Our presence shines through the gaps between objects, such as passing thoughts, or other perceptions. There is a natural spontaneous functioning, when we live aligned with these gaps.
Our attention generally moves among objects of perception- frequently distracted, wandering off, often lost and entangled among transient things. But everything arising in our experience, points to our presence, the awareness supporting all perceptions.
Whenever we move into it consciously, shifting our emphasis from ‘seeing’ it as something perceived, to knowingly ‘being’ it- we intimately know ourselves as the subject of all our perceptions.
Once we have realized that real peace and happiness are found within, we spontaneously remain intimately aware of our own subjective being. The random haphazard movements of our outgoing attention are reduced and it’s flow synchronized, to frequently return inwards.
We now find ourselves living with a dynamic flow of attention, which points in and out at the same time, like a double-headed arrow! It simultaneously connects with and separates, our inner subjective being, from whatever we are experiencing or doing.
We look outwards at all our experiences, from the centre of our being, witnessing all that we meet, from our inner space of awareness. The emphasis remains on staying in this gap, without chasing the perceived objects appearing in this space.
In each ‘here-now’, we function from the gaps between objects, knowing ourselves as the background support behind everything. Once we have learnt the knack of functioning from these gaps, we live effortlessly!
The physical and mental faculties of our body-mind, develop, grow, remember, recall- and all this learning is simply poured into the stream of our natural harmonious functioning. There is no interference from a separate ‘me’, trying to divert the course of this stream.
The technical knowledge derived from our life-long learning, becomes a part of this natural functioning. All skills known by our body-mind are employed for this functioning, and yet, we do not claim it. Our lives are lived, our roles performed, but we do not take credit for anything which happens.
Just like when our hearts beat, or our lungs breathe, there is never a ‘me’, trying to dictate and regulate their execution, there is only a natural spontaneous functioning. Many things are done, but we are not doing them.
Our activities flow smoothly, free of all interference from a controlling ‘me’. In this freedom, we live and act from the gaps between objects. We find ourselves in ‘observation’ of this functioning.
Remaining alert and aware, with a distinct feeling of detached witnessing, we feel removed from our own activities- almost as if someone else was doing them!
In this flow of functioning, there are events moving along, in which we participate as needed. Our most appropriate response is offered, to meet the unique requirements of each situation.
In absence of the limited narrow perspectives of an interfering ‘me’, there are no judgements, no choosing, or rejection. Things are still being done ‘through’ us, but we do not claim any ‘doership’. We simply float along, responding to the currents of each new situation.
Life becomes easy, spontaneous, natural and effortless. Functioning in ‘non-doing’, we accept life as it comes, letting go of our selfish motivations. The stress and conflicts from constant scheming, striving and struggling for our personal ambitions, are naturally dropped.
Each moment is lived in tune with the truth, without false delusions and prejudice of a personal ‘me’.
Functioning from gaps radiating awareness and intelligence of our pure being, we live aligned with the flow of totality- acting with the wisdom of our whole reality!
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2 responses to “Functioning from gaps”
The Buddhists have a word, “Bardo,” for the space between things. From the now to the not yet and to the then and there. It is a space alive with possibility, where practically anything can happen, the pivot point, balance point, tipping point, from which everything flows.
I am familiar with the transitioning stage between death and rebirth as ‘Bardo’. When I first learned about it, as believed in the traditional Buddhist sense, I found it scary to explore it further, because this transition with the concept of a ‘rebirth’ with a whole set of new problems, new life-long learning, repetition of mistakes, and new suffering is disturbing for me.
But seeing that every moment we are in this transition between the death of old and the rebirth of new, I find this meaning of ‘Bardo’ comforting, almost full of hope. There is always an ending of something, giving rise to a new beginning, we are always in these gaps. Perhaps a shift in attitude is all that is needed!