formal religious practices provide a series of circumstances that prepare the body and mind to be more receptive of the spiritual. Often they employ the senses, as above, to not only focus one’s attention to the now but also, through associations and conditioning, to suggest a higher state of spiritual awareness. This is exemplified by the Catholic Church with majestic cathedrals, chanting, sculptures, incense, Holy water, organ music, and transubstantiation. Thus sensorial experiences can suggest that it is the right time to enter a different state of consciousness, namely the fully awake and unfettered state of spiritual glory.
Another portal starts with thoughts of a situation that are very spiritually based. Here the thoughts alone are the focus. This may be a spiritual reading, such as passages from the Bible. Then, as a particularly simple concept is realized through this thought process, that simple focused thought fills the mind. What happens next cannot be forced through thought but an allowance is made to go beyond this simple spiritual thought to a spiritual state just as sign posts lead toward a destination.
Occasionally we experience rather magnificent moments, uplifting events, possibly bordering on the miraculous. At the other extreme, it is known that a crisis can have the dual nature of danger and opportunity for spiritual growth. What these extremes have in common, and the key to their utility, is that they take us into the moment, the eternal moment; that’s where progress can be made.
mindfulness
The word “mindfulness” is used in many contexts, so I wish to clarify its usage in Christian Mindfulness.
First of all “mindful” is most often associated with being aware or “conscious” of some physical activity or obligation. Conscious in that context means that one is awake or able to respond to one’s surroundings. Our definition of being conscious is much deeper than being physically present, referring rather to being spiritually present. Being conscious in the present moment emanates from a loving God.
In our context, mindful is a misleading term. If the mind is “full”, nothing more can be placed into it, similar to the story of the spiritual teacher who pours tea into the cup of the student until it is full but then continues to pour while tea flows over the sides of the teacup.
“My cup is full, it will not hold any more tea,”
the student said.
The teacher responds:
“like the teacup and the tea, you cannot receive spiritual advancement unless you are open to it.”
Mindfulness, in its most basic form, is simply a practice of awareness where we consistently bring our minds back into the present moment. Unlike in certain forms of meditation, there are no mantras, no specific postures or poses to be learned, no creeds or philosophies to memorize. Mindfulness can be practiced by adherents of any or no religion. Nonetheless, it may improve one’s ability to participate in religious worship or practices by training the mind to be free of distraction.
In our context of Christian mindfulness, a better term than mindfulness might be “Godfulness” as the objective is to be with God – not in a thought form but through becoming fully spiritually conscious.
First of all “mindful” is most often associated with being aware or “conscious” of some physical activity or obligation. Conscious in that context means that one is awake or able to respond to one’s surroundings. Our definition of being conscious is much deeper than being physically present, referring rather to being spiritually present. Being conscious in the present moment emanates from a loving God.
In our context, mindful is a misleading term. If the mind is “full”, nothing more can be placed into it, similar to the story of the spiritual teacher who pours tea into the cup of the student until it is full but then continues to pour while tea flows over the sides of the teacup.
“My cup is full, it will not hold any more tea,”
the student said.
The teacher responds:
“like the teacup and the tea, you cannot receive spiritual advancement unless you are open to it.”
Mindfulness, in its most basic form, is simply a practice of awareness where we consistently bring our minds back into the present moment. Unlike in certain forms of meditation, there are no mantras, no specific postures or poses to be learned, no creeds or philosophies to memorize. Mindfulness can be practiced by adherents of any or no religion. Nonetheless, it may improve one’s ability to participate in religious worship or practices by training the mind to be free of distraction.
In our context of Christian mindfulness, a better term than mindfulness might be “Godfulness” as the objective is to be with God – not in a thought form but through becoming fully spiritually conscious.
faith
In a scene from the movie the Matrix , the Kung-Fu master Morpheus tells his student:
“What are you waiting for? You're faster than this. Don't think you are, know you are. Come on. Stop trying to hit me and hit me.”
Beyond thinking you are is knowing that you are. Beyond thinking or knowing you are is “I am.” The transition from thinking to knowing to being involves faith.
In Mathew 17:10, Jesus said:
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.”
The meaning here I assign to again going beyond thinking and even knowing into the realm of faith and formless presence where there is no mountain.
Being and doing
There is a saying “Just don’t sit there, do something.” An inverse saying is “Just don’t do something, sit there.” In the first case the emphasis is on physical or mental activity or both, and in the latter on mental activity or spiritual awareness.
What is the “one thing” that is needed? In Luke 10:38 – 42, Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet listening. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that were to be made. She came to Jesus and said:
"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha,"
He answered:
"You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
In the case of doing, particularly in reference to the required activities of daily living, one can be fully present in the moment and mindful rather than having a mind full of the past or anticipation of the future where perhaps one’s activity has been completed. The task at hand can be accomplished better and more peacefully if it is the focus. Difficult, boring, or trivial activities can become acceptable or even enjoyable and inspiring if done mindfully. This requires that you do one thing at a time.
Doing can flow into being. One must be fully present in the moment physically and mentally before achieving a state of being.
Being and doing might be separated into discreet time intervals of either being or doing. When these time intervals are very short, they essentially merge into a unity. Being then resides in the spaces or gaps between focused physical or mental activity. It then appears as if the doing and being co-exist.
Without moments of being the doing can become increasingly difficult. An analogy might be with muscle tension; continued contraction of muscle tissue becomes more and more difficult – and painful – without some moments of rest. After rest, the contraction can resume at an even greater strength.
Spiritual practices of obtaining a state of being or formless consciousness are not defined by the length of time spent in that state, although it might happen that these time intervals are quite extended. It also makes sense, although it doesn’t have to make sense, that spiritual awakening does not require ideal conditions of environment such as silence without interruption. Nor does it require prolonged “practice” and tutelage as being is available to all right now. We shall address this in some detail later in this written offering.
Challenges in our lives can be an opportunity to focus. Acceptance of the challenge, rather than avoidance is a necessary first step to overcoming the challenge. This might involve thinking of and executing a plan. Once all that can be done through form manipulation has been accomplished, the most important element in all challenges is transcendence through being. This being and doing in response to a challenge can be done serially or in parallel.
Challenges are part of the life experience and can be utilized for activation of being and doing. Fortunately, our experiences offer many challenging opportunities of various magnitudes. For a perfect example of overcoming challenges, reference is given to the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus was able to “overcome the world ” in his perfect and perpetual spiritual approach to life’s challenges by being and doing.
Psalm 46:10 reads:
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Simplification of this reads:
"Be still and know."
This is being and then doing, respectfully.
Further simplification:
"Be still."
This is a combination of being and doing.
And finally the essence:
"Be."
Which is being.
Also imbedded in that passage once again is God’s profound message:
“I Am.”
“What are you waiting for? You're faster than this. Don't think you are, know you are. Come on. Stop trying to hit me and hit me.”
Beyond thinking you are is knowing that you are. Beyond thinking or knowing you are is “I am.” The transition from thinking to knowing to being involves faith.
In Mathew 17:10, Jesus said:
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.”
The meaning here I assign to again going beyond thinking and even knowing into the realm of faith and formless presence where there is no mountain.
Being and doing
There is a saying “Just don’t sit there, do something.” An inverse saying is “Just don’t do something, sit there.” In the first case the emphasis is on physical or mental activity or both, and in the latter on mental activity or spiritual awareness.
What is the “one thing” that is needed? In Luke 10:38 – 42, Jesus came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet listening. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that were to be made. She came to Jesus and said:
"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
"Martha, Martha,"
He answered:
"You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
In the case of doing, particularly in reference to the required activities of daily living, one can be fully present in the moment and mindful rather than having a mind full of the past or anticipation of the future where perhaps one’s activity has been completed. The task at hand can be accomplished better and more peacefully if it is the focus. Difficult, boring, or trivial activities can become acceptable or even enjoyable and inspiring if done mindfully. This requires that you do one thing at a time.
Doing can flow into being. One must be fully present in the moment physically and mentally before achieving a state of being.
Being and doing might be separated into discreet time intervals of either being or doing. When these time intervals are very short, they essentially merge into a unity. Being then resides in the spaces or gaps between focused physical or mental activity. It then appears as if the doing and being co-exist.
Without moments of being the doing can become increasingly difficult. An analogy might be with muscle tension; continued contraction of muscle tissue becomes more and more difficult – and painful – without some moments of rest. After rest, the contraction can resume at an even greater strength.
Spiritual practices of obtaining a state of being or formless consciousness are not defined by the length of time spent in that state, although it might happen that these time intervals are quite extended. It also makes sense, although it doesn’t have to make sense, that spiritual awakening does not require ideal conditions of environment such as silence without interruption. Nor does it require prolonged “practice” and tutelage as being is available to all right now. We shall address this in some detail later in this written offering.
Challenges in our lives can be an opportunity to focus. Acceptance of the challenge, rather than avoidance is a necessary first step to overcoming the challenge. This might involve thinking of and executing a plan. Once all that can be done through form manipulation has been accomplished, the most important element in all challenges is transcendence through being. This being and doing in response to a challenge can be done serially or in parallel.
Challenges are part of the life experience and can be utilized for activation of being and doing. Fortunately, our experiences offer many challenging opportunities of various magnitudes. For a perfect example of overcoming challenges, reference is given to the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus was able to “overcome the world ” in his perfect and perpetual spiritual approach to life’s challenges by being and doing.
Psalm 46:10 reads:
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Simplification of this reads:
"Be still and know."
This is being and then doing, respectfully.
Further simplification:
"Be still."
This is a combination of being and doing.
And finally the essence:
"Be."
Which is being.
Also imbedded in that passage once again is God’s profound message:
“I Am.”