It has been observed that in paintings of the Far East,
Very often one will find areas within the painting that are empty,
Areas of vagueness,
Unfilled backgrounds.
And it is not as if the painter has left their work unfinished,
But rather the unfilled backgrounds are an essential part of the whole painting.
They are pregnant voids allowing space for the suggestive,
For the unimagined,
The unimaginable,
The unseen,
The untouched,
The unspoken.
And the temptation inevitably arises to fill,
To fill in every detail with the mind's eye,
To replace the unimagined with the imagined.
Also,
Perhaps providing an occasion to observe this very compulsion and in its midst to explore the possibility of not filling in every detail.
Find a comfortable seat.
Exhale all the air out.
Inhale a breath.
Om.
Om.
Make any final adjustments in your seat,
Inviting the body to be still.
And in the stillness of the body,
Allowing the movement of the breath to become more apparent,
To become more alluring.
Allowing the movement of the breath to pull in your attention,
To carry your attention.
Feeling the breath coming into contact with the openings of the nostrils,
Up the nasal pathways,
Along the hair follicles.
That which I would otherwise remain unseen by means of feeling.
In this case,
By the sense of touch.
Feel the window to the unseen slowly opening.
From the opening of the nostrils as an entryway of your attention.
Feel the breath touching all parts of the body.
Gently caressing the entire surface area of the skin.
Connective tissue.
Muscles.
Bones.
Internal organs.
Feel the breath penetrating every cell in your body.
Cradling the tapestry that is the fabric of your being.
And observing your beingness.
Not by what has come before.
Nor by what may come after.
Observing your beingness.
In the confluence.
The coming together.
Of numerous events.
All at once.
In this very moment.
All the numerous events.
Simultaneously.
Pointing to the experience.
That we identify as the self.
See if that sense of self is emanating.
From any one part of the body.
Or from all parts.
Gently.
Retreat the energy that is at the front of the brain.
Front of the eyes.
Towards the back of the brain.
Back of the eyes.
And from here.
Allow that energy.
From the back of the brain.
And back of the eyes.
To travel down towards the center of your being.
Observing what is this space.
That is the center of being.
Is the space a dimension of time?
A fleeting second.
That we allow ourselves to touch.
Is the space more of a physical dimension?
A sliver.
A crack.
A window.
A door.
Observing.
If your experience of this space.
That is the center of being.
If it's dynamic.
Evolving.
Expanding.
Opening more and more.
With your inquiry.
With your looking into it.
And towards it.
Avoid filling the space with details.
Drop all language.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
All words.
Bow the head towards the heart.
All the way from the base of the neck towards the chin.
Lean back slightly.
Turn the legs out.
Lie down on your back.
Arms move away from the body.
Palms face up.
Feel how every cell in the body is like a sponge.
Silking in.
Sublime awareness.
As if quenching a thirst.
After a long drought.
And that feeling of returning home.
To the nourishment of one's very being.
Folding the arms to the torso.
Receiving the energy of your hands.
Bend one leg,
Then the other.
Roll to your right side.
Pause there.
When you're ready,
Come to sit up.
Allow the palms to join.
Exhale all the air out.
Inhale the breath.
Namaste.
