Witnessing Life

"Behind the one who is sad, behind the one who is angry, behind the one who suffers is the silent witness who watches it all. This is who we really are." Thanks datura, that was a great way to describe it :)

Thank you, flourlady and Child.



Child, if we could truly practice non-attachment, we would free ourselves of much suffering. You are so right.

thi s is a very good story!

Very nicely said Datura.



My daily mantra is "I will practice Non-attachment.



Here's my 2 cents for what it is worth:



You need two things in order to have attachment: the thing you’re attaching to, and the person who’s attaching. In nonattachment, on the other hand, there’s unity. There’s unity because there’s nothing to attach to. If you have unified with the whole universe, there’s nothing outside of you, so the notion of attachment becomes absurd. Who will attach to what?"



Because we think we have intrinsic existence within our skin, and what's outside our skin is "everything else," that we go through life grabbing for one thing after another to make us feel safe, or to make us happy.



By the way, it is much easier said than done.



You are such a beacon my friend - I really appreciate all of your stories.

Thank you, Trailguide.



What a powerful quote!



I just love you.

I just love this story.



"No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it." is one of my favorite quotes by Albert Einstein.

Let the witness watch your life as if watching a movie. You will learn a lot about motivation, intention, reaction, proactivity, self-sabotage, strength, about the heroic journey.

It's always there in the silence, watching. Behind the drama, behind the joy, behind the fear.



Both Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer write beautifully about this. I highly recommend their writings.

Aurora, you and I are speaking apples and oranges, I believe. The technique of the silent witness is an awareness technique for the purpose of spiritual growth. It most often becomes appealing after one has struggled enough, been miserable long enough, has perhaps had a tragedy in life that makes it very clear one wishes to live another way. To perceive things another way.



Life was never meant to be a struggle. That comes from Stuart Wilde, one of my favorite teachers. I really do believe that he was right. It is our choice. I consciously choose.



Behind the one who is sad, behind the one who is angry, behind the one who suffers is the silent witness who watches it all. This is who we really are.

Indeed, Datura, there is a delicate balance and intuition plays a part in finding that balance.



The sound of one hand clapping is a puzzle solved instantly by our great American idol, Bart Simpson. While in training to become a mini-golf champ, he was instructed to clear the mind before approaching the ball. Lisa, his wise and younger sister suggested he ponder the sound of one hand clapping.



Bart stood straight and and said, "That's easy!"

He simply allowed the fingers of his right hand to bend at their lower knuckles and slap the palm below.



Just like this:

Yes ..

Thank you Tasmin. you understand, after all.

Proper tension from beyond, and proper anchorage from the ground below.





Juan, when I fly a kite I notice that there is a very intuitive feel as to when to let out string, when to give it a tug. I just need to listen.

Oh yes , thank you , I understand perfectly now



Only that in you which is me can hear what I'm saying. ~Baba Ram Dass

The Sound of One Hand



The master of Kennin temple was Mokurai, Silent Thunder. He had a little protégé named Toyo who was only twelve years old. Toyo saw the older disciples visit the master's room each morning and evening to receive instruction in sanzen or personal guidence in which they were given koans to stop mind-wandering.



Toyo wished to do sanzen also.



"Wait a while," said Mokurai. "You are too young."



But the child insisted, so the teacher finally consented.



In the evening little Toyo went at the proper time to the threshold of Mokurai's sanzen room. He struck the gong to announce his presence, bowed respectfully three times outside the door, and went to sit before the master in respectful silence.



"You can hear the sound of two hands when they clap together," said Mokurai. "Now show me the sound of one hand."



Toyo bowed and went to his room to consider this problem. From his window he could hear the music of the geishas. "Ah, I have it!" he proclaimed.



The next evening, when his teacher asked him to illustrate the sound of one hand, Toyo began to play the music of the geishas.



"No, no," said Mokurai. "That will never do. That is not the sound of one hand. You've not got it at all."



Thinking that such music might interrupt, Toyo moved his abode to a quiet place. He meditated again. "What can the sound of one hand be?" He happened to hear some water dripping. "I have it," imagined Toyo.



When he next appeared before his teacher, he imitated dripping water.



"What is that?" asked Mokurai. "That is the sound of dripping water, but not the sound of one hand. Try again."



In vain Toyo meditated to hear the sound of one hand. He heard the sighing of the wind. But the sound was rejected.



He heard the cry of an owl. This was also refused.



The sound of one hand was not the locusts.



For more than ten times Toyo visited Mokurai with different sounds. All were wrong. For almost a year he pondered what the sound of one hand might be.



At last Toyo entered true meditation and transcended all sounds. "I could collect no more," he explained later, "so I reached the soundless sound."



Toyo had realized the sound of one hand.

And yet the kite has its limitations as well. It can only ride on the breeze if it has proper tension from beyond. When that connection breaks -- it goes sailing off wild and free, but eventually being snagged or succumbing to gravity. From there, it might never take flight again.

Yes, they are, TUM.

Debbie Ford has written a wonderful book about our shadow side and owning it, loving it, working with it. She brings out the importance of not repressing or denying traits we don't like in ourselves, but being aware of them. It's called The Dark Side of the Light Chasers.

" You must be willing to give up the smallness of your story for the vastness of your true essence. Every moment you have a choice". Very powerful words to live by.

Perhaps this will help, Tasmin:



A Kite

author unknown



I often sit and wish that I

Could be a kite up in the sky,

And ride upon the wind and go

Whichever way I chanced to blow.

datura, can you repeat all that in simple english .. didnt understand a word



juan , I feel just the same

Detachment certainly has real value in many instances. Yet there are times when we long to leave its safety and toss ourselves into the mix.

Actually, when I get engrossed in the story and forget what I know, I want to say to the other who has become my teacher, my petty tyrant --as Carlos says: "Go fly a kite!!!!".

Oh, oh, oh!
Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Oh, let's go fly a kite!


When you send it flyin' up there
All at once you're lighter than air
You can dance on the breeze
Over 'ouses and trees
With your first 'olding tight
To the string of your kite


Oh, oh, oh!
Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height!
Let's go fly a kite and send it soaring
Up through the atmosphere
Up where the air is clear
Let's go fly a kite!

I loved your new group on rituals and ceremonies. They are so beautiful and help us remember.

Great story.



Mine are such tosh

Sometimes it becomes very important for me to remember what I believe. At times it is very easy to get caught up in the story! This especially true when people make assumptions, because then my ego wants to jump to the forefront and defend and correct. I have to remind myself that it really has nothing to do with me at all. It has to do only with their own lessons, their own story, what they choose to believe.



Every moment I have a choice. I know this!

I just need to remember.