Jain Spirit 2003 12 No 17

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 33

Death Is Not The End
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This entire problem is caused because we so readily identify with our thoughts. We are hypnotised by our thoughts. As a result, we have forgotten that we are the thinker behind the thoughts. This is further compounded by our education systems valuing the thinking process more than the experience. Only when we fully understand that we are the thinker behind our thoughts can we use thoughts to mine our true potential. Then we can take control of our Are you seeing the whole picture? thoughts and use them as a tool rather than be at the mercy of our thoughts.
Our natural state is to see what really is and our unnatural state is when we have learned not to see it because now we are looking through thoughts. It is the present moment through which we can dissolve the hold of negative fixed thoughts on our life.
Many of my healing insights have come because I have made a conscious effort to live in the now. Cultivating this ability to live in the now is the practical way in which to practise the openness of anekantvada. It stopped me from perpetuating the same 're-active' behaviour and negative emotional states. Living in the now switches you out of your fixed thoughts and back into reality. It allows you to experience what is actually there rather than what you think is there. It allows you to be in the 'flow of life. It raises your awareness.
The simplest way to get into the present is through the five senses, by seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting what is there in that moment. Engage your senses one by one. Let your mind experience a sensory overload that completely fills the mind and it will tie up the whole mind. The mind enters into the state of unconscious attention. It is defined as follows: "when attention is so complete that there is no part of the mind left over to notice that you are paying attention to it." It is when the conscious and unconscious mind comes together. As a result, you switch out of your thoughts and prejudices because attention is no longer split. Most of us experience life through the nature of our thoughts and not reality. Once these thoughts are out of the way, you are truly open to tune into life as it is.
I really experienced the power of unconscious attention on the golf driving range. About a week after my arrival in London, I got together with some friends for lunch. After lunch one of them suggested that we go to the driving range to hit a few golf balls. I protested that I did not even know how to hold the club, let alone swing. They said that they would teach me. It was easy! So I went along with them. It would be something
new and an interesting way to cultivate my openness. We were on the range for about an hour and I had my first lesson in driving. Because this was something new I gave it my complete attention. It engaged all my senses. Firstly, I was listening to every word of instruction given and watched everything my friend was doing. I needed to keep my eye focused on the ball and be able to feel the club as an extension of my
body. I was so focused on hitting the ball I forgot about everything else! That was also the first time in that moment that I stopped thinking about what had happened to Sheetal!
It was just incredible! Otherwise until then I was always running a thought film about the loss that I had suffered in the back of my mind, no matter what I was doing. I realised that we can only truly experience the loss through our thoughts, not through reality. When I am simply there in the moment and out of my thoughts, I feel an amazing sense of peace, happiness and freedom. I began to experience a release of energy that renewed and rejuvenated me. This was a release of my life energy that was being trapped by my thoughts. We all have this life energy within us and it has an intelligence of its own. As I spent more time in the now, doing things that I really enjoyed, I found that insights about grief flowed to me.
Whenever I do this it always makes me say, "WOW!" because living in the 'pre-sent' opens up your awareness to all the little things that give life its richness. It helps us appreciate the joys of living a life. That's why I often refer to living in the now as "Living in the WOW!"
Attention is what brings things into consciousness and when it becomes unconscious attention you'll see deeply, you'll see reality, you'll experience your true nature.
Part of this article is an excerpt from Niraj's book: "The Quest of the Phoenix - a powerful new way to grieve!" Copyright © 2002 by Niraj Shah. The book is available through his website: www.phoenix-method.com To learn more about how to use more of your mind and apply unconscious attention, please e-mail Niraj on phoenix@phoenix-method.com
DIGITAL IMAGE: JAMES MATURIN-BAIRD
December 2003 - February 2004
Jain Spirit
31