Busy Doing No-Thing

This is the final part of Mick Lewin's reflections

SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS ON THE PATH

Heightened states of peaceful mental/spiritual well-being are not the only consequence of treading a path of simplicity, for there is always the possibility of gaining profound insights along the way... Over the centuries, many revered Buddhist masters who have spent long periods engaged in solitude, silence and meditation have experienced and confirmed traditional insights that are laid down in ancient Buddhist texts. Here are two examples to consider:

• The first turning of the Dharma Wheel is the acknowledgement and recognition of the sanctity of all life, every sentient creature. That's why there is an imperative within Buddhism to become vegetarian. Life is seen as a wondrous gift, a sacred blessing that we must respect with both full reverence and dignity. To hurt another is seen as ultimately hurting ourselves. The teachings tell us that a life of sharing and supporting others as best we can is the right practice to adopt as it will reap a rich and meaningful harvest for everyone - including ourselves. We do not live in isolation, separated and divided from each other. On the contrary, we live in a common and mutual fellowship where all life should be dignified and sanctified.

• A fundamental belief within Buddhism is that of interconnectedness. Every living thing is accepted and celebrated as being connected in profound ways. You, me and the remotest rain forest tribe in South America, in all our richness and diversity, ultimately form one indivisible whole. On the surface, undeniable differences can be detected between us but underneath this superficiality lies a common, shared humanity. To recognise and acknowledge this oneness of the human family is, arguably, the greatest challenge we face in the 21st Century. Because if we do not come together collectively and responsibly to share a common global vision enabling us to tackle poverty, climate change, pollution, increasing industrialisation and urbanisation, then we run the risk of perishing.

THE PATH CONTINUES...

The demands for ever more technological innovation, fuelled by science that has an inbuilt attitude of 'must know, must know' comes from a deep-seated fear of not knowing, of not being comfortable and contented with the mysteries that surround us, of the uncertainties that impinge on our lives in this strange and magical place of our existence. Yet the attempts to control more of our world seems, paradoxically, to lead us to be further out of control; alienated and estranged from both ourselves and each other. If we are constantly engaged in busy-ness and pre-occupied with doing, doing, doing, we may well miss the call, the message that needs our urgent attention: time is short and we shouldn't waste it. Do we choose a spiritual path that will lead us to deeper insights enabling us to appreciate and celebrate the woundrous natural world that both encircles and sustains us ? Or do we continue to be subject to manipulation by the powerful forces in society that distract us with the damaging aspects of modernity ? The choice is ours. The choice is now...

"Stopping is a spiritual art. It is the refuge where we drink life in."
Sue Monk Kidd

Mick Lewin

Busy Doing Something...

LIFE ON THE SPIRITUAL PATH

Life is not about stockpiling a multiplicity of experiences in a crazy world of neurotic activity: it's about exploring more deeply the most important ones - experiences that will stretch us to new, heightened growth, experiences that will help lead us to some comprehension and appreciation of our beautiful world and our rightful place in it.

Exploring the riches of simplicity, spending time in quiet, reflective solitude and silence will lighten our load, make us feel more relaxed, more at ease with the mind, body and spirit. Then, almost without us knowing, something of a spacious calm will descend and wash away all our pre-occupations around frantic 'doing'. We start to become much more aware, much more mindful of a quieter reality of our existence. Finding this inner serenity, peace and clarity can be disturbing in one sense because once we have found it, once we have tasted its fruits, we know that we cannot do anything more than explore it further. Eventually we start to enter a spiritual territory where we feel the need to 'give up' more of ourselves (similar to Dante after he had explored the worldly plains with Virgil) and to surrender to a higher calling of presence where true humility can surface with the attendant feelings of deep appreciation, gratefulness and gratitude for all that we have been given.

Fragmentary, contradictory thoughts may surface within us, contending with each other but we are bigger than paradox and inconsistency: we are able to accept the supreme insight of our not knowing - the humbling acceptance of a deep mystery and mysticism of that which is beyond our reach, grasp and comprehension. At this point, a profound peace, which we may never have felt before, can settle in our hearts, minds and bodies that will gently encompass and embrace a fuller acceptance and reconciliation to what is.

Mick Lewin

Busy Doing Nothing...

"Besides the noble art of getting things done there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials."
Lin Yutang (1895-1976)

SIMPLICITY AND CONTEMPLATION

I can recall my distant life of 'busy-ness' that nearly marched me off into illness. Commitments, responsibilities, obligations, expectations: I encircled them all in a frantic whirlwind of activity that seemed so right at the time, so essential to my existence - but I was wrong. Eventually, through feelings of fatigue and anxiety that arose within me, I started to re-assess my life and what I was doing with it. Soon, I stopped worshipping at the altar of 'doing' and renounced its curious hold on me.

This single act of rebellion turned me into a different and better person as I started to slow down and appreciate a calmer, gentler rhythm of life. People started noticing this too as I relaxed more in their company. Now, when I get engrossed in activity - especially when it starts to feel neurotically driven - I remind myself of my vow to be in the world in a different , more spacious way and try to return to this relaxed presence. But it isn't easy.

We live in a world of unprecedented economic, military and technological expansion that sees no sign of abating. A world of:

• Unnecessary mass consumerism
• Over-dependence on technology
• Ethically problematic scientific research (cloning, GM food supply, etc)
• Rapidly depleting natural resources
• Future devastating climactic changes
• Over population
• Widespread poverty
• War and death on an unprecedented scale
• Increasing alienation, even in the most prosperous regions of the world
• Record levels of obesity
• Unacceptable levels of mental health problems
• Record levels of suicide - especially amongst the young
• Escalating criminal activity - violent street crime [involving] guns and knives
• Drug and alcohol addiction

The news from our streets, neighbourhoods, communities and cities is not good by any measure. The hurt and pain, the anguish and despair, cry out for our attention but too often we feel powerless to effect any change for the better. We feel as if our arguments for a better world fall on stony ground. The idolatrous worship of 'success' in our media-dominated world is a difficult one to challenge because it is often wrapped up in the celebrity gloss of accomplishment and reward. But is 'success' - in the narrow sense - necessarily a good thing ? Can it be measured by the shallow 'fame' of hyped-up TV performers ? Or by the size of city bonuses earned in a bullish market ? Or by developing a smart, generational level of computer graphics to captivate us on our screens ? Or even through buying knighthoods conferred on services to industry ? And perhaps even by the number of medals pinned on military tunics for fighting and killing in other people's countries ?

Mick Lewin

This is the first part of Mick Lewin's reflections on being busy doing nothing. More to follow soon...