We've all heard the whispers: "Find peace within," "Go within," "Silence the mind." But what does it actually mean? It often feels like chasing a shadow, the very act of seeking creating more noise. Let's explore this paradox, blending logical explanation with a relatable, human perspective.
Firstly, let's dispel the notion of "going within" as a physical journey. It's not a destination, but a shift in focus. We move from the external landscape of sensory input – sights, sounds, actions – to the internal landscape of consciousness: thoughts, emotions, sensations, and the underlying awareness that observes them all.
Imagine a weary traveller, you, stumbling upon a wise old guru.
You: (Sighing, dropping onto a dusty mat) Guru-ji, I'm… I'm just so tired. Everyone talks about finding peace within, but it feels like chasing a ghost. I try to meditate, but my mind is like a wild monkey swinging from branch to branch. I try to focus on my breath, but then I'm thinking, "Am I doing it right? Is this even working?" It's exhausting!
Guru: (Smiling gently) Ah, child, you are not alone. Many come to me with this same weariness. Tell me, when you chase this monkey, what happens?
You: (Frowning) It gets faster! It jumps higher, makes more noise! It's like it knows I'm trying to catch it.
Guru: Precisely. So, tell me, if you were to sit quietly under the tree, would the monkey eventually tire?
You: (Pauses, thinking) Maybe… maybe it would. But then, what if it doesn't? What if it just keeps going?
Guru: (Chuckles softly) Then you observe it going. You notice its antics, its jumps, its chattering. You don't try to stop it. You simply watch.
The mind is a thought-generating machine. Trying to forcefully stop it is like trying to stop a river from flowing. The harder you try, the more turbulent it becomes. The very intention to silence the mind creates a thought – the thought of silencing the mind.
You: But… but that's it? Just watch? I thought I had to do something. I thought I had to fix it.
Guru: (Nods) Ah, the human tendency to fix. But the mind is not a broken machine. It is a flowing river. You cannot fix a river, but you can learn to swim in it.
You: Swim? But I barely know how to float! I keep sinking into these… these thoughts, these worries.
Guru: (Gestures to a nearby flower) Look at this flower. Does it worry about its roots, its petals, its fragrance?
You: (Staring at the flower) No… it just… is.
Guru: Yes. It simply is. And so are you. You are not your thoughts. You are not your worries. You are the one who observes them. Like the sky observes the clouds.
Instead of silencing the mind, cultivate awareness. Observe thoughts and emotions without judgment. Use the breath as an anchor, not a forced concentration. Accept that the mind will wander.
You: (Eyes widening slightly) The sky… so, I'm like the sky? But what about all this "going within" stuff? Everyone says it's so important.
Guru: Imagine you are in a crowded marketplace. There are sounds, smells, people pushing and pulling. To go within is to step aside, to find a quiet corner within that marketplace. Not to leave the marketplace, but to find a space of stillness within it. The marketplace is your mind, the quiet corner is your awareness.
You: (Rubbing your forehead) But how? How do I find that quiet corner?
Guru: By noticing. Noticing the sounds, the smells, the people… and then noticing the space between them. The space between the thoughts. The space between the breaths. It is always there, waiting to be discovered.
The appeal lies in greater peace, clarity, and self-understanding. It's about discovering a deeper connection with ourselves and the world.
You: (Hesitantly) So… I don't have to force anything? Just… notice?
Guru: (Smiling warmly) Just notice. Like a child watching butterflies. There is no effort, no struggle, just gentle observation.
You: (A small smile forming) Like… like watching the clouds go by?
Guru: (Nods) Yes, child. Like watching the clouds go by. And knowing that you are the sky.
You: (Looking up, a sense of lightness washing over you) Guru-ji, thank you. I think… I think I understand a little better now.
Guru: (Pats your hand) Understand that understanding comes not from knowing, but from being. Now, go. Sit beneath a tree, watch the clouds, and listen to the silence within the noise. And remember, you are not chasing peace, you are discovering it.
"Going within" is not about escaping the world, but finding a deeper way of being in it. It's cultivating a relationship with consciousness, grounded in awareness, acceptance, and compassion.
Stay blessed