“Knowledge has three degrees – opinion, science, illumination. The means or instrument of the first is sense; of the second, dialectic, of the third, intuition.” – Plotinus
Beginning a new decade, raises the question of how we continue this journey of life using the skill set/s we have or enhancing them with “the eyes behind our eyes.” How do we see the order of our lives in this moment? Do we even stop to contemplate the order of our lives? Sporadically, we often hear how embracing peace in our lives is beyond necessary . . . it is fundamental to our well being. How does one find peace? In a Zen story . . . a student asks the master, ”Where do you go to find your answers?” The Master replies, “I close my eyes.” Have you ever stopped long enough to listen to the stillness between your thoughts? It is in this place where intuition exists, where we begin to sense answers to those universal questions. As a musician, I have heard more music in the silence ”between the notes,” allowing that silence to enbellish the experience.
A Buddhist proverb suggests, “If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking.” Are you facing in the right direction? How would you know if you were or were not? It takes a decision of clarity and a conscious choice of will, to stop and listen to the silence between our thoughts. It is not an easy practice to embrace, without a great deal of surrender to the illusion of ego. Of course, if you wish the continued “static” to order your life’s path/experience . . . march on! That’s a relatively simplistic choice. However, if you are at a crossroads . . . as many of us experience with expedient regularity . . . the words of Deepak Chopra resonate with understanding, “If you want to transform your karma to a more desirable experience, look for the seed of opportunity within every adversity, and tie that seed of opportunity to your dharma, or purpose in life.”
Within the silence between your thoughts, lies the answers to your essence which has always been there . . . the first step turns the key of choice into hearing the voiceless voice, the next step illuminates the infinite possibilities . . . listen. JLR