The Field of Stillness: Navigating Discomfort and Discovering Ever-Present Peace

In our hyper-connected world, the pursuit of stillness often feels like an elusive dream. We are bombarded with stimuli, our minds racing with thoughts, and our bodies tense with accumulated stress. Yet, deep within us, there exists a field of stillness, an ever-present oasis of peace that remains untouched by the chaos of our external circumstances. This blog post delves into the concept of the field of stillness, exploring how we can access it, navigate the obstacles that obscure it, and cultivate a deeper sense of inner peace amidst the storms of life.

Stillness: Not Created, But Located

The first crucial understanding is that stillness is not something we create or achieve. It is not a state we manufacture through effort or force of will. Rather, stillness is inherent to our being, a fundamental aspect of our existence that is always present. It is the ground upon which our thoughts, emotions, and sensations arise and pass away.

Imagine a vast ocean. Its surface may be turbulent, with waves crashing and winds howling. But beneath the surface, in the depths of the ocean, there is a profound stillness, a quietude that remains undisturbed by the surface activity. Similarly, our minds may be filled with a constant stream of thoughts and emotions, but beneath the surface of our awareness, there exists a field of stillness that is always available to us.

This understanding shifts our approach to enhance meditation power and mindfulness. Instead of striving to create silence, we learn to locate the silence that is already there. Instead of trying to stop our thoughts, we learn to observe them from the perspective of stillness, recognizing them as transient phenomena that do not define us.

Cultivating Attention: Reframing Our Relationship to Physical Sensation

One of the most significant obstacles to experiencing the field of stillness is physical discomfort. When we sit down to meditate, we may find ourselves bombarded with aches, pains, and itches. Our initial reaction is often to resist these sensations, to tense up and try to push them away. However, this resistance only amplifies the discomfort and further distracts us from the stillness within.

The key to navigating physical discomfort is to cultivate our attention and reframe our relationship to physical sensations. As the attached document elucidates, what we perceive as pain is the result of a complex process involving the firing of neurons and the interpretation of sensory information by the brain. Before we label a sensation as “painful” or “uncomfortable,” there is simply a raw sensory experience.

By bringing our awareness to this raw sensation, we can begin to change our relationship with it. See how understanding Prana life force energy helps deepen this shift in awareness. Instead of immediately recoiling from the discomfort, we can gently lean into it with our attention, exploring its qualities without judgment. What does it feel like? Where is it located in the body? Is it constant or does it fluctuate?

This practice of mindful attention allows us to deconstruct the sensation, separating it from our habitual negative associations. We begin to see that the discomfort is not a threat, but simply a temporary experience that will eventually pass. As we cultivate this understanding, our resistance diminishes, and the sensation loses its power to distract us from the field of stillness.

The Dance of Attention: Expanding Awareness and Transcending Discomfort

In the initial stages of meditation, it may be challenging to maintain our focus on the chosen object of our attention (such as the breath or a mantra) while simultaneously attending to physical sensations. Our minds may feel scattered, jumping back and forth between the object of focus and the discomfort in the body.

However, with consistent practice, we can gradually expand our bandwidth of attention, developing the ability to hold both the object of focus and the physical sensations in our awareness without resistance. This is like learning to juggle multiple balls at once. At first, it may seem impossible, but with practice, we can develop the skill to keep all the balls in the air simultaneously.

As our attention becomes stronger through spiritual transformation through meditation, we can begin to draw more and more of our awareness back to the object of focus, allowing the physical sensations to fade into the background. This does not mean ignoring the discomfort or suppressing it, but rather shifting our perspective so that it no longer dominates our attention.

If the discomfort becomes too intense, it is perfectly acceptable to adjust our posture or take a brief break. The key is to do so mindfully, with awareness of our intentions and without getting caught up in a cycle of fidgeting and restlessness.

Over time, as we continue to practice, our attention becomes so powerful that we can quickly transmute the sensation, redirecting our focus to the object of our meditation. We realize that the field of stillness is not something we have to create, but rather something we can access by transcending the distractions of the mind and body.

Beyond the Cushion: Cultivating Stillness in Daily Life

The principles we learn in meditation can be applied to all aspects of our lives. Just as we cultivate attention and reframe our relationship to physical sensations on the meditation cushion, we can also cultivate attention and reframe our relationship to challenges and stressors in our daily lives.

When faced with a difficult situation, our initial reaction may be to react impulsively, driven by fear, anger, or anxiety. However, if we can pause for a moment and bring our attention to the present moment, we can create space for a more skilful response. By observing our thoughts and emotions without judgment, we can begin to see them as transient phenomena that do not define us. We can recognize that the difficult situation is not a threat, but simply a challenge to be met with courage and wisdom.

Just as we lean into physical discomfort in meditation, we can also lean into emotional discomfort in daily life. Instead of avoiding difficult conversations or suppressing uncomfortable feelings, we can gently explore them with curiosity and compassion. This practice of mindful attention allows us to cultivate resilience and navigate the ups and downs of life with greater equanimity. We begin to realize that the field of stillness is not just something we experience in meditation, but rather a state of being that we can access at any time, in any place.

The Trap of Labels: Healing and Identity

The document raises a crucial point about the potential pitfalls of over-diagnosis and the attachment to labels. In our modern world, we are often quick to label ourselves and others based on diagnoses, personality types, or other classifications. While these labels can be helpful in some contexts, they can also become limiting and even imprisoning.

When we identify too strongly with a label, we risk defining ourselves solely in terms of that label, neglecting the richness and complexity of our being. For example, someone who is diagnosed with depression may begin to see themselves as “a depressed person,” rather than as a person who is experiencing depression.

This identification with the label can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, reinforcing negative beliefs and behaviours and hindering the healing process. As the document points out, people who are diagnosed with serious illnesses often find it helpful to be around people who do not constantly focus on their illness. This allows them to transcend the limitations of the label and connect with their inherent capacity for healing.

To avoid the trap of labels, it is important to honour diagnoses and acknowledge our challenges but to also remember that we are more than our labels. We are complex, multifaceted beings with the potential for growth, healing, and transformation.

Healing: Beyond Identification

True healing involves transcending our identification with our limitations and connecting with our inner resources. This requires a shift in perspective, from seeing ourselves as victims of our circumstances to recognizing ourselves as agents of our own well-being.

By cultivating self-compassion, we can learn to treat ourselves with kindness and understanding, even when we are struggling. By practising mindfulness, we can learn to observe our thoughts and emotions without judgment, allowing them to pass through us without getting stuck.

By connecting with the field of stillness, we can tap into a source of inner peace and resilience that is always available to us, regardless of our external circumstances.

Experience this for yourself with a guided meditation to connect to the source by Anand Mehrotra.

Ultimately, the journey to healing is a journey of self-discovery, a process of uncovering our true nature and realizing our full potential. It is a journey that requires courage, patience, and a willingness to let go of limiting beliefs and embrace the ever-present possibility of transformation.

Conclusion

The field of stillness is not a destination to be reached, but a reality to be recognized. It is the ground of our being, the source of our peace, and the foundation for our healing. By cultivating attention, reframing our relationship to discomfort, and transcending the limitations of labels, we can access this ever-present field of stillness and live more fully, more freely, and more authentically.

As we continue to practice, we realize that the stillness we seek is not something external to us, but rather something that resides within us, waiting to be discovered. It is the quiet centre of our being, the oasis of peace that remains untouched by the storms of life. And it is always here, always available, waiting for us to turn our attention inward and recognize its presence.