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Story
A meditation student went to his Teacher. He said, "My meditation is terrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's terrible!" The Teacher replied quietly, "It'll pass." Several days later the student returned to the Teacher. He said, "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's wonderful!' "It'll pass," replied the Teacher quietly.
Comments
We learn through practicing Silent Openness to God that we are not our feelings. We learn that the Wonderful Presence is not a positive feeling anymore than a negative feeling. We learn not to attach negative or positive thoughts to feelings.
Feelings are feelings. We grow to experience feeling-states as passing-conditions and not to be clung to or avoided.
Contemplation is resting in the Sabbath of Quiet. We are open to God. Being open to God we are open to the transitory sensations of body and mind. Through loving openness we relinquish taking our feelings too seriously.
What happens in this relinquishment? A vast Openness opens. Our trust in the reliability of our feelings dissolves and the Sabbath of Rest pours into the place we clung to our emotions.
What does this teach us? Everything passes for all things are impermanent except the Ground of all things.
Few persons can experience this relinquishment. They love and trust their feelings more than loving and trusting God.
Suggested Exercise
Sit quietly for ten minutes or more. Be aware of the sensations of mind and body. Notice how passing is each feeling.
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