Why Not Start There and Stay There?

There are numerous buildings, rooms and containers, but only one universal space. There are numerous thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions, but only one awareness. Just as the space in a room seems defined by the four walls, creating the illusion of a separate space, so our awareness seems limited by the body and mind, creating the illusion of a separate self. Many spiritual traditions provide practices to help this separate self unite with the greater self, the one reality. They start from the illusion of separation and work towards unity, oneness. But if reality is one, why not start there and stay there? Even after understanding the separate self is illusory, old habits of seeking – happiness in the world, enlightenment in spiritual traditions – may persist. This deep impulse to seek outlasts our understanding. It cannot be fulfilled, only dissolved. Any attempt to get rid of it would be more seeking. Just let it be.

There are numerous buildings, rooms and containers, but only one universal space. There are numerous thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions, but only one awareness. Just as the space in a room seems defined by the four walls, creating the illusion of a separate space, so our awareness seems limited by the body and mind, creating the illusion of a separate self. Many spiritual traditions provide practices to help this separate self unite with the greater self, the one reality. They start from the illusion of separation and work towards unity, oneness. But if reality is one, why not start there and stay there? Even after understanding the separate self is illusory, old habits of seeking – happiness in the world, enlightenment in spiritual traditions – may persist. This deep impulse to seek outlasts our understanding. It cannot be fulfilled, only dissolved. Any attempt to get rid of it would be more seeking. Just let it be.