21/09/2024
Dear Friends,
In this edition of the Quiet Mind newsletter, I'll be diving a bit deeper than usual into the process of clearing the mind and accessing peace.
Due to space constraints, I haven't included a Q&A section. However, you're welcome to email me with your questions if anything is unclear.
Subtle Clouds
The approach to spirituality that I write about (and try to practice!) is very simple.
It is based on three core ideas:
1. Within each of us is a spiritual light. When we access this light, we experience a sense of peace, connection, and inner wisdom.
2. The reason we don't experience this light continually is that our minds generate interfering thoughts and feelings. This interference is like clouds before the sun.
3. Our job is to take ownership of our cloud-like thoughts and feelings, and become willing to let them pass by. As we do this, the light of peace re-emerges in our awareness.
Now, this sounds very simple.
But most of us — even those of us committed to spiritual growth — find it challenging to experience peace consistently. The light seems to come and go on its own. Sometimes it seems to vanish for a very long time.
Why is this?
One of the reasons is that our cloud-like thoughts can be subtle. The more "sophisticated" forms blend into the background. They become camouflaged, and don't seem to be mere thoughts.
It can be helpful to identify these subtle thoughts, so that we can take ownership of them and practice letting them go. As we do that, we create an ever-larger space for the light to stream in.
Before exploring some of these subtle forms, let's first take a quick look at a few obvious blocks to peace. These are ones that we all deal with quite frequently.
To begin, everyone can admit that resentment interferes with a sense of peace. When we hold grievances toward someone, we are flooded with feelings of hostility, disconnection, and a compulsion to blame. It's easy to see how resentment hides a sense of peace, wisdom, and harmonious connection.
This is why forgiveness is so central to most spiritual paths. The process of forgiveness can be as simple as saying, "I no longer want to generate these painful thoughts of mine. I am willing to let them go." In the spiritual approach to forgiveness, we focus on welcoming peace back to our minds rather than analyzing what the other person is doing.
In a similar way, worry also blocks a sense of peace. No one finds worry to be peaceful. This is why learning to turn toward our inner light is so important.
As we practice exchanging our worried thoughts for an experience of inner wisdom, peace is restored. The wisdom we receive helps to address situations in a constructive way. As we act on this wisdom, our trust in it grows.
Self-criticism also obscures peace. Feelings of shame that arise from self-criticism can become so painful that people may engage in self-destructive actions to find relief.
As with any other block, we can say, "I am willing to let go of my self-critical thoughts. Even if they seem 'justified,' I'm willing to let them go in favor of a sense of comfort and peace."
Resentment, worry, self-criticism — these are some obvious blocks to peace. It's clear how they hide a sense of our inner light. This is why so many spiritual and psychological approaches focus on easing the mind of these burdens.
- Dan Joseph; Quiet Mind.
