Filling in the Blanks

[melanie]

Our life is a blank page we do not know what is going to happen from one day to the next,
if we did we would or would not get out of bed in the morning.
Blanks make us uncomfortable.They leave us hanging, and try as we might to be cool with the unknown,
most of us struggle with these blanks…so we attempt to fill them in.

How we decide to fill in the blanks is our choice, but no matter how we choose to fill in the blanks with our imagined stories,
the story of what's really going on will ever elude us.

[mkirkpatrick]

I have come to love blanks,in particular when they make a space in my brain where no thought arises,for many years I lived a life of constant thinking there were never any blanks,no rest whatsoever from a constant barrage of trivial thinking,and "what If" scenerios being played out in a very weary brain,then one day after a severe illness and great emotional displacement and torment all thoughts stopped,a blank mind,I thought that I would die! What no thoughts? After taking up meditation around this same time I learned that it was normal to create space in the mind,to have a blank moment and just BE! How wonderful that was,today I look for as much blankness as I can muster for it allows me to dwell in the eternal now.

regards michael.

[melanie]

Thank you for sharing your story michael - and you know what you have said here, also happened to me in my life.I can relate entirely to what you are saying.

Also, i'm sure you know, that when we reach that kind of understanding about what's really going on with reality, we can still live our daily life actively, tending to everything including any challenges that may arise and generally dealing well with what ever life throws at us.
At the same time we can also dwell in that blankness you speak of, even though the two states appear to oppose each other, that doesn't happen anymore.We are able to be in two minds at the same time. If that makes sense?
Rather like keeping a cool head when all about are losing theirs.

My philosophy is that we came from nowhere and we return to nowhere - the gap in the middle is like a dream.
It is the blank canvas on which we paint our life story, but its just a story.
We are lucid in the dream so we can do what ever we want to do, we are always free to be who we want to be.
We should make the most of it because one persons solitary life is like the blink of an eye in eternity.
It is like a signature written with water colour signed upon flowing water.

regards melanie

[mkirkpatrick]

In times of internal stillness of mind,I can see an observer watching this world through "my" eyes,as though there is another being within me watching this world and observing all it surveys,I call this being my higher self,or the watcher,to be aware of this being I have to be still and enter into the "now" the ever present now,this takes self discipline and I find that regular meditation and quiet times help one to remain focussed and one pointed in intent.

regards michael.

[labelwench]

I used to be quite intent on 'filling in the blanks', as many are, making my plans and attempting to force them on the universe, regardless of the weather and other challenges.

Now, what I value most is 'unstructured time',......an interval with no prior commitments, that I can allow the universe to offer suggestions as to how this might best be filled.

It's rather interesting to see who comes down the lane-way unexpectedly, or what other surprise and delight comes one's way, when one takes a more liberal approach to the blank page of life, at least in my opinion. My meditation is 'working meditation' and I tend to dreamless sleep......another blank page?

[melanie]

I cannot believe in the immortality of the soul.
I am an aggregate of cells, as, for instance, New York City is an aggregate of individuals.
Will New York City go to heaven? No; nature made us - nature did it all - not the gods of the religions.

-Thomas Edison

[mkirkpatrick]

To have no plans,no deadlines to meet,to get up when you feel like it,and to go to bed when you feel like it,these are the days that I cherish,the day ahead is a blank page,lets see how it unfolds! It took a while when I retired to get used to the idea that work and paid employment are now over,no more getting up at 6am on cold winter mornings to go to work,I felt for a while that I should be doing something! I suppose after 50 years of working for a living one gets used to getting up and going off most weekdays to work.

No It is bliss,living in Turkey,swimming pool outside the door,have breakfast then plunge in,a blank day round the pool,with cool water to drink is heaven.

regards michael.

[melanie]

Thank you michael - nice story.
I'm very happy you are at peace in your retirement, lucky you to be basking in such an idyllic lifestyle. You probably well deserve it, after so many years of labor.
Time to enjoy its fruits michael. I agree, its nice to not have any deadlines to meet, and just live a timeless existence.
I know people who are still working well into their 70's only because they are afraid to let go of life's hustle and bustle, its as if their world would end if they gave up their job, they say the thought of living a no man's land kind of existence scared them.
I suppose its not everyone's cup of tea. Me, i'd love to retire now, and i'm only 53.

Thought i'd share this piece with you.
When i read this in my email this morning it reminded me of your post, it seemed appropriate.



"In meditation,

one of the greatest
things you can do
is become aware
of how thought identification
happens.

Become aware
of the process
of thoughts arising
and the action of
being attached
to identifying with
those thoughts.

There is a feeling
of contraction behind it,
a feeling of stress.

A feeling of constantly
holding on to something
that is flying all over the place.

And if you can recognize that
attachment
then you can begin
to let go of it.

You can begin to
rest in non attachment
where thoughts
are never even given
the power to fully become
a thought.

You will find
if you remain
un-identified
to thinking,

the power that
makes thinking happen
dissipates
and thoughts can
slow down and even
stop altogether.

And then what is left
is impersonal radiance,
a power that expands
and consumes everything
that may arise
back into itself
like a blazing fire
of consciousness.

So you see
it is not what you know,
how you act,
or even what your experience is
that is important.

We are looking behind
all of that.

We are looking at the
first action of identification
that turns the whole thing
into a personal you
with a personal mind
and a personal story.

We are breaking
that attachment
to creating that identification
and recognizing
what is left.

Remaining in what is left.

It may not be blissful
or peaceful or loving.

You can't look
to get something out of it.

You are stopping
the creation of what
is looking for bliss
in the first place
to remain in what is
undeniably here
underneath it all.

Blessings,


Kip"

[mkirkpatrick]

I suppose in some ways ones life (physical) begins as a blank page,then as the years roll by we become filled up with stuff,develop habits,some good,some not,learn from our peers and parents,then there comes a day,usually totally unexpected,when something inside you says just where are you going and what are you doing in this life? I have had several of these experiences each one has opened up another blank page within me to be filled with fresh insight,this first started to happen with me when I became interested in meditation about 35 years ago.

Today after three decades of on and of practising meditation has taught me to cherish stillness of mind,just to listen,the sound of the inner silence is deafening,however this does not often last for long,(as nature abhors a vacuum) and there is always "some-thing" trying to fill the blankness of bliss!

regards michael.

[austintorn@aol.com]

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