Established in Being, Perform Action

 

"Tune yourself with the creative power of spirit. You will be in contact with the Infinite Intelligence that is able to guide you and solve all problems. Power from the dynamic source of your being will flow uninterruptedly so that you will be able to perform creatively in any sphere of activity." - Where There is Light by Paramahansa Yogananda

 

In a recent interview with Connie Hill in New Connexions, Connie Kaplan, author of The Invisible Garment, said, “... if your doingness doesn’t arise out of your beingness then it’s useless. It’s something that you are using to fill up time and it has nothing to do with who you are.” We are a culture obsessed with “doing.” We define ourselves and are defined by what we do: by our work, our creations and accomplishments. But is all this doing really necessary and is it expressing who we truly are? How do we know what is ours to do in this world and what is just restless and extraneous activity?

 

In order to get some answers we need to let go of the outer noise and distractionsand turn the telescope of our attention inward in meditation. Once the restless mind begins to quiet itself it can begin to witness its own perceptions, thoughts and feelings bubbling up from within. When we have made the journey to the silence at the center of our being we can begin listening for answers to the deepest questions of our lives. Yogananda said that if prayer is talking to God then meditation is listening for the answers.

 

When our “doingness” is informed, guided and directed by our “beingness” it is said we are tuning into our individual “Dharma” or duty - what we were sent to this earth to achieve. At the same time tuning into the source of our “beingness” may free us from much activity that is not necessary, not ours to do. Superficial activity can be cleared away, freeing up our time and energy for what is truly important.

We need to utilize the power of reason, will and activity but all three must be guided and informed by that vast and unfathomable source of being at our center. As Yogananda said, “I will reason, I will will, I will act, but guide thou my reason, will and activity to the right Path in everything.”

 

The rational, logical mind acting alone can dream up all kinds of activity based on fulfilling desires or seeking illusory goals that can keep us perpetually in motion. We need to offer up the conclusions of our rational mind to the reality test that lies in the silence at the source of our being. That “source of being” in infinitely intelligent, creative, loving, wise and joyous beyond our wildest imaginings and that source of “being” can tell us what is truly ours to do in this lifetime.

 

Namaste, Jamey and Darlene