What is your longing?

[Mati]

Hello everyone!
I guess many of us here are looking for freedom, liberation, enlightenment, god-realization, ultimate peace, etc.
In a practical way...what are we really looking for?
What actions do we do in our daily life to bring us closer to that goal?
How do we measure if we are getting closer?

Hope we have a nice sharing here.
Much love
Mati

[GilesC]

Not sure I have "longings"... well... not any more... in the past yes. Even when people say "what would you like for Christmas?" or "what would you like for your birthday?", I don't have an answer, because I just don't have such "wants".

All I know is that I choose to be happy... and if I find I'm not happy then I know that's because of myself, and what I am choosing in the present moment... and I know I can also choose to change that.... so if I'm not happy, I simply have to choose to change it. Am I longing for happiness? No. I simply know happiness and un-happiness, and I know that I choose happiness over unhappiness... after all... who in truth wouldn't choose happiness.

Hugs

Giles

[olmate]

Not sure about the "longing" word either. Perhaps drawn to...

Freedom – but not in the sense that I can do what I want but more in the context to be who I am. Being simply open to reality in its purest and most intimate self-revelation. Being in communion – that which is beyond words, and it is beyond speech, and it is beyond concept. Being in unity – the original unity. Being what I am.

The simplicity of sitting in stillness and silence takes me to the path. It is a very familiar path but at the same time mysterious. Progress is made by dedicated daily practice and faith. Progress is in one sense measured by awareness and knowing.

Olmate

[Mati]

Hi Olmace and GilesC, thank you for sharing. It´s very interesting to read you.
Olmate, when you mention your daily practice, what do you exactly mean?
I used the word longing because i feel that deep inside on me, there is a real thirst. I think all of us have this thirst of coming back come, call it whatever name you want. And there is this picked up notion that it is better not to have any desires (probably a Buddhist contribution), so when the word longing comes, there is a need to prove that we don´t have any longing. I´m not judging your replies, just expressing my own point of view.

That being said, this thirst for ultimate freedom is not ALWAYS manifested or expressed through my words, thoughts and actions. Very often, mostly unconsciously than consciously, i am "pulled" to certain things that will apparently give me happiness, peace or freedom. But in truth, the happiness, peace or freedom, only comes temporarily after attaining those things. This could be seen more practically in examples such us looking for a relationship, or having more money, being healthy or travelling to nice places, being successful at my job, and more. So in my case, the key is enquiring into the nature of those desires and seeing if they are natural or unconsciously taken from society. By natural i mean, that as a natural being, we all need food, space/shelter (protection to sleep), prana (fresh air) and touch. But from living in modern society, we pick up and run after so many "upgraded" needs that are not "necessarily needed."
My practice or actions i do to get closer to that are self enquiry into those needs and also and most important, constant recognition of my essence (I am) and therefore realizing I AM already there.
The way i measure my progress is by seeing how much things "touch" me or not. For example, if i want to eat in a certain way according to my "health ideals" and that food is not possible, does it touch me? Does it affect me in the way that i cannot enjoy the food being provided or i don´t mind?
In that way, the more that those little details of the practical life are not a worry are a way to measure that i´m getting closer to practical freedom.
Thank you for sharing again and allowing this space for expression and deeper enquiry.
Hope to read more if anyone feels like.
Mati

[GilesC]

Hi Mati,

Originally Posted by Mati

I used the word longing because i feel that deep inside on me, there is a real thirst. I think all of us have this thirst of coming back come, call it whatever name you want.

What makes you feel that you are not home already?

And there is this picked up notion that it is better not to have any desires (probably a Buddhist contribution), so when the word longing comes, there is a need to prove that we don´t have any longing. I´m not judging your replies, just expressing my own point of view.

No need to prove anything. In Buddhism they refer to it as attachment. Recognising ones own attachments and choosing to be free of them isn't proving anything to anyone, it's just recognising that attachments are the cause of suffering (in buddhist terms).

That being said, this thirst for ultimate freedom is not ALWAYS manifested or expressed through my words, thoughts and actions. Very often, mostly unconsciously than consciously, i am "pulled" to certain things that will apparently give me happiness, peace or freedom.

True Happiness? True Peace? True Freedom? If it is true, then it is with you always... if it is only temporary then it is not true. Are you sure you're not being "pulled" by attachments to seek these things elsewhere rather than recognise that they already exist within you?

But in truth, the happiness, peace or freedom, only comes temporarily after attaining those things.

Ah, you answer already.

This could be seen more practically in examples such us looking for a relationship, or having more money, being healthy or travelling to nice places, being successful at my job, and more. So in my case, the key is enquiring into the nature of those desires and seeing if they are natural or unconsciously taken from society. By natural i mean, that as a natural being, we all need food, space/shelter (protection to sleep), prana (fresh air) and touch. But from living in modern society, we pick up and run after so many "upgraded" needs that are not "necessarily needed."

Absolutely, there are basic needs that we all have, but those are different from the attachment to desire that creates longing for more money, successfull jobs or whatever.

My practice or actions i do to get closer to that are self enquiry into those needs and also and most important, constant recognition of my essence (I am) and therefore realizing I AM already there.

Great. So drop that longing feeling as well.

The way i measure my progress is by seeing how much things "touch" me or not. For example, if i want to eat in a certain way according to my "health ideals" and that food is not possible, does it touch me? Does it affect me in the way that i cannot enjoy the food being provided or i don´t mind?

Or simply drop the "ideals" and desire to see how much things "touch" you, and simply meet the needs of this present moment... if your body needs food, feed it. Having awareness of what is good food for the body or not so good food is always beneficial, but if the need in this moment is to feed the body, and the only option is food that is not "healthy" in societies terms... then it does not matter... eat it.

In that way, the more that those little details of the practical life are not a worry are a way to measure that i´m getting closer to practical freedom.

Excuse me now for getting a little philosophical...

What is the need to measure?
Measuring things comes from the ego's (Ahankara in sanskrit) need to compare one thing to another, and in doing this it maintains it's sense of duality, and helps to boost the ego when it can recognise through it's own dualistic perception that it's measurement puts it in favour above 'other' things. It's the ego mind's desire to be better than others that creates the need for measurement, but this perception of mind is not truth.

Some people talk about a need for balance in life, such as when people ask the question (and I'm not religious myself, but this is a good example)... "Why does God allow evil?", and some answer "Because there must be a balance, and there must be evil to balance out the good, so we cannot have only Good in the world/universe". In my own knowledge, this is not the truth. The truth is that, in order for our minds to create a perception of good, we must also create a perception of evil, and thus evil becomes manifest, yet it would actually be perfectly possible for ALL to be good, only we would not have anything "evil" to compare it against to be able to recognise the good. It doesn't mean that good would cease to exist (only in a measurement perpective sense it would), but rather that we would be free of the duality of evil and good, and all would simply Be.

A good example of this sort of thing is given in the classic book "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M Persig, where he investigates the philosophical concept of Quality, and looks at the difference between objective quality and subjective quality. In one example, he talks about a picture on a wall. If we only had objective quality, then a picture on a wall would be as attractive to us as a wall without a picture... but when we apply subjective quality then all that changes... some people will find the picture adds to the appearance of the wall, other will find that it makes the wall look worse (differences in artistic taste), but in truth, the picture is simply Being a picture, in itself neither Being a beautiful picture or an ugly picture.... and this concept itself leads us back to a Buddhist principle, that whatever we experience comes from within ourselves.

So, back to your text... you are choosing to measure in some way your progression on your "spiritual path" (or towards your goal or whatever), but that measurement is meaningless unless you create duality and compare it against others, but then to see 'others' as seperate from yourself, only seeks to take you away from being at One, and where there is duality, there is conflict (a topic for another thread methinks!). Therefore your choice to measure, will only serve against you reaching your ultimate goal.

Food for thought.

Hugs

Giles

[olmate]

Hi Mati,

My reference to my daily practice is in essence the way I choose to live - those elements that go to my bodily well being, my mental well being and my spiritual well being.

There are things I can choose do which take me forward in each of these contexts and things I can choose to do which regress my journey. Don't interpret this as being "right" or "wrong" as they are what they are - that is choices. For example at the bodily context, my diet and exercise regime have a direct relationship to my sense of bodily well being and vitality. I just make choices as to what I want those to be. Similarly there are things I choose to do which impact my well being with mental acuity and spiritual connection.

Each of these contexts are not dependent on the other, but I guess a choice I make about how I live this life - again not right or wrong - just volition and an application of freedom to being.

So as I go about my day whether it be meet a mosquito or a charging bull elephant, I am able to make choices as to what that means to being present and the response (or not) that I choose as a result. I have found in my experience that the manifestation of choices is directly related to connectedness (presence).

I hope that makes sense.

Olmate

[Mati]

Hi again, thank you both for sharing!
GilesC, i appreciate your comments and your pointings. It´s always useful to look from pure awareness though it is not where i wanted to make the focus on this post. Myabe it´s the way i expressed myself, so i will make a new post trying to be more accurate about it.

Olmate, thank you again. It does make sense.

See you both soon
Love
Mati

[LianaJo]

My longing is to stay sober (had a binge drinking problem for 13 years), have peace within myself & others, & live a simple life without a lot of drama.

I'm new here & have just started meditating to calm myself in the last week. I really enjoy it & it makes my day easier to deal with.

[GilesC]

Hi Liana and welcome to the Project Meditation community,

Keep us posted how your meditation goes and how it benefits you, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Hugs

Giles