Freedom & Not-Knowing

Part of what makes practice a relief, light and even fun (yes, fun!) is when we wholeheartedly remember that all we have to do—and all we can do—is be here now. We know deeply (not through thought) that most everything else is an expenditure of our life force. Presence creates the conditions for this wisdom to arise. It reminds us that we can really begin again.

To begin again is to recognize our hardened notions that we know how things will unfold, to let them burn in the light of awareness. It is to face the momentum of habituated, scattered energy and let our deepest loving presence reorganize it and determine how we proceed. 

When presence is in charge, we are free because we are not carrying the view that we have been here before. We’ve never experienced this moment before, and we’ve never been who we are right now. We are always beginning again—we just don’t know it. 

When we do know it, life feels more fluid, spontaneous, and useful. We’re not doing so much as letting the greater thing operate through us. We’re responding to the question: Where does the energy want to go? How does it want to be? What's the yes?

Presence dispels the delusion of familiarity. If we look, we can sense a feeling of of “I’ve been here before,” “I’ve done this before,” “This is repetitive,” “This is the same as before.” There is stuckness. We cling to the voice of the pattern. Sameness seems safe. But is it nourishing? Does it feel good?

We can practice remembering that we've never been here before. We practice not looking for the fireworks or big spiritual breakthrough. We can practice just being receptive to the newness of this moment. 

And we can practicing staying. What happens next? Maybe it's nothing fancy. It might be a mug of tea or a walk around the block. But it's new, it's not the same.