Attention

one-pointed focus

The most powerful tool we have is our attention. You may have heard the saying that ‘wherever your attention goes, the prana flows’. When we accept attention as our primary means for connection, to truly know something at depth, there is nothing to do than to turn the gaze to that. Wherever we direct our attention, that becomes part of our experience, simply put. If we focus on the pain and suffering, that becomes our world. If we focus on gratitude and abundance, that becomes our world. The deeper work is to see it all - and hold space for it all. You’ve probably also heard the term ‘spiritual bypassing’ which points to when our attention is diverted from what is calling for our attention. This is when our likes and dislikes govern where we choose (consciously or unconsciously) to direct our attention. Most often we tend to focus on the stuff that makes us feel good, and not so much emotions that feel too sticky, overwhelming or even too ambiguous to touch. However, all these experiences are part of the same coin, nothing better or worse. Duality will continue to exist in the world, which is the beauty of the manifest world of existence. However, beneath the duality there is an undercurrent, a substratum, of peace which can never be touched or altered. The heart of the practice is to stay with our attention in the spaciousness of awareness, so that we can hold it all in the palms of equanimity.

Wherever we turn the attention we have an opportunity to see things as they really are, instead of projecting our conditioning upon what we perceive. Even emotions that arise are great teachers in that regard - if we truly see them as they are without any type of expectation or preconceived ideas. We are offered modes to move beyond the duality, by a mere shift and deepening of attention. Most often, we just need to stay in order to let the attention penetrate deeper into the experience (however it manifests, as emotions, thoughts, sensations etc). This is of course a delicate balance and dance, but also something we can practice in every moment.

When we stay long enough, and the attention turns into one-pointed focus, we melt into that which is seen - and get absorbed into that which is held by the attention. In that moment, the only thing that remains is the seeing itself. This will in turn also dissolve, as all the castles of definition crumbles. Attention and focus dissolves into an expansiveness that in itself is grander than any definition. We believe that this is what is often described as ‘awareness’, however it can not be contained by any concept or definition as that in itself would limit its expansive nature. It is far beyond that. Though the human mind needs something to grasp, hence the word awareness or consciousness is often used to point towards That. When you let yourself become absorbed into that which you are observing, there is no separation. This unified expansiveness always exists underneath each experience, no matter how many words we put into the equation in our attempts to describe it. Our job is to simply to drop into This. This complete absorption is talked about in many spiritual texts, however its recognition is more valuable from your own experience.

No matter what method we use as our mode for concentration, to bring us close to that which we are observing, the key is to stay attentive yet relaxed. Thus, the attention is not modified or manipulated, and has the potential to expand into awareness. Another key component is to accept and see things as they truly are - without applying the projections or the inner dialogue of the mind. The mind will try to fit the experience into a framework that it knows, using beliefs and previous experiences to categorize what is being observed. It is trying to make sense of it, simply put, which is its primary purpose. But we don’t need the mind to tell us what it ‘knows’, based on previous experiences about the unknown, as we are stepping into unknown territory consciously in our practice. The method really has no relevance, more than being something for your mind to hold on to as a buoy.

Simply be with, fully be with, that which you are observing. It’s a resting place, it is a place of nourishment, and the whole being is simply allowed to be itself there. There is no modification needed. No roles to play, no rules to go by. Rather merely stay present and the attention expands. This is the power of concentration - of dismissing distraction. By resting, the focus becomes more pin pointed, and eventually moves byond the boundaries of the subject-object relationship. This is where complete absorption swallows the doer, the mind and the sense of ‘I’, as awareness expands to include all that is. This is in yogic terms called Ekāgratā.

It is about burying the hatchet and resting into the moment, embracing the simplicity of merely being. Simplification lies at the core. This means dropping beliefs and concepts that color our lenses and thus affect our perception of inner experiences and the world around us. Move beyond the pairs of opposites by seeing what’s beyond them. This is at the heart of simplification, of wanting to dive deep within what is, without covering it up with more beliefs or definitions. Simply seeing things as they are. Truly.

The witness - sakshi - also known as the observer - is the awareness that resides within you. Dropping preconceived ideas and beliefs about yourself and the world around you will help you drop into the space of unconditioned inquiry. From this place we can welcome experiences to be held in the light of truth, to see things as they truly are, in this very moment. This is the foundation of inquiry into the essence of Self - the foundation of self-inquiry - allowing the ego to be exposed and dissolved. It is no easy task. The mind will try its best to distract you from what arises, especially if it is deep conditioning and patterns with deep grooves. However, stay put. Keep observing. Hold loving space for whatever arises. If you notice the mind wanting to distract you, or putting labels or beliefs on what comes up, focus back on the breath and hold your mind in a loving caress, knowing that it is afraid to let go of what it knows. But by staying put, by not resisting the resistance, the mind will get more and more used to these type of deep dives, and will eventually soften. Sometimes the mind needs to be put to work, let it focus back onto the breath. However, soon enough it will feel and appreciate the spaciousness that comes with moving past ones perceived limitations. It is about moving beyond what is known, befriending the uncertain, reprogramming one’s reactions and welcoming a different response. It is about wholehearted attention, without judgment of what is being exposed that particular day. Staying put. Breathing through. And with each breath the inquiry will go deeper and deeper. No matter the practice, seated or postural practice, the essence of attention is the same. In the end, it is all about merely being with what is.