The more I tap into this "inner space", the longer I have held it. It then it becomes a significant force in everything I experience. It produces a very calming effect as well as heightened awareness. I sense a feeling of doing things more "appropriately" ... not in a measure of "right" or "wrong", but as I said ... "appropriately". I even find myself speaking this way. There is no negative or positive "reaction". Just a sense of presence.
RECOGNIZING INNER SPACE (pg. 141-143)
"Space between thoughts is probably already arising sporadically in
your life, and you may not even know it. A consciousness mesmerized by
experiences and conditioned to identify exclusively with form, that is to say,
object consciousness, finds it at first almost impossible to become aware of
space. This ultimately mean that you cannot become aware of yourself,
because you are always aware of something else. You are continuously
distracted by form. Even when you seem to be aware of yourself, you have
made yourself into an object, a thought form, and so what you are aware of is
a thought, not yourself.
When you hear of inner space, you may start seeking it, and because
you are seeking it as if you were looking for an object or for an experience,
you cannot find it. This is the dilemma of all those who are seeking spiritual
realization or enlightenment. Hence, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is not
coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or
'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
If you are not spending all of your waking life in discontent, worry,
anxiety, depression, despair, or consumed by other negative states; if you are
able to enjoy simple things like listening to he sound of the rain or the wind;
if you can see the beauty of clouds moving across the sky or be alone at
times without feeling lonely or needing the mental stimulus of
entertainment; if you find yourself treating a complete stranger with heartfelt
kindness without wanting anything from him or her... it means that a space
has opened up, no matter how briefly, in the otherwise incessant stream of
thinking that is the human mind. When this happens there is a sense of well-
being, of alive peace, even though it may be subtle. The intensity will vary
from a perhaps barely noticeable background sense of contentment to what
the ancient sages of India called ananda – the bliss of Being. Because you
have been conditioned to pay attention only to form, you are probably not
aware of it except indirectly. For example, there is a common element in the
ability to see beauty, to appreciate simple things, to enjoy your own
company, or to relate to other people with loving kindness. This common
element is a sense of contentment, peace, and aliveness that is the invisible
background without which these experiences would not be possible.
Whenever there is beauty, kindness, the recognition of the goodness of
simple things in your life, look for the background to that experience within
yourself. But don't look for it as if you were looking for something. You
cannot pin it down and say, “Now I have it,” or grasp it mentally and define
it in some way. It is like the cloudless sky. It has no form. It is space; it is
stillness, the sweetness of Being and infinitely more than these words, which
are only pointers. When you are able to sense it directly within yourself, it
deepens. So when you appreciate something simple – a sound, a sight, a
touch – when you see beauty, when you feel loving kindness toward another,
sense the inner spaciousness that is the source and background to that
experience.
Many poets and sages throughout the ages have observed that true
happiness – I call it the joy of Being – is found in simple, seemingly
unremarkable things. Most people, in their restless search for something
significant to happen to them, continuously miss the insignificant, which
may not be insignificant at all. The philosopher Nietzsche, in a rare moment
of deep stillness, rote, “For happiness, how little suffices for happiness!....
the least ting precisely, the gentlest thing, the lightest thing, a lizard's
rustling, a breath, a wisk, an eye glance – little maketh up the best happiness.
Be still.”
Why is it the “least thing” that makes up “the best happiness”?
Because true happiness is not caused by the thing or event, although this is
how it first appears. The thing or event is so subtle, so unobtrusive, that it
takes up only a small part of your consciousness – and the rest is inner space,
consciousness itself unobstructed by form. Inner space consciousness and
who you are in your essence are one and the same. In other words, the form
of little things leaves room for inner space. And it is from inner space, the
unconditioned consciousness itself, that true happiness, the joy of Being,
emanates. To be aware of little, quiet things, however, you need to be quiet
inside. A high degree of alertness is required. Be still. Look. Listen. Be
present.
Here is anther way of finding inner space: Become conscious of being
conscious. Say or think “I Am” and add nothing to it. Be aware of the
stillness that follows the I Am. Sense your presence, the naked, unveiled,
unclothed beingness. It is untouched by young or old, rich or poor, good or
bad, or any other attributes. It is the spacious womb of all creation, all form."
