Morning and Tofu

OK, so it’s cooler this morning and I’m feeling a little bit more positive. Even with all of the heat and humidity and not so comfortable living situation I have to admit that there are still a lot of good things about being here. I was up early to help in the kitchen again – chopping tomatoes, pulling up onions, carrying stuff around. Dawn trickled in gradually through the clouds, birds sang, people noises drifted in from the distance. The people are easy to be around and there is a calm feeling in the kitchen (which is not really a “kitchen”. It’s just some tables on a cement floor covered by portable canvas tent roofs, some big propane burners, a small sink and a hose). Like most things here, it is mainly outside, very simple, but functional.

Cycling home I was greeted by several smiling people on the road. There is a stretch of sparsely treed forest a few hundred meters long through which the road to my house runs. The forest is home to a group of monks who live in little open bamboo huts among the trees. They have taken to yelling out “hello” or “A-hosee” and waving to me as I go by. They have a way of looking so content and happy with life, just hanging out by their little huts. I wonder why I am not so good at being content. Why do I get bored so easily and want things to do or to happen?

That is why I am still here perhaps – wondering about contentment. I’m not sure if it is our culture at home, or more just the way I’ve come to be, but I find myself feeling that if there is something that I don’t like or don’t agree with, then I need to be unhappy about it. If I’m not upset by it, then where will the motivation to change it come from? If I’m just happy and content about everything, then what wrongs will be righted and what problems will be solved? There seems to be a need to be upset or unhappy or angry in order to ensure that something gets done. I’ve noticed this in relationships too – people need to be unhappy and angry to show a spouse or boss or co-worker that they don’t like what has happened. How are we going to change other people if we’re just happy and contented all the time? ...and if there isn't something wrong, then there's still a sense of boredom if nothing new happens. Hmm - 8:00 AM and nothing's happening. 10:00 AM and nothing is continuing to happen...   la de da, what am I going to DO?  :-)

Of course, the teaching here is that it is precisely by letting go of the desire to change anything that releases things, and people, to change on their own. By being content with whatever is, by surrendering to conditions as they are, it gives greater access to the present moment and in this present moment everything is always changing. Contrary to what seems to be common sense, more can be accomplished by relaxing and releasing than by fighting and straining. Mooji says “Go to the place where nothing has happened”. I can’t say I’ve experienced that place yet, but I’m beginning to have a sense of what he is talking about. Beyond this idea of mind and matter – perhaps you could say in the realm of quantum probability that is now thought by scientists to be the basis of our universe – there is a nothingness from which everything springs. As Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says:

“Quantum physics says "Everything is Nothing". Spiritual knowledge says "Nothing is Everything" and meditation is an appointment with nothing. If you hold onto everything, then you get nothing. If you are well-versed with nothing, then you get everything!”

I also like this quote by Ravi Shankar, and it’s slightly related so I’ll include it here:

Q: Guruji, what do you think is the greatest fortune in human life?
Sri Sri: The greatest fortune in human life is to be able to say, "I want nothing. I'm here for you."

Since I seem to be into quotes and things today, this transcript of a talk by Mooji talks more about the idea of nothingness and what is beyond our idea of thoughts and self: Dive Deep

But that’s the theory. It’s going to be hot again today and so I’ll see how good at surrendering to the heat and discomfort, not paying attention to my thoughts, and being content I am then. J

It’s tofu making day today so I’ll head back to the kitchen in a bit. It’s kind of fun actually. We make about 150 cakes of tofu from 30kg of dry yellow soy beans. It’s actually a fairly simple process, but takes all day due to the various steps and waiting time in between.

So, just thought I’d send a slightly more positive viewpoint than the one from last night…