Exploring the Domain of Feeling
We are effectively defined by how we feel.
No matter what we think, it will be what we feel and how we feel about
ourselves that registers most deeply. We
feel in many dimensions - physically, emotionally, mentally and possibly others.
We have learned to react in certain ways to feelings. These reactions become habit patterns over time and
effectively keep us fixed in a limited realm of feeling.
For example, we, by habit, tend to avoid unpleasant and negative
feelings. We either suppress them
or distract ourselves by stimulating some other, more pleasant feeling.
As a result we limit our capacity to feel and therefore, live a
relatively superficial life with the resulting lack in our sense of well-being.
To enable ourselves to feel better we have to become better at feeling.
Firstly, we must learn to feel into whatever feelings we are having.
This applies to both positive and negative feelings but especially
negative ones. Initially, this may
not be something we would like to do but when the positive benefits of this are
realised the reluctance can be overcome. Secondly,
we must feel through and beyond each feeling.
This transforms our orientation to the original feeling, giving us a
greater perspective.
To feel through and beyond any feeling we must recognise the limit that the current feeling represents. Having felt the limit of a particular feeling we can then feel beyond that limit. We can put names to these feeling but it is not necessary. For example, suppose we have a feeling of anger. Feeling beyond the limit that the feeling of anger represents we might feel the hurt or affront that is causing that anger. Beyond that feeling of hurt may be the feeling of vulnerability and beyond that a feeling of compassion and love. If these are not named then they will simply be felt as less restrictive and limited, more expansive and more radiant as we progressively feel through the lesser feelings towards the greater ones.
It is important to remember that all this is done within the domain of
feeling not with the thinking mind. For
those new to exploring the realm of feelings this may be difficult at first but
with practice we can become proficient in working with feelings without the mind
and thought intruding.
Common feelings that we all experience are the feeling of separateness,
lack of happiness, lack of love, the feeling of want and need.
All of these can be felt into, through and beyond and thus transformed.
If this is done regularly, soon those lesser feeling will not be felt,
only the greater feeling that is beyond them.
By constantly exercising this capacity to feel beyond we will feel
differently about the world, others and ourselves.
Feelings of stress will be transformed into feelings of relaxation, fear
will be transformed into love, separation into connectedness and oneness.
Through this approach negative feelings are not feared and avoided but
embraced and transformed. We are
enabled to feel the full range of human feelings and emotions and beyond. There is no limit to which we can feel, feeling beyond can
become our natural disposition. In
that disposition the great feelings of love, bliss and happiness reveal
themselves.
The beauty of this approach is that there is no feeling that cannot be transformed if we are willing to feel into, through and beyond it. Even positive feelings can be found to have their limits and can be transformed into greater more profound feelings. Positive feelings feel good relative to negative feelings but they are not necessarily the best feeling we can have. So rather than feeling hard and insensitive we are able to feel vulnerable and sensitive. We are able to feel the truth of our condition and the full potential within our existence.
All of this can be done during meditation and at random moments throughout the day. It can even be done during dreaming if it occurs to us to do so.