From Misidentification To Awareness Of What Is
This body is rather pathetic to be called me or mine. It is fragile by nature and easily plagued by dis-eases. It is foul and needs to be washed daily. Imagine waking up not brushing teeth, taking bath, washing hair or even cutting fingernails. It can be pretty putrid and unbearable to be with. You may not have noticed this fact: we are the lifelong caregiver of this body -- washing it, feeding it, defecating it, caring for it and even making sure it has sufficient air every moment. The body needs exercised to keep it going otherwise it can be too stiff and obese. And by the way, have you noticed breathing is intentionally done for the sake of continuing this body, although for which you certainly don't have a choice? You are occupied with breathing every single moment, even when asleep! And by the way, that which is excreted from this body daily (yikes!) is pretty horrifying to see, not to mention smell.
Preoccupied with our sense desires, seeking gratification every moment towards sense objects, we rarely notice the burden we carry with this body. Somehow, strangely the reverse seems to be true. The body is cherished, glorified and often beautified to make it somewhat youthful. Though it is imminent that we are the servant of the body rather than a master, somehow a kind of hypnotic trance takes over, making us believe otherwise.
When one becomes objectively aware of the body's needs rather than being identified with it in our craving, one begins to notice the obvious fact which one has never known before. It is indeed peculiar how the way we relate to the body gives rise to a different perspective – being identified or being aware makes a total opposite of what this body is.
The same applies to the mind each of us experience. When we learn to objectively notice the mind, awkward happenings begin to take place. I call it "awkward" because suddenly it feels like you are living with a total stranger which you were never aware of before. Worse still, this stranger causes havoc to your stress system, creating unnecessary worries, uncertainty, irritation, pride, unworthiness and at times helplessness. You brush it aside as part and parcel of life. Even when it may feel like you are having a good time in life, you are, in truth, carrying the burden and doing things unknowingly just for the sake of the mind and body. But you are being deceived! It is not a necessity. You just need to wake up to the fact that these mind and body processes are taking over you!
Strange as it may seem and somewhat unsettling as one hears more of this information, this reality will dawn upon us when awareness of these mind-body processes begins to take shape. One day we will realize that we do not truly experience anything at all though we may have done much in life, be it the fearless bungee jump, the highest mountain climb, a fantastic holiday, or simply a movie. And shockingly, all that we ever experience is merely these miserable processes – catering to and sustaining the burden of the mind and body. We have been a slave to them but somehow are hooked in believing it is "blue skies and everything nice" lifestyle. We are ignorantly suffering but know it not. How could this be possible you may ask. This is because of the perspective, as I have earlier mentioned -- being identified with or being aware of it.
Though shocking in the beginning after a period of persistent awareness, it is also the dawn of a new era. It is waking up from the ignorant slumber of this "life", made up of the wants by these mind-body happenings, to a freedom one never knew before. It is an unimaginable lofty goal that each of us one day will surely realize. Only when the shift from identification to awareness begins to establish. It is a worthwhile journey to embark upon despite the un-easeful beginning. The question here will be – do you wish to be a dreamer or to wake up from the delusion of the slumber?
In grace,
Tuck Loon
Newsletter 13 April 2021