This one resulted in many thoughts arising. First was how some interpretations of quantum physics posit that "things" do not exist until they are interacting with something else - any properties of the thing are meaningless, or at least not realized, until the thing expresses those properties through an interaction that makes them relevant. Otherwise, it exists only as potential, a "cloud of probabilities", and in the context of the rest of reality might as well not be there. And yet in another sense it is always there if it is ever there. The probability of that interaction was spawned at the beginning of time, or existence, or however you want to phrase that, and any interaction will necessarily affect whatever it interacted with, which will result in a shift of potential probabilities for that other thing, causing ripples which permeate existence perpetually into eternity. If I have ever existed, I have always existed and will always exist, whether or not I am "realized" in that moment. I am as essential to the being of existence as anything else, even if it doesn't always feel that way, simply due to the nature of relationships and how everything is intimately related in one way or another.
Second was how obvious inevitability seems, how it is impossible to argue with "what is", because if it was going to be any other way it would be that instead. Struggle against that is unnecessary, and sometimes creates unnecessary problems, but if that happens then it is what happens. "The path is pathless", as you say, many paths or one path or no path, it's all the same because we're here now anyway. Might as well "be here" if that is where I am.
Finally, I was reminded about how I've come to realize that when I am present, when I am fully accepting of "what is", I can find gratitude for the path I have taken here, all the things that have happened, exactly as they happened, that brought me to this moment. All the actions and events which resulted in emotional turmoil, all the joyful experiences, all the relationships which have come and gone, or which are still unfolding, all of it has created who I am that is perceiving and participating in this right now. I still regret the suffering I have caused others in the past, but I also realize that it was part of our journey, as beings capable of both suffering and producing suffering. The choices I made in those moments were made as the being I was in those moments, but I own them as my choices, and recognize my responsibility to do my best to live now in ways that do not result in other's suffering. But I also recognize and accept that it will probably still happen from time to time despite my efforts. And then, I will carry on from there as I am then, as will everyone else.
Sorry Shiv! I hate to do this! But you said “we will cook dinner and clean up together while discussing our day and other items of the month that require planning”, planning = future yet you also said that you don’t care about the future? Im not being purposely pedantic, I am interested to know how you harmonise “not caring about the future” with “planning”.
lol, Shiv, I read your post “Being and Non Being” AFTER this post, which has made this question completely null and void!! Planning belongs in the realm of Non Being!!! 😂
Love this: "They say you should live each day as if it is your last. But I live it as if it is my first."
And this: "My only real interest is in today and the relationships that provide it texture and context."
And this: "The entire structure of my day is purely relational. My daughters, my readers, my dog, my wife - form the scaffolding of my reality. Without them I might be content to simply sit on a chair and gaze out of the window all day like my cat. All the activities I have described above, are equally meaningful to me. I do not value my spiritual writing as superior to my time spent walking the dog or washing dishes with my wife. What makes these activities meaningful is not their content but in the fact that they are relational."
And this: "I am a famous dillydallier myself."
And this: "Frustration and disagreement can be just as effective portals into the present as humor and enjoyment. Both can act as doorways to the wholeness of the moment."
Thank you for being a co-doorway to the wholeness of THIS moment!
Another beautiful essay, thank you Shiv. I have just received an important nugget of clarity. This time my attention jumped onto the word "meaningful" and how this essay has shifted my understanding of that word. I realize how much emphasis I have been placing on "meaningful" as content rather than as context. It feels like a complete reframe of the word in my system. Much gratitude.
"we recognize that we are not tied to each other. We are more fundamentally bonded to what-is.
Relational wisdom is not about creating bonds between self and other. It is about recognizing that self and other are always two different faces of what-is"
Then why does the ancient wisdom say: "Tied the knot!" for married couples?
This one resulted in many thoughts arising. First was how some interpretations of quantum physics posit that "things" do not exist until they are interacting with something else - any properties of the thing are meaningless, or at least not realized, until the thing expresses those properties through an interaction that makes them relevant. Otherwise, it exists only as potential, a "cloud of probabilities", and in the context of the rest of reality might as well not be there. And yet in another sense it is always there if it is ever there. The probability of that interaction was spawned at the beginning of time, or existence, or however you want to phrase that, and any interaction will necessarily affect whatever it interacted with, which will result in a shift of potential probabilities for that other thing, causing ripples which permeate existence perpetually into eternity. If I have ever existed, I have always existed and will always exist, whether or not I am "realized" in that moment. I am as essential to the being of existence as anything else, even if it doesn't always feel that way, simply due to the nature of relationships and how everything is intimately related in one way or another.
Second was how obvious inevitability seems, how it is impossible to argue with "what is", because if it was going to be any other way it would be that instead. Struggle against that is unnecessary, and sometimes creates unnecessary problems, but if that happens then it is what happens. "The path is pathless", as you say, many paths or one path or no path, it's all the same because we're here now anyway. Might as well "be here" if that is where I am.
Finally, I was reminded about how I've come to realize that when I am present, when I am fully accepting of "what is", I can find gratitude for the path I have taken here, all the things that have happened, exactly as they happened, that brought me to this moment. All the actions and events which resulted in emotional turmoil, all the joyful experiences, all the relationships which have come and gone, or which are still unfolding, all of it has created who I am that is perceiving and participating in this right now. I still regret the suffering I have caused others in the past, but I also realize that it was part of our journey, as beings capable of both suffering and producing suffering. The choices I made in those moments were made as the being I was in those moments, but I own them as my choices, and recognize my responsibility to do my best to live now in ways that do not result in other's suffering. But I also recognize and accept that it will probably still happen from time to time despite my efforts. And then, I will carry on from there as I am then, as will everyone else.
Anyway, good stuff, as always.
Thanks for sharing your experience Collin
Wonderful! Thank you for expressing this so beautifully. The words flowed so naturally, seeping deep into my heart.
Sorry Shiv! I hate to do this! But you said “we will cook dinner and clean up together while discussing our day and other items of the month that require planning”, planning = future yet you also said that you don’t care about the future? Im not being purposely pedantic, I am interested to know how you harmonise “not caring about the future” with “planning”.
lol, Shiv, I read your post “Being and Non Being” AFTER this post, which has made this question completely null and void!! Planning belongs in the realm of Non Being!!! 😂
Beautiful!
Dear Shiv,
Beautiful piece as always.
Love this: "They say you should live each day as if it is your last. But I live it as if it is my first."
And this: "My only real interest is in today and the relationships that provide it texture and context."
And this: "The entire structure of my day is purely relational. My daughters, my readers, my dog, my wife - form the scaffolding of my reality. Without them I might be content to simply sit on a chair and gaze out of the window all day like my cat. All the activities I have described above, are equally meaningful to me. I do not value my spiritual writing as superior to my time spent walking the dog or washing dishes with my wife. What makes these activities meaningful is not their content but in the fact that they are relational."
And this: "I am a famous dillydallier myself."
And this: "Frustration and disagreement can be just as effective portals into the present as humor and enjoyment. Both can act as doorways to the wholeness of the moment."
Thank you for being a co-doorway to the wholeness of THIS moment!
Much love
Myq
"The only step that ever counts is this one"
Another beautiful essay, thank you Shiv. I have just received an important nugget of clarity. This time my attention jumped onto the word "meaningful" and how this essay has shifted my understanding of that word. I realize how much emphasis I have been placing on "meaningful" as content rather than as context. It feels like a complete reframe of the word in my system. Much gratitude.
Yes Rowena, it is a radical shift. Meaning stops being something to pursue and becomes something inherent in presence itself.
"we recognize that we are not tied to each other. We are more fundamentally bonded to what-is.
Relational wisdom is not about creating bonds between self and other. It is about recognizing that self and other are always two different faces of what-is"
Then why does the ancient wisdom say: "Tied the knot!" for married couples?