“My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be different, not forward, not backward, not in all eternity. Not merely bear what is necessary … but love it.”
— Nietzsche
School holidays continue, which means we’re heading to France. On Le Shuttle as May (my daughter who is very cool) tells me to write. No, orders me to write.
I do like a change of pace, a change of picture. An adventure somewhere new. Change is good.
I think however, as humans, we’re pretty focused on doing and changing better and more effectively. Getting stuff done is priority.
Trouble is that’s all of our picture: What’s next, what to do, how to get our way.
Which is fine when everything goes according to plan, not so good when it’s not. We fixate on what should and what we want and that means the head goes around and around in rumination and consideration that never ends.
We argue with reality, and as Byron Katie and Eckhart Tolle and everyone else has noted, reality only wins 100% of the time.
Part of the game of finding freedom from our minds and the stuff you cannot change is being present.
Be here, now.
So far so very standard mindfulness message.
But what I’ve been playing with is enjoying that awareness.
Not tolerating, not just accepting, but down right approving of it.
That can be an approval of what you find in the present — as it’s been said, it’s not happiness that makes you grateful but being grateful that makes you happy.
Since gratitude and approval is a choice that’s a simple way to a joyful and more full existence.
A love of what is.
But there’s another layer still.
And that’s choosing to be content with the act of being aware, with being present itself. Regardless, exactly as it is.
Loving awareness for itself.
I used to try and be present in order to, ironically, get somewhere. To find peace, to drop some limiting pattern, to evolve up the mountain of enlightenment.
This meant I was being present for a future outcome. Which isn’t being present, is it? Seeking is not being.
What I learnt was to be unconditional.
You could say the trick is to let now be enough. This results in a tensionless state, it means you’re not trying to get somewhere from your mindfulness. Being empty of the striving of trying to be different. Not being present for a reason — even to find peace or aliveness — just as a means to itself and in itself.
Which is very pleasant indeed.
You’re unattached from desire and full of contentment — and that freedom leads to peace. Not when, not if, but exactly as you find now, and the external reality of now.
It’s freedom from change and becoming and getting — and most importantly fighting reality — and the more you practice the more you can find this sanctuary and freedom from overthinking in the middle of change and making stuff happen.
Amor fati.
Done!
Let me know how you go.
Go well,
Arjuna
PS.
I got some Ascension courses coming super soon.
My practice cos it’s so simple and yet powerful. A practice for and, more importantly, of Amor Fati.
Come along: it's always free to repeat, and will make a huge difference in your life.
April 25-27 (all bedrooms are booked, but seats available)
July 4-6
(All courses run Fri 7-9:30 pm, Sat/Sun 10 am-4:30 pm).
Contact me for details!