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One of my friends on facebook asked: “So, what do you do to find inner silence and stop the mental chatter?”
This is probably one of the most important questions for many seekers. It was such for me for many years.
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DISCLAIMER: Whatever is written below is not a medical or psychological advice. If needed, please seek help from professionals.
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“So, what do you do to find inner silence and stop the mental chatter?”
This is probably one of the most important questions for many seekers. It was such for me for many years.
A quick answer is, you do nothing...
And, if you REALLY DO NOTHING, you will naturally undergo a process. Let me outline it here, so it can serve as a guide.
First, recognise that the one who looks for inner silence and the one who tries to stop the mental chatter, is the same one, who chats. So, just stop...
Switch from the speaker, the one who identifies with the thoughts, to the listener. Have you ever listened to a radio? Similarly, recognise that simultaneously with the speaker of “your” thoughts, there is a listener... So, temporarily, identify with the listener. Once you do that (we are going deeper now), your mind might even become louder, even playing several radio shows at the same time. Just allow it all to happen...
Recognise the rising of thoughts. Recognise, that, as a thought rises, there is a movement of a clinging to the thought. This is a moment of choice. You can cling to the thought, and again become engaged in the thinking. Or you can let go of the thought...
When you let go of the thought, there is a moment, when the mind will not be supported by anything. Allow this to be recognised. This is just another thought. Let go again...
Naturally, as you are letting go of thoughts, “you will start falling free”. There is a gravity to that. Most people, for all of their lives, are running away from this falling, trying to stay in the “security” of the thinking process, clinging to the known. Trusting this gravity and insecurity is the way Home, to That which is behind the “I”.
Now we are going deeper. Now you start, what Jiddu Krishnamurti calls, meeting the facts and not the mind’s interpretations of them. Meeting “your” feelings and emotions, - Gangaji’s emotional enquiry begins.
Now, you are “on your own“. An emotion might rise. Recognise that. Do not run away into thoughts, identifying with a story about the emotions. Let go of the story, and dive directly into the emotion, whatever it is. “Welcome and invite” the emotion. Do not act it out and do not run away. If the emotion is projected into a particular place in the body, you can allow your attention to dive there, directly into the emotion. Meeting it fully, relaxing into it. It is not you and the emotion, but just the emotion... All the way... To the bottom...
What is under? Enquire... It can be, that now another emotion rises. Most of us have layers of these suppressed emotions, which are enslaved by the mind. Until they are all free, you can never have your freedom, never Live Fully...
Allow the same process with each emotion. Give every emotion your full attention. Give every emotion yourself fully. Do not act it out and do not run away. Allow everything to be... Whatever... Do not make any effort... Do not touch any thought... Allow this Gravity... Trust it fully... Surrender to it fully...
Now we are going deeper. Below the so-called "negative" emotions, you will start meeting the "positive" ones. The ones, which you easily identify with. “Sweet” ones. Allow yourself to fully dive into them. Do not act it out and do not run away. Again, it is not you and the emotion, but just the emotion. Do not identify... Do not make any effort... Do not touch anything... Do not seek anything... Relax fully... Not supported by anything... Absolutely vulnerable... Absolutely open... Absolutely Free...
If you feel that you need assistance to undergo this process, I am here to help. Just get in touch.
Beautifully written process