Feeling Your Way

[zeitgeist]

An interesting psychological experiment was conducted, in which people where hypnotized to get up in the middle of a business meeting and water the plants in the conference room. Afterwards, these people were asked why they did whatever they did, and they came up with all kind of explanations such as, "the plants really looked thirsty", but nobody admitted that he had no clue why. It almost seems as if life happens, and we tailor our analytical mind accordingly, explaining why we do whatever we do.

I am convinced - for the very reason that I feel I am going this way - that the advanced spiritual path traveler doesn't have to make any conscious decisions any more. Life just happens and somehow along the Way, the next step follows naturally from the prior one. You somehow just feel your Way, and don't even bother explaining why you do whatever you do. Perhaps you only use your intellect to explain to the next spiritual generation what the laws of the Tao appear to be.

I came across this description of a spiritual path traveler in a collection William James put together in 'The Varieties of Spiritual Experiences' more than 100 years ago, and I immediately felt that he must have been a Tao traveler as well.

"The compensation for the loss of that sense of personal independence which man so unwillingly gives up, is the disappearance of all fear from one's life, the quite indescribable and inexplicable feeling of an inner security, which one can only experience, but which, once it has been experienced, one can never forget."

Yup, that's the peace of mind one experiences once you travel the Tao. I hope you feel it too.

[pianoperformer]

Yeah I think this is true.

I've been noticing lately that things just happen. Sometimes I don't know as they happen why they are, but later I realize how perfectly it occurred.

I still have trouble giving up total control, but more times than not I realize that I can do nothing about it, and that it will work out perfectly with or without me.

One of my favorite phrases lately is EWOP: Everything works out perfectly. This is how I'm trying to live my life now.

As a result, I'm happier more frequently in my life, and things just don't bother me as much. Things will happen. I am always here. The true Self cannot be affected by these things, so let them come and go as a dream.

[nothuman]

The thing is are we actually controlling anything anyway. I know the mind and ego have an opinion on this and granted the mundane day to day stuff falls under their domain.
But when I look at all the major shifts of directions and snap decisions..... they appear to be handled intuitively.
So by taking our hands off the wheel not only maintains our course but surely puts an end to internal conflict.

[zeitgeist]

Originally Posted by pianoperformer

One of my favorite phrases lately is EWOP: Everything works out perfectly. This is how I'm trying to live my life now.

As a result, I'm happier more frequently in my life, and things just don't bother me as much. Things will happen. I am always here. The true Self cannot be affected by these things, so let them come and go as a dream.

Before I opened this post I was just reminded of a friend who struggled professionally somewhat for a number of years, so he decided to work in his home country and now happens to be finance minister at a time when this country really needs his expertise. Just imagine how much easier life would have been had he lived by your motto ... Everything works out perfectly ...

All the best,

Zeitgeist

[zeitgeist]

Originally Posted by nothuman

So by taking our hands off the wheel not only maintains our course but surely puts an end to internal conflict.

Thanks, I sometimes think of our spiritual journey as a car wash experience. You have to drive your car onto a ramp which can be a bit bumpy, but when you hear a click, all you have to do is to let go and do, well, nothing and all is taken care off.

All the best,

Zeitgeist