Merciful Space

Protecting infinite, empty, and merciful space

is precisely what you do in contemplative practice.

Most of what we call thinking

is narcissistic reaction to the moment.

Moment by moment, you're judging things and labeling them,

whether they attract or repel you.

That really isn't thinking,

but self-centered reactions and

the stating of your preferences to yourself.

It takes work to return to the placeholder space within you

that is quiet, that doesn't get caught up in all your commentaries

and emotional evaluations,

up and down,

in and out,

with or against.

Some kind of contemplative practice will allow you

to watch yourself doing all of this

and notice how futile it all is.

In contemplation, your inner witness is still

and lets everything else float by.

It observes and learns from your thoughts and sensations,

but it doesn't attach to any of them.

It lets go and

lets go

and

lets

go.

This takes years of practice,

until letting go becomes an art form.

You learn not to be so opinionated,

not to be emotionally dragged up and down,

but to stay in this quiet place

that watches everything come and go with calm equanimity.

When you learn how to stay here, you'll recognize

you are not your thinking

and

you are not your feelings.

What you were thinking even an hour ago,

you're not thinking anymore.

Therefore it is not you.

Your thinking is essentially unstable.

Yet most people think they are their thinking!

Such a life is inherently insecure.

Many people in contemporary secular society

have little solid ground on which to stand,

to create a mature and happy life.

~R. Rohr