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Returning to Source

~by Connie Habash


"Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity." ~ The Tao Te Ching, Verse 16 (partial)

Ah, serenity. A state of consciousness that many of us long for. The good news is that it's always available to us, right now, when we Return to the Source.

 

What is Returning to the Source? And how do we do that? As many concepts are in Taoism (and in yoga philosophy), it's very simple, and not easy to maintain.

 

The Source is Presence - right here in this moment. When we're Present (bringing our attention into this moment, with an open heart and a quiet mind), that internal quiet that we experience is the Source.

 

Out of this silence, which is Divine Presence, every being emerges, and everything returns to. This Source is everywhere, and we know this because the silence in you is not different or separate from the silence in me. Silence is silence. Stillness is stillness. Presence is, indeed, Presence, whoever and wherever we are.

 

Of course, there's always those myriad thoughts that take us out of Presence, and away from Source. That's the challenging part - letting them go.

 

So it's a practice. In the Yoga Sutras, we are told that the way to Yoga (Oneness with Source) is through consistent, devoted practice (known as abhyasa). Along with that, we need to be unattached to the results of our practice (vairagya).

 

This means that, again and again, we come back to being Present. Again and again, we notice thoughts and emotions arising. We may observe and reflect on the thoughts; we may embrace and feel the emotions. But ultimately, we let them go if we want to Return to the Source. Because if we follow the thoughts or become swayed by the emotions, they take us away from Presence, and away from Source.

 

It's not easy. So hold yourself with compassion. Cultivate patience, because this is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes consistent, steady, dedicated practice and a willingness to keep coming back to it, even on days when nothing seems to work or our mind and emotions feel out of control.

 

Pause, right here in the Now, and hold yourself gently. We all came from this one Source, which is the inner silence between and beyond thoughts. Even if you're just there for a split second, you have touched that Source and returned to it. When you allow that, through steady practice without attachment, you'll find glimpses of that inner quiet, and possibly longer, delicious immersions in serenity.


 
 
 

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