fruit of practice

Through the practice of emptying ourselves we come to see that everything reflects the glory of the One. When we see this, we fall helplessly into profound appreciation.

“He gave you the hearing, the eye- sight, and the brains, that you may be appreciative.” (Quran 16:78)

Practice without expectation and all will become clear,

bob

release

Meditation is the search for what to give up. When we release we become free. When we become free the 'me' dissolves and the Truth remains.

Quoting Al Hallaj Sufi master : "Die before you die"

see?

bob

gratitude

The tastiest fruit of a regular meditation practice is a deep and ongoing sense of gratitude.

By sitting in Silence and just noticing what is presently arising we realize that everything that appears before us is not us. Then we effortlessly fall into awe, wonder, and appreciation for everything just as it is.

Gratitude and contentment are the signs of a winning meditation practice.

Quran 40:61 It is God who has given you the night in which to rest and the day in which to see. God is truly bountiful to people, but most people do not give thanks.

bob

not about 'me'

A regular meditation practice consisting of just noticing that which is currently arising leads to the obvious fact that everything belongs … even those 'pesky' thoughts that jump, hover, and crawl about the mind.

When we see that everything belongs, we lose focus on "me" and turn our awareness towards the mystery that is unfolding in front of us … we see that it is not about what "I" expect from life but rather about what life expects from "me".

The month of August this year is Ramadan. Ramadan is a time of worship where Muslims around the world give up food, water, and sex from the first light of dawn till sundown. Ramadan is an opportunity to gain by giving up and to prosper through turning away from our daily routine towards The Divine.

So it is with our meditation practice … which is giving up our attention to our thoughts, feelings, and body sensations in order to grow closer to the Divine.

I hope your practice (of release) is leading you to a profound realization of the following quote attributed to the Buddha:

"Just as a man who steps upon a serpent shutters in fear but then looks down and notices it is only a rope, so it was that one day I realized that what I was calling "I" cannot be found, and all fear and anxiety vanished with my mistake."