“The clarity to see ‘What-Is’ requires spacious presence, which in turn, requires distance (both physical and psychological) and stability of vision.
The world when seen up close seems like a chaotic place, but when seen from a distance, there’s perfect order to things.”
Jagjot Singh
Talks About The Compassionate Heart
To see something from a distance is beautiful but to go closer and grasp it is suffering. For example, Mount Everest looks gorgeous from a distance; one can appreciate the grandeur and scenic beauty, however, going there is challenging and even life-threatening.
This is something I learned touring the Himalayan foothills. Yes, the higher I went, the more peaceful and scenic it was, but it came with challenges that I as someone who lived his entire life on plains may never really fully comprehend. Therefore, for now, I have given up the idea of permanently settling in the mountains. Life still may take me there someday. Who knows! For now, I don’t have the skills to live a mountain life all by myself. All that said, my love affair with mountains remains the same to this day.
Similarly, we have the capacity to love from a distance. Grasping causes stress that starts to break the threads of a loving bond. Loving from a distance; from spaciousness, whether intimate relationships or friendships, provides the breathing room for Self-reflection and deep intimacy – a non-judgmental relationship with one’s own mind and the body.
Distance is not disconnection. It’s not neglect or rejection. It’s a wonderful opportunity to go deep within ourselves and discover our true essence. It creates a sense of safety and stability to tap into the Being. In that spaciousness of Being, we reflect on how we are showing up in the relationship that is creating a particular dynamic. It gives the understanding of how we unconsciously try to control and manipulate people and situations out of our own fears. And we all do that (including spiritual teachers & gurus)! There’s nothing bad or evil about it. This is humanity in the life’s natural flow.
You will not find a single human being who does not do that. Therefore, the aim here is not perfection, but to simply be aware of What-Is-Happening with a non-judgmental and non-self-condescending awareness. Every dynamic of What-Is-Happening is brought about by the entire strength of the Universe, which means, there are innumerable forces acting on mind-body organisms bringing about what appears to happen. To say, “I know,” is to actually not know. But obviously, this is just another of my concepts. The clarity to see ‘What-Is’ requires spacious presence, which in turn, requires distance (both physical and psychological) and stability of vision.
The world when seen up close seems like a chaotic place, but when seen from a distance, there’s perfect order to things. When the senses are overwhelmed they affect the mind, which creates stories around What-Is diverting attention from the present moment.
Bring yourself here and take a deep breath. You’ve created the distance and spaciousness. It’s that Simple!
With love,
Jagjot
