Tai Morello - Meditation The Journey Beyond The Mind

It's the 21st century. We stand at the boundary of the past and the future. Scientifically, we now know more about the world than we have ever known before. But because of the blistering pace of technological change, the shape of the future's horizon is a mystery. We don't know what the world will be like in one hundred years. We can only be certain that it won't be like it is now.

One of the most noteworthy trends of recent years is the way techniques of meditation, mindfulness, and yoga have burst into the mainstream. Though they come from ancient religions, scientific research touts their benefits. But with the current state of scientific knowledge, many of us find it hard to accept the ancient dogmas that come with these techniques. We hunger for something more nutritious than McMindfulness but at the same time, we find it impossible to swallow the old religious certainties of a bygone era.

It seems like a long time ago when I first set down on the spiritual path. I was just out of college, and I was experiencing a spiritual crisis. The uncertainty of entering the job market combined with other sources of turmoil in my life, and I felt like I was in the dark with no knowledge of how to move forward and no light to guide me.

During this time I developed an interest in spiritual ideas. What brought this on was a series of unusual dreams. But since theres nothing more boring than hearing someone elses dreams, Ill spare you the tedious details.

In any case, I started to experiment with many different ways of getting in touch with the source, but the one that stuck was meditation. I did meditation for years without actually seeing anything from it. In retrospect, I dont know why I stuck with it. I had no clear idea of what I wanted to get out of it.

Perhaps that was for the best. Slowly very slowly, it seemed, at first the darkness lifted from my mind. Where before I had felt only confusion and despair, I began to experience hope and elation in the smallest things a patch of golden sunlight falling on green grass, the soft sound of rain against a window pane.

As I gained more familiarity with this openness, I realized that this was a significant moment. I had struck a rich vein within myself and found gold.

Nothing changed in my outer circumstances to precipitate this discovery. But because of some strange persistence on my part, I had kept rubbing my mind again and again until a layer of grime came off, and, lo and behold, beneath it was a brightly shining mirror. It reflected everything vividly and precisely. It showed me to myself.

With my newfound sense of freedom and joy, I left my job and set out to discover the world. Without much money in my pocket, I traveled to many different countries, especially in Asia, and slummed it in very cheap hotels and guest houses.

I spent my time reading about different spiritual traditions. I sought out teachers of these traditions and learned from them. Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Sufism you name it.

I found that, although these traditions differed on many points, on the most essential matters they were in agreement. So I resolved to focus on this essence and cut out the extraneous stuff.

I dont claim to have all the answers to lifes most pressing spiritual questions. But what I do have, the discovery that I can offer to you, is very precious. It is a lifeline that connects me to the core of my being. And it can be a lifeline for you too.

It is both the most authentic, most genuine part of myself, and that which allows me to be genuine in the world. Since that day when the fog began to lift from my mind, my life has been a process of going deeper and deeper into my experience of that and allowing it to transform my life from the inside out.

My aim in writing this book is not to convert anyone, but to point you in the most fruitful direction for self-discovery. I was like a miner or archaeologist. I just kept digging and excavating my own mind until I discovered buried treasure.

That is what I want for you, as well. I want to inspire you to take out your shovel and start digging.

Its takes effort and persistence, but when you hit that vein, youll realize it was worth every effort you put into it.

This book is written for anyone who finds themselves standing at this spiritual crossroads, unsure of which path to take. I have spent years traveling, studying, and practicing different systems, and in this book I will distill the essence of them for you pared down to the simplest elements, without dogma or religious trappings.

The key theme I will keep sounding is what I call authentic presence . What exactly is authentic presence? It is the truest, inmost part of you. And it is the goal of many spiritual systems and practices. Someone who has reached the pinnacle of those paths always lives in authentic presence. They embody it. They are it 24/7. This state is called the awakened state or enlightenment.

Authentic presence has been called by many names the Self, spirit, consciousness, the divine within, the image of God, buddhanature. But I've chosen the phrase "authentic presence" because it's not so much a thing as a way of being to yourself and to others . At the same time, it's not just a temporary state, but an abiding reality that you can discover within yourself.

Authentic presence is not about making yourself happy or being a better person. It's about fundamental self-honesty, which allows you to be honest with others. So the goal of this path of authentic presence doesn't have to do with capturing a state of bliss, erasing your negativity, doing an emotional detox, or retreating from the challenges of life. It is, instead, a way of opening yourself up to challenges and negativity so that they can be transformed.

The path of authentic presence could be considered synonymous with the spiritual path. The best way to discover authentic presence within yourself and cultivate that state is through the practice of meditation. This is not a matter of religious dogma. It's simply what has worked for many aspirants for millennia. It is a powerful technique that has withstood the test of time.

Through meditation, it's possible to have a glimpse of authentic presence. That one, brief glimpse inspires confidence in the technique and the path. Then, through further practice, you touch on the experience again and again. You learn to relax, without trying to hold on to anything, which prolongs the experience. Then you are able to bring it into everyday situations, which transforms your life.

But now let's start at the beginning: ourselves, as we are right now.