Gazing into infinity

My fellow seekers

I am fortunate enough to be in the presence of presence itself if that makes sense, and that very presence is starting to make me more and more present. I would like to share my thoughts with you on the journey thus far and I do hope they help you on your own journey. Of course, I am just a novice but nonetheless I will attempt to paint a picture of what life is like when you live among beautiful hearts.

Recently we had a power cut at the heart of the ring of mountains and this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. We were meditating in the dark hall despite of the fact that there was no electricity. For whatever reason I could not focus on my practice and so instead I simply opened my eyes and starred out of the window, which was placed to my right. Before I knew it, I was facing the window and gazing at the breath-taking sight before me. The night sky seemed to be having a ball. There were no lights in the surrounding area and therefore the dark night helped thousands of stars to shine through and create a picturesque view. After having starred out through the window during my meditation session, I walked towards the entrance once the session was over instead of going back into my room. The vast open sky with its jewels of joy invited me and so I just dropped down and laid flat on my back to soak up the infinity that was portrayed before my eyes. There was not a single object that came between me and the universe…. well maybe the bamboo leaves…but still for the most part it was just me and the wide-open starlit sky. The captivating sight made me wonder…. Was I just another star among the thousands of stars? Were they looking at me as I was looking at them?

I was in complete awe. It was such a wonderful experience to be under those stars on a silent night. I may have been “meditating” in the hall as I was sitting in the lotus posture and with my eyes shut according to the conventional sense of what it means to be meditating….however, I feel as though when it comes to the essence of what meditation means, I was only truly meditating while I was laying on my back with my eyes open and gazing into the endless space.

After having experienced such a surreal moment out in nature I just had to have a taste of it again. One night when the moon was glowing brightly, I went back and laid down to merge with the night sky. Since the moon was radiating so much light the stars weren’t as visible. However, it was just as magnificent a night as the previous one. But on that particular night the ‘star’ of the night was not a star but the moon.

I started to contemplate about the moon and her beloved…the sun. The sun has the capacity to generate as much light as he wishes and then gives the abundant rays to his beloved moon and his child, the Earth. He comes when the time is just right and then dips down the horizon with a dramatic goodbye. His duty is done for the day and off he goes. Powerful and proud, everything revolves around the sun.

But take a moment to think about the moon. She has no light of her own…but yet whatever little light she does get from her beloved she happily gives to her child. Some days she’s showered by her beloved and then some she wanes. But however small a light she has, she always gives it all to her child without keeping some for herself. There are days when she is left in the dark but that doesn’t stop her from coming. To the world she may be invisible but she shows up regardless of it. Unlike her beloved, she’s on duty without a set time. Even when the child is bathed with the father’s light, the moon comes and gives all that she has during the day. She may be barely visible…her presence may not even be noticed because of all the attention that is drawn towards the mighty sun…but whether her presence is acknowledged or not, she gives so totally and without the security of being able to create more light for herself. She is completely dependent on her beloved but she truly knows what giving means.

The sun needs to be revered for all that he gives us but the moon has a beauty of her own. She is not so rushed and active as the sun. She is cool and calm, and she takes the back seat in spite of the fact that she dedicates herself throughout the day and night. The sun has a fixed path across the sky but the moon appears for her child whenever and wherever she is needed. We can’t look at the sun for too long, no matter how brilliant he is, but we can gaze at the moon for as long as we want...because she has an enigmatic beauty that cannot be put to words.

So, my fellow seekers, maybe we can learn something from the silent moon. Perhaps we can ask for her guidance on how to give so totally without prioritizing one’s own needs. She can show how to let go of all that is given to us without clinging on to them. Next time you find yourself outdoors at night, take note of the valuable lessons that the moon is trying to teach us.

May these words brighten up your inner world just as the sun and moon brightens up our outer world. Take care my fellow seekers. Have a good day!