Original Love

What if the you that you think you are isn’t the real you? What if, behind the veil of daily experiences, lies a profound truth of interconnectedness and unconditional love?

1. The Illusion of the Separate Self

The idea we hold of ourselves as separate entities navigating life is more illusion than reality. When you closely examine it, this sense of self is built from a tapestry of memories, expectations, and perceptions – a story we perpetuate. This construction, while seeming solid, is as fleeting as a mirage over a heated desert road.

When this illusion is pierced, we begin to experience a sense of liberation. The author posits that awakening gives us a glimpse into a deeper connection. Rather than existing as isolated beings, we are both part of and inseparable from a whole, a boundless reality where love flows freely.

This realization isn’t merely intellectual. It’s visceral and transformative, unleashing what the author calls "original love" – a state of unconditional love and well-being that reaches far beyond our everyday understanding.

Examples

• The story we tell ourselves about "I" is similar to a movie; it's compelling but ultimately fictional.
• Spiritual traditions across the world, from Buddhism to Taoism, point toward this unified, interconnected truth.
• People who undergo this shift often describe an overwhelming sense of peace and clarity, knowing they are not alone but deeply woven into the fabric of existence.

2. Meditation as the Gateway

Meditation offers a pathway to touching this deeper dimension of selflessness. The author likens the practice to a journey, one with various stages of discovery and rest stops, or "inns," along the way. Through consistent practice, meditation allows us to turn inward and glimpse the expansive reality beyond the veil.

The stages of meditation begin with mindfulness, where one pays closer attention to the present without judgment. As practice deepens, feelings of connection, support, and absorption emerge, paving the way for awakening. Each stage builds on the previous to create a gradual transformation.

Meditation isn’t reserved for spiritual masters – it’s an accessible practice for everyone. Devotion to this process unveils a world of boundless compassion and interconnectedness at our very core.

Examples

• Practicing mindfulness by focusing on breath calms the mental chatter and anchors us in the present.
• Daily meditation, even for 10 minutes, helps to quiet the illusion of separation from the world.
• Historical accounts of monks and lay practitioners alike report unity with a larger consciousness through meditation.

3. Challenges Along the Way

The path to awakening is seldom smooth, as meditation uncovers internal obstacles known as the five hindrances: desire, aversion, dullness, restlessness, and doubt. These hindrances pull our focus away from the present moment, distancing us from the path.

Desire manifests as a longing for something just out of reach. Aversion stems from avoiding unpleasant emotions. Dullness saps your mental clarity, while restlessness leaves your mind jumpy and unsettled. Finally, doubt creeps in, causing you to question yourself and your abilities.

Acknowledging and naming these hindrances forms the first step in overcoming them. Rather than suppressing these feelings, recognizing them creates the awareness needed to continue moving forward.

Examples

• The desire for future success can distract practitioners from the current task of mindfulness.
• A restless mind, replaying past regrets or planning for tomorrow, interrupts the stillness meditation cultivates.
• Doubt often sounds like internal dialogue questioning if meditation has any real value.

4. Befriending Your Hindrances

Instead of fighting the obstacles, embrace them with acceptance and understanding. Naming them and identifying where they appear in the body gives them less control over your practice. This is an act of self-compassion, transforming these challenges into opportunities for growth.

By meeting these hindrances with a posture of kindness, they lose their sting. The shift lies not in eradicating them but in fostering the strength to coexist with challenging emotions without succumbing to them.

This approach reverberates beyond meditation, enriching daily life. As challenges arise in various forms, the practice of softening towards them helps cultivate resilience and patience.

Examples

• During meditation, calmly acknowledging restlessness as “thinking again” and redirecting your focus to your breath.
• Notice how a tight chest signals aversion and gently allow it to relax.
• Use a mantra like “I see you” towards feelings of doubt, treating them as temporary visitors.

5. Mindfulness as a Foundation

Mindfulness is the foundation of this practice, teaching you to observe without judgment. It can turn mundane activities into opportunities for presence, revealing the richness of now.

The author describes mindfulness as the focused attention on sensations, emotions, and thoughts in real-time. It allows practitioners to uncover the vibrant detail often overlooked in daily life, whether it’s something as simple as the wind on your face or the taste of a meal.

This active engagement creates an openness to the world around us, leading to a more fulfilling and authentic existence.

Examples

• Mindfully sipping tea, noticing its aroma, warmth, and sensation.
• Immersing yourself in a walk outdoors, feeling each step touch the ground.
• Becoming aware of breathing patterns during moments of frustration.

6. Awakening as an Accident

The author shares a paradox: while you can prepare for awakening, it happens unexpectedly. It isn’t a reward for meditation but an occurrence that transcends effort – a sudden shift in the way reality is perceived.

Awakening isn’t merely an escape to an altered state of being. It’s a recognition of reality as it is without the burden of conditioned perception. This experience dissolves the boundary between self and the surrounding world, revealing unity.

Once this occurs, love and peace arise naturally, marking a return to a deeper sense of home.

Examples

• Similar to a lightning strike, awakening is random, but a persistent practice makes it more likely.
• Zen teachings emphasize preparing the “field” without chasing enlightenment directly.
• Many individuals describe awakening not as gaining something new but shedding obscuring layers.

7. Emptiness as Spaciousness

Emptiness is a foundational aspect of awakening, described not as void but as boundless openness. It’s a freeing realization that what we perceive as fixed (objects, self) is dynamic, ever-changing, and without definable boundaries.

This understanding shifts perspective, leaving us unshaken by previous fears or attachments. Emptiness allows a person to flow with life’s constant evolution rather than clinging to a narrative of permanence.

Instead of creating urgency or discomfort, embracing emptiness cultivates ease and confidence in the journey of existence.

Examples

• Imagining life as an ocean where all waves originate and dissolve.
• The transient yet recurring nature of seasons as a metaphor for existence.
• Descriptions from contemplative traditions highlighting this "field of potential."

8. Blazing Forth: Reality’s Creativity

The dynamic side of awakening acknowledges the ceaseless generation of experiences. It's described as "blazing forth," a vivid manifestation of life’s inherent energy shaping all phenomena.

This ongoing creative outpouring replaces the illusion of static existence with the thrill of interconnected creativity. Each moment is seen as a spark within an infinite flow.

This realization intertwines the idea of self with the creative rhythm of the universe, inspiring gratitude and participation rather than withdrawal.

Examples

• Observing how a river flows endlessly, creating change and movement.
• Witnessing the hot ember of human invention and its endless curiosity.
• Recognizing moments of insight or joy as part of this creative energy.

9. Awakening Deepens Love for the World

Awakening isn’t a retreat from daily life but an amplification of its beauty. It enriches our love for both ourselves and others. Having experienced healing at the deepest levels, people often feel a natural urge to help others and foster community.

This state of being encourages action guided by compassion. By recognizing our shared existence, we treat the world not as separate but as kin, seeing the joy and sorrow of others as our own.

Consistent practice deepens this transformation, grounding love in every interaction.

Examples

• A monk caring for his garden, treating each plant with reverence.
• People engaging in humanitarian work due to a sense of great unity with others.
• A mother experiencing a newfound tenderness during a simple conversation with her child.

Takeaways

1. Dedicate ten minutes daily to mindfulness meditation and observe its cumulative effect on your sense of peace and clarity.
2. When facing emotional challenges, recognize and name them without judgment, allowing yourself to soften toward them.
3. Incorporate mindfulness into daily routines, such as eating or walking, to embed presence into every aspect of life.