stillness

Wind stirs the bamboo,
But once the wind passes,
The bamboo is silent.
Geese land in a chill pond, 
But once the geese fly away,        
There are no reflections.
In the same way,
Once the red dust passes,
The mind is still.		     

      
The affairs of the world are often euphemistically referred to as red dust.  This is the involvement of the world that is hard to brush away and yet equally hard to hold on to. We may seek meditative detachment, but as long as the stimulation of the world continue to blow through our minds, the true stillness of meditation is impossible.

If we do not involve ourselves with the difficulties of the world, there will naturally not be any suggestion or stimulation present.  Then the mind will be still.  The still mind is capable of the most supreme states of existence.

Obviously, total withdrawal from the tribulations, dangers, sensual temptations, and entanglements of everyday life would be one way of doing this.  If you feel ready to do this and you have that option, they you should do so.  You will find satisfaction and happiness very quickly.  But if you are obligated to remain in the world for some time more, and still want to practice the art of tranquillity, you must execute withdrawal on a more microscopic scale.  Then stillness is possible for at least short periods.
 
 
 

Stillness
365 Tao
Deng Ming-Dao
Daily Meditations
 

(  '? note from a duck:  you may realize that the work I do with sending out alternative media and keeping duckdaotsu going is what I have called "an act of sitting meditation." I cannot walk away from the world now, although I did give myself that luxury for a few years when we first moved to the mountains.  I have discovered that the best and most compassionate stillness I can give myself or receive is given after a day of sending out the news, the alerts, the notices, and the educational posts to you folks.

Then, and only then, do I find stillness in my "quiet meditation."   (  '?


 


 
 
 
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