#422 The Direct Physical Feel of Things

     In mindfulness meditation practice we constantly bring attention to the PHYSICAL FEEL of various objects of attention: the breath in the belly (hara, dan tien or tanden), posture, muscle tone, sounds etc. At the same time, we let go of words, stories (self-talk), concepts etc. We emphasize direct experience of just this moment, then just this moment, then just this ... To stabilize just this, we notice when attention has drifted off, accept this as a fact, and seamlessly bring attention back to just this.
     Perception - the act of contacting sense objects -  becomes as clear & obvious as when physically touching a solid object. Awareness comes back home to our bodies, filling it like sand fills a bag of sand. We stand solidly on the earth, sit firmly on a chair or cushion. Perhaps this is what "groundedness" refers to.
     There is clarity, simplicity, a lightness of being to directness. We are progressively letting go of the many barriers (boundaries, avoidances, filters, defences etc) we previously erected between ourselves and life straight-up. These barriers were necessary, but are now hindrances that we intentionally release.

       Wilber K. No boundary. Eastern and Western approaches to personal growth. Shambhala, Boston, 1979.

#236 Porous & Grounded vs Existential Crisis

     The quality of porousness seems at first blush to be radically different than being grounded. Porousness is about fully recognizing and accepting the aspect of life marked by constant change - how all phenomena arise, remain for a while, then abate. Phenomena constantly pass through our awareness, like a bird might fly in through an open window on one side of a house, and then fly right out an other open window on the other side of the house.
     Grounded refers to stability, like a house built of stone. Stability is achieved because and after we consciously accept and embrace the fact that everything and everyone - ourself, every person, animal & thing we love - is in flux, transient, only here for a moment in time. 
     One becomes increasingly porous AND grounded as one lets go of trying to hang on to anything, lets go of trying to push anything away. No longer chasing nor being chased, one learns to dwell peacefully in the present moment with an open heart. This all comes about through mindfulness training. Otherwise ...
 
     "An existential crisis may occur ... when (people) realize that their death may be imminent. ... the meaning of life itself is at stake. In dealing with an existential crisis, it is important to have the courage to confront the loss of meaning and security. Then, a new sense of meaning may emerge which is essentially a receptive experience of connectedness with an ego-transcending reality, such as mankind, nature, or God. This reduces existential fear and despair and leads to acceptance of 'life-as-it-is', including its finitude."
       Yang W et al. Existential crisis and the awareness of dying: the role of meaning and spirituality. Omega (Westport) 2010; 61(1): 53-69.

     See also: http://mindfulnessforeveryone.blogspot.ca/2013/11/432-i-try-and-i-try-but-i-cant-get-no.html
     and: http://healthyhealers.blogspot.ca/search?q=Lesser

"We are so lightly here" (Leonard Cohen)