Inner Work

For the week of: September 22, 2003

Beyond Stillness

One great and worthy goal of spiritual practice consists of achieving entry into and abiding in stillness. Indeed, liberation, joy, and kindness emanate from the realms of stillness. The peace of stillness removes us from our multifarious attachments to thoughts and emotions and weakens the self-identification and self-reification of egoism. Ready access to stillness marks an important milestone on the path.

But what then? Often, people who reach this stage consider it the ultimate enlightenment and remain on this comfortable and warm plateau of peace. At best, teachers rightly exhort the seeker to bring the fruits of stillness into compassionate action in the world. But even this falls short.

Beyond stillness, the Ultimate Source awaits us, awaits our purification, with the simultaneous promise of Unity and Individuality. So if by looking beyond thoughts, you find yourself in the realm of stillness, look again. Reach beyond the stillness itself toward the utmost Fundamental that constantly creates and sustains and loves this universe.

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