Gateways to Peace
Start with Breakfast
If you’d like to explore being more peaceful, start with breakfast. What?
I’m not sure where you might be at in terms of spiritual pathway? And this is not a ‘how to’ article, more of a pointer.
Many are happy to keep spiritual ideas in the background as something they might consider when they get the time. (To which I usually say, ‘Time is all you have!’) But they probably stopped reading already.
For others, they might need some sort of shocking crisis in their lives to prompt them. A death of someone close, a health scare, a relationship breakup, out of control addiction … one of those “What is life really all about?” moments.
Hopefully, it won’t take a major emergency in your life though. I have had a quite a few clients who are curious about spiritual possibilities. And I’m no expert. But I have read quite widely on the subject and done some work on myself. I’ll include some authors you might want to check out at the bottom of this.
What all the experts say, without exception, including JC, is:
· There is a deeper element to you, than just your mind.
· The mind often stands in the way of a clear view of that deeper element.
· If you quiet your mind, spend more time with that deeper element, you will find peace.
And who doesn’t want peace?!
Einstein said:
“The true value of a human being can be found to the degree to which he has obtained liberation from the self.”
By ‘self’ he meant the mind and it’s ego. Few would argue that he had one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. But his inspirations came when his mind got quiet, then afterwards he would use his thinking mind as a tool to develop and test his theorems.
The trick is switching off the mind for more than 5 seconds at a time. And that is where the work is. It’s important to realise this is a process and not a destination. Which means that its something we need to do every day.
I realise that to a lot of people, not thinking is a kind of sacrilege. Wasting precious time by not using it to think, or do, or browse the phone, is just not an option for them. It’s a kind of conditioned mania they’ve acquired through life. So those people are not yet desperate enough to find real peace another way.
I’m not saying we should stop thinking entirely. As well as more peace, residing more in a not-thinking state will enable a whole lot more creative ideas to spring forward, then you can test them with your thinking mind like Einstein! But use your mind as a tool, don’t let it be your often erratic master.
Even if you start with 5 minutes, it’s a step on the path. If 5 seconds is a challenge then 5 minutes may seem like eternity! No one is marking you here though. Your mind can rest easy that it can resume service for the other 23 hours and 55 minutes, until you get comfortable. Then you can gradually grow the switch-off time.
To do that try one of the Gateways:
Senses
Our sense perceptions are one gateway to that deeper element. Which means we have to start noticing things, while quieting the mental chatter.
We want to get out of the thought stream – anger, guilt, shame about the past; fear, worry about the future, control-freak self, etc. Just be in this moment.
The basic sense perceptions are sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. (There’s a couple more if you’re interested - ask me.) Choose one or two of them for your 5 minutes. For example …
… Start with breakfast. Turn off the radio/tv, put cell phone out of reach. Sit. Smell your breakfast. See it. Don’t label it. First mouthful. Chew, chew, chew. Enjoy the flavours, without labelling. Swallow, feel it slide down your throat and land happily in ground zero. Take a sip of juice, tea, coffee. Enjoy that taste fully too. Next mouthful, chew, chew, taste, taste, swallow. You get the picture.
Where are you now? Yes, the present moment. Peaceful, isn’t it?
Meanwhile your body is digesting all those nutrients and circulating them to grateful cells throughout your body, enjoying their present moment also.
When you experience things more fully, you get to enjoy them more. Do you even remember what you had for lunch yesterday?
You can do the same enjoying a shower, the delicious feeling of warm water on your skin. Or watching a golden sunset. Or listening to the sound of rain on the roof at night.
I have to emphasise here that senses themselves are only gateways to the deeper element. The deeper element is to be found in the spaces between thoughts.
Other pathways …
Breath
Watching the breath is another gateway. Take three deep breaths now, and just watch the in breath, a slight pause, then the out breath, pause … three breaths to peace. Cool?!
Crochet and more
I recently read about an elderly lady whose gateway was crochet! Your thing might be gardening, walking, swimming (mine), puzzles …
Business Meetings
No not joking. You can practice being present in a business meeting and find how much more effective you become at those – see the Media Corner below*.
Bodywork
Of course, bodywork is another excellent opportunity to quiet the mind for a while, enjoying the gentle touch, feeling the tension leave, relaxing, your awareness expanding.
I didn’t even mention the gateway of the ‘M’ word yet, but there’s a news item about that below.
Just coming back to the here and now is a great place to start. Then you can read, or YouTube these authors at your leisure. Or talk to me if you want.
Spiritual Authors:
Byron Katie, Ram Dass, Eckhart Tolle, Michael A Singer, Thich Nhat Hanh, John O’Donohue, Anita Moorjani, David R Hawkins, Tara Brach
Meditation Classes
Meditation is a well known gateway to spiritual development. It’s not for everyone, but if you’d like some guidance take a class locally.
There is an introduction to meditation course being run in Thorndon 6 x Tuesdays from 4 July to 8 August. You can also attend by Zoom. Message me and I’ll send you the pdf, or email the organiser, Landa, direct at welinsight.landa@gmail.com
*Media Corner
If you flunked at breakfast today, try this!
Michael Singer was the leader of a huge US software company that he started, but he achieved his own brand of pragmatic spirituality first. He gives a great practical example where you can use a business meeting as great opportunity to come into the present moment, by listening, without mental commentary. Youtube It’s only 8 minutes
Pro Bono Days
Ngaio - Tueday 20 June, Upper Hutt - Wednesday 21 June
Please share my website, or this page, with anyone you know that may benefit. Or click on this link to book now.
(btw Pax is latin for Peace)
With caring and kindness,
Rhys Dwyer
If you know anyone, from kids up who maybe struggling with body-held tension, energy levels, stress, anxiety, or choices, then please ask them to check me out. Bodywork and present moment awareness may just make a big difference.
Note that bodywork is always complimentary to prudent medical care.