Spirituality Studies 33 Monique Rebelle looks like in practice: full acceptance of the resolution the singled-out thought brings, ending mental struggle. It was very hard to let the mind go, as the thought persisted and I felt forced to respond, keep on fighting its resolution. Similar to “moving away” from emotion and finding oneself in the emotional void, I accepted the thought without reacting or engaging further. I let it be and focused on myself, no longer on the thought. With this shift of attention, I found myself in an inner space I had never experienced, with nothing more to expect or anticipate – the path of my thoughts had ended. There were a silence and stillness I had never known before. 3.2.2 Explanation In the tradition of spiritual practices, surrender is paramount. While it is not easy to explain how to do it, important sources describe both the process and its results. The oldest texts – the Upaniṣads and the Bhagavad Gītā – usually link surrender explicitly to a deity (Brahman or Kṛṣṇa). The earliest clear presentation of surrendering or letting go of thoughts as a practical technique without reference to God appears in Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras. Observing thoughts, allowing them to settle, and attaining one-pointed focus constitute the sequence of abhyāsa (Sa. “continuous practice towards nirodha”) leading to ekāgratā (Sa. “one-pointedness”) (Yoga Sūtras 1:12–13). Post-Patañjali texts and teachers expand on ekāgratā, often relating it to devotion, meditation, or self-realization. Some retain a deity-neutral approach, as in Haṭha Yoga (Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā 2:35–38), while others continue bhakti traditions, such as those associated with Caitanya Mahāprabhu (15th–16th century). Nisargadatta Maharaj states that letting go of the mind’s activity marks the beginning of surrender and that in surrender truth becomes clear (Nisargadatta 1973, 106). Contemporary American teacher Adyashanti likewise emphasizes that surrender brings the highest strength and is not an act of weakness (Adyashanti 2008, 65). As I understand it, practices that emphasize observing thoughts and one-pointed surrender without bhakti engage primarily the third-cakra mind, whereas practices that focus on a deity activate the fourth and sixth cakras by facilitating devotion and intuitive visualization. Although the goal is the same, the non-religious approach allows the technique itself to be more easily isolated and directly observed. 3.3 Stage 3. Clearing the Mind from Thoughts 3.3.1 Description I surrendered and remained in that state with my eyes closed. Here I need to explain that the final thought I surrendered to, was the agreement with myself to end my life. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw a rainbow tube of light against the background of the white bathtub I was in. The authenticity of the rainbow light was undeniable; I became terrified of its science-fiction-like reality and of the subsequent shocking realization that it was a part of me, inseparable from my body. But within a minute, I overcame my fear and chose to be ready for whatever might happen next. Soon, the image of a small child appeared before me. I was able to tune into the child’s mind and observe its thought process and decision-making for a minute or two. With surprise, I realized the child was me, many years ago – I was now reviewing some events I remembered clearly, while others came to mind as they appeared. Over the next few minutes, I re-lived my childhood and youth through the lens of my own evolving thoughts. There were only a few distinct trains of thought, and I watched them easily, each one shaping my personality until each thought reached its resolution upon arriving at the present moment. To my own astonishment, there came a point when all of my thoughts were gone from my mind. A full awareness of the situation was there, with a new understanding of the capacity of the mind – it can be emptied of thoughts.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUwMDU5Ng==