Identification
Identification is a key factor to consider during meditation. Put another way, what are you assuming yourself to be? There is reality and what you actually are and then there is what we assume ourselves to be. Not only do we assume ourselves to be such and such but we also affirm it to others and ourselves. So we end up being part of a mutual support group for an illusion.
This meditation class is designed to be a mutual support group for reality, what we actually are. It is also designed to reveal any illusions that we may be suffering from. It is important to not only realise something is an illusion but that also it is a form of suffering. Because the suffering is based on an illusion it is therefore unnecessary. We should be far more motivated to release an illusion if we know it also causes us to suffer.
Identification is very much a pair with attention. What we tend to identify with is what our attention is fixed on. Release the attention and we no longer identify with the object of the attention. As an example, when we wake up in the morning our attention is gradually drawn to our physical body and it stays there, on and off, throughout the day until we go to sleep again. We identify with the physical body assuming it to be us until we fall asleep whereupon our attention goes elsewhere and we are no longer identified with the physical body.
What we tend to identify with are things that change – our thoughts, looks, work, ideas, beliefs, family, country etc. And so we have to suffer those changes and losses. In truth we are only consciousness experiencing a multitude of experiences, all of which are limited and eventually pass. If we identify with any experience we suffer the change and end of that experience. Some experiences can go on for a very long time and change only very slowly, for example the physical body. Still, identifying with it eventually brings about the suffering connected with something that is changing and dying although that may take decades to become apparent. All things must pass.
What we identify with governs our perspective, the way we view the world. In seamless meditation we are always looking to broaden our perspective and take a wider view. There is only one perspective that is absolutely free of all suffering and that is the perspective of consciousness. From the perspective of consciousness all experience is seen for what it is, a passing phenomenon, not something to be attached to, not something to identify with and therefore not something to take seriously.
When we broaden our perspective it always helps us lessen the sense of problem we have relative to something and so any broadening of perspective is good. It helps relieve stress and enables us to be more relaxed. Often a friend will help us put things in perspective with phrases like “it’s not the end of the world” or “look at what you have”. The view from consciousness puts everything in perspective; all the big issues that have the capacity to disturb us. Issues such as death and the loss of what is most precious to us.
Generally, we don’t like to acknowledge the feelings around these issues. Seamless meditation does not ignore them or look to become immune and invulnerable to them. It aims to feel them and feel beyond them so that the feelings then exist in full within a perspective, a greater feeling. This then gives us the capacity to enjoy what is in our life without the fear of losing it leaving us free to fully love and be happy with what is precious to us.