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Existence and Nothingness: Being

When it is noticed in your own direct experience that this luminous-living-nowness is in fact empty of any self-nature or ‘thingness’, it appears to be that nothingness is living as you.

Yet, there is an aspect of ‘is-ness’, or existence, too. There is someone existing, but at the same time it is no-thing at all. This seemingly contradictory play between existence and nothing correspondingly characterises what the unfolding of this insight feels like for us as ordinary human beings. On the one hand, it is seen clearly that there is no-one in control and that there is no-one, anywhere who is doing anything – everything is an expression of Reality spontaneously unfolding. On the other, there is a sense of a particulate self, a person going about his or her life, doing, talking and feeling.

It is this, apparently, paradoxical perception that the conceptual mind has trouble digesting. How do we deal with being someone, yet in fact no-one at all? Surely, the mind thinks, it is one or the other? Fortunately it does not have to be grasped by the mind for it to take place. It is happening all the time, and will continue to happen. The play between existence and nothingness is how Reality is ‘real-ing’ itself.

Existence in this sense, is a direct and immediate expression of nothingness or emptiness -the two are inseparable. Is it possible to separate the objects of awareness from awareness itself?

When looking at thoughts, for instance, we see that there is a thought that arises and then it is gone again, then another arises and it is gone. It happens spontaneously without any effort. There is living-nothingness and then an object arises out of it (existing) and then it disappears again. This happens on every level; a kind of dance appears to be going on. We could call this play between existence and nothingness be-ing, or Being. This movement is spontaneous and self-perfected.

It is possible to relax into this spontaneous, effortless, and natural way of being. It is an undercurrent of peace and wholeness which we can notice to be intrinsic. It is this simple sense of being that we have all day long. And this sense of being is a natural expression this play between existence and nothingness, or emptiness, which is why when we notice it and relax into it there is a sense of spaciousness and clarity. It is very vivid and real, yet also very simple and uncontrived. It is often described as the natural state, because it is the natural basis for all our experiencing and feeling. What feelings, perceptions and thoughts can happen but in this present moment of being?

This present moment of being is the foundation, and we can feel into it right now. It only has to be noticed – not created, or sustained. It has flavour of silence, presence and nowness – these words are only clues, which can hopefully trigger recognition when it is seen in your own direct experience.

When it is apprehended clearly, you will see how it is possible to be both agitated and peaceful at the same time, or sad and peaceful, or even peaceful and peaceful. The undercurrent of peace that we are talking about is so basic, so simple, that it cannot be disturbed or clouded by temporary emotional responses. It is the foundation of the spontaneous happening that you know as yourself. Everything is an expression of this basic peace.