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The feeling of inner freedom can be called enlightenment. In different religions and traditions, this was a sacred goal, and its achievement in our vain world may seem impossible. Priest and spiritual practitioner Paul Roach offers five practical tips for those who are looking for themselves on this path.
The terms «to be present» and «to live in the present» have already become clichés. By pronouncing them, we are talking about the power of the present, eternal moment and that «there is only now.»
Paul Roach, minister of a church that combines Christian teaching with the philosophy of other religious and spiritual practices, writes ironically: “In the positive thinking movement, we freed sin from being a stumbling block, and then replaced it with a charge of negative thinking. Now our greatest humiliation is the accusation that we are distracted and therefore not present in the present moment.” But the key to awakening is indeed in the awareness of what is here and now, and this is confirmed by many spiritual traditions.
An idea that unites different traditions
Sufis say that one clear moment is enough. The Zen tradition asks the question, «What is missing at this very moment?» Jesus talked a lot about the realm of wholeness and perfection. Contemporary Hindu teachers such as Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj and Papaji invite us to be calm and rest in the consciousness of «I am». «Sailor» Bob Adamson, an Australian student of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, asks the leading question, «What is wrong with you now if you don’t think about it?»
Thinking can get in the way, agrees Paul Roach. Thinking is memories from the past and projected ideas about the future. As we know, reasoning formulates and then reinforces a linear view of reality based on the idea that our self moves through time. This sense of self, often referred to as «ego,» is very conventional — it is not our reality.
And yet we often try to rely on it to find that very reality. It seems to us that if we work hard enough, or let go long enough, we will find a moment out of time and find freedom.
News — good and bad
We all need to finally accept that knowledge, no matter how subtle or deep, cannot awaken us to being in the here and now. Nothing replaces direct experience, reminds Roach.
The good news is that the present is already there, right here and now. We are immersed in the ocean of infinite, timeless consciousness, like fish in water. The bad news is that the habit of linear thinking is hard to break. The proof of this is the long years that monks spend in meditation in search of satori, as well as seekers who test the patience of the guru with the same questions that arise from the desire to satisfy the needs of a distracted mind.
“Every day gets better and better,” says the soulful ego. “How is this possible when every moment is already perfect?” asks the inner guru.
How not to give up in search of inner freedom
At this point, many of us go astray: the initial enthusiasm fades, we complain that the practices don’t work, and we feel frustrated. “But wait,” comments Paul Roach, “do we want radical freedom or more comfortable…confinement?”
If we want freedom, how can we achieve it? Paul Roach describes five approaches worth mastering.
1. You are already here. You are already free
“Try to accept this idea: to gain enlightenment in the future, when we become better, is only to avoid the natural awakened presence that is available at every moment.”
2. Try to let go of the story, whatever it is.
We can all be trapped in our own history, our view of who we are and what happened to us. “Imagine what it would be like if you decided to let go of your story. What would you feel? Roach asks.
3. Laugh with compassion
Excessive seriousness can be the enemy of joy. The more stress we experience, the more serious and tough we become. Laughter relaxes and softens us. However, of course, it’s not about making fun of others.
4. Explore buoyancy
The buoys rest in the water but also bob up and down on the waves. They remain buoyant and visible to those who need them. Can we do the same so that our presence is both meaningful and carefree?
5. Be quiet
It’s amazing what happens when we just keep quiet. We see, hear and experience more and more clearly, and a sense of peace fills our minds and soothes our bodies.
Each of these approaches is like a mantra with an action component, Roach adds. We sing it, we meditate, and then we act. This is a practical application that keeps our minds from escaping from the present moment.
The priest hopes that these practices will help to return to the present moment, to the here and now. In their light, the statement with which this article began will become a reality. “I live here and now — and there is no other place. When I do this, I free the main thing from the extraneous, discovering the divine understanding in myself. So being in the moment gives me freedom.”
About the Expert: Paul John Roach is a priest, radio host, and spirituality writer.