We need to fundamentally rewrite our cosmology. Our cosmology becomes our prevailing paradigm and influences everything that we create – our philosophy, our psychology, our sociology, our economic system. Our existing paradigm is built upon this divorce of body and spirit. We are in constant battle with ourselves and our inner nature.
The basic problem with traditional religion is that it invalidates life on planet earth. Whether one adheres to the concept of Original Sin or the wheel of karma, or any of the other multitude of religious doctrines, life on earth is viewed as a penance or a preparation for some other time and place. Being corporeal is being unworthy, is being flawed.
Nowhere does traditional philosophy or religion demonstrate the sanctity of life on earth and emphasise the great gift that it is. Surely, if we start with the premise that life is a burden or a suffering, it is extremely hard to create a philosophy of life that is joyous, exciting and optimistic. If we denigrate the sanctity of being physical at its core, is it any wonder that people have such little respect for the oneness of life and the importance of every living creature?
The whole point of mindfulness or Zen is the absolute sacredness of the moment: that we exist within the eternal now and that being 100% in the present is the ultimate discipline and the ultimate reward. This is flow. To achieve this state, we must accept and embrace our bodies.
We do not exist in order to get somewhere else in another place and time; rather we exist to be here now: to be truly in the body, being physical. The promise of eternity is only valuable if that journey is an enjoyable one. No one wants to exist forever in either purgatory or hell or even heaven. Life is to be enjoyed. The whole purpose of life is to learn to accept its sacredness and its joy. We need to learn to receive the gift of life as incarnate beings on planet Earth.
If we exist in either the future or the past, if we exist to achieve something somewhere else, we forfeit the moment and just as the point of power is in the present, so too, is the point of enjoyment. To truly enjoy the wondrous journey of life, one must be on the wave living one’s life fully. If we have an ulterior motive of doing in order to achieve or be or even become, we cannot be true to our inner nature which can only exist in the present.
If we return to the concept of being receptive to the voice of our inner being, of attuning to our path, our destiny and our Tao, we must be present to listen. Imagine listening to an exquisite piece of music or a running stream or the sound of the waves lapping the shore. We must give it our total undivided attention to really appreciate and savour that moment. If our mind wanders, thinking of either the past or the future, we forfeit being with that music, we lose the experience and the enjoyment.
Being mindful is being present in the body on the planet. Being physical! Having fun!
