Sweet and peaceable...

Gentle Correspondents,

Wait!!!

I forgot to include a highly relevant quote from Isaiah 26:3 last week, so here it is:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

This is one of the chief benefits of sitting still and gently staying your mind (focusing your attention) on the infinite Presence that pervades everything—yes, perfect peace.

Straight from Isaiah. Take that, all you minor Old Testament prophets!

Last week I talked about one way to access the Divine Presence, which is to sit perfectly still and remain silent for a period of time. I also said there are myriad ways to access this Presence.

I can't pronounce one method as being the best, (I'm not the Pope, after all!) but I can share what has worked very well for me. With that understanding, (that if you don't do what I say you will grow warts) I'll delve a little further into the practice of meditation, or as it is known in Catholicism, contemplative prayer.

I'm going to purposefully skip the basics—finding a place to meditate, posture, using a centering phrase and following the breath, etc.—until next week. A 'prequel', if I may indulge in a little Hollywood "ism". (even though, technically, 'prequel' it is not an "ism". 'Prequelism' would be an "ism"!)

Silent prayer is the "sweet and peaceable attention to God's presence", as St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) said in his "Treatise on the Love of God", (Chapter X, p.259) He further describes it as "sacred repose". We'll talk about how to establish this "sweet and peaceable attention" and "sacred repose" in the upcoming 'prequel'. (Can you even wait?)

For now, let's discuss what's going to happen about ten seconds after you've carefully established that "sweet and peaceable attention to God's presence". This is important, because what happens next is what occupies almost all of a meditation session until the mind finally settles down a little. This "settling down" can take years—just givin' it to you straight.

Your mind is going to say:

"BOOOORING!!! Gimme something more exciting, and pronto! What, more sitting, and no iPod?!?! Fuggedaboutit, I'm outta here!!!"

And it's off to the races!

For the next however long you sit, your mind is going to be inundated with a constant stream of random thoughts, about one every five to ten seconds. That's right—see for yourself!

Here's a fairly straightforward method for gently dealing with thoughts as they arise. Take very careful mental notes about each thought, release it, and gently return to observing your breath or your silent centering phrase. More on the breath in the 'prequel' next week.

How to take careful mental notes? Try assuming the role of the scientist in a white lab coat, clipboard in hand, carefully observing an experiment in progress.

Ok, so here it is—your first thought! It'll probably be as random and mundane as "Has it REALLY been 32 years since Ron Wood joined the Rolling Stones???"

Whatever the thought, become aware of what it is, and note if there are any emotions associated with it. If there are, try to pinpoint—precisely—what that emotion feels like.

For instance, an angry thought might be accompanied by a pounding heart, tightness in the throat, face flushing, etc. Once you have noted everything about the thought, gently release it (think clouds passing by in the sky) and return to the silence. The sacred repose.

Some common thoughts that arise are boredom, (yes, boredom is just another thought!!!) anxiety, regret, worry, future planning, self-deprecation, revenge, etc. Many wonderful thoughts will also arise like that recent ski vacation, a loved one, among others.

You name it, thoughts of every stripe will arise. From your calm third-party perspective, (remember the scientist?) accurately note them on your mental clipboard, which is filling up fast!

After noting the thoughts as they arise, it is crucial to release them, returning gently and with great love to the silence. This is where the Presence abides; it does not abide in the cacophony of your thoughts.

Sorry.

Here's another awesome quote by St. Francis de Sales. He describes, breathtakingly, the process of returning to the silence once the mind has wandered off, chasing down all manner of thoughts. I would substitute "mind" for "heart", but then again I wasn't around in the Middle Ages to redact his writing.

The "point" he is talking about is the breath, or just pure mental silence.

"If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master’s presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in Our Lord’s presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour would be very well employed."

Very well employed, indeed. Mr. de Sales, you rock!

Notice how he says "though it went away every time you brought it back". He figured out way back then that his mind "went away" quite often during his periods of silent prayer. What is his solution? To bring the mind gently and tenderly back into the Divine Presence.

Gently and tenderly... This is key!!! If you find yourself yanking your mind (or heart) back to the silence, with a hint of (or lots of!) irritation, notice that, also. This process is about being gentle and loving with yourself, not perpetuating useless mental habits, like getting irritated at the drop of a coconut.

God speaks with a "still, small voice" according to Elijah, in 1 Kings 19:12. Any mental irritation or harshness (I'll tame these damn thoughts if it's the last thing I do!) as you bring yourself back "into the Master's presence" is akin to screaming "blah blah blah" the moment oh, let's say, Warren Buffett is about to, one-on-one, share his all-time favorite investing strategy with you.

You want to be so quiet you could hear a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon, as this advice could change everything! Actually, every thought you have during meditation is a little like saying "blah blah blah" while God is quietly, gently, trying to get a word in edgewise. Thus, the gentle practice of returning to a place of total inner silence.

That's it for now; Matlock just started on Channel 3!

I'll close with this exquisite quote from the novelist Robert Louis Stevenson:

"Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened, but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm."

Just one more benefit to sitting down and shutting up.

Love,

Steve : - )

P.S. — Since I lifted the delightful turn of phrase "at the drop of a coconut" from another writer, I must pay my Karmic debt and give credit to Gary Gach, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Buddhism". Thanks, Gary! Keep the lawyers at a distance!

P.P.S. - I once again thank Zen Master and author Brad Warner (and former punk-rocker!) for the equally delicious aphorism "Sit down and shut up". Pretty much sums up the process!