Neutrality

Life is just a series of opportunities to learn neutrality. It's not about going through life without feeling, but it is all about going through life without any attachment to the feeling. Nirvana, enlightenment, all higher states of consciousness are the result of the practice of neutrality.

Everything we do is a chance to see whether we can be neutral, that is to say, whether we can experience it without a reaction. If you're driving down the street and getting mad at another driver - oops, not neutral. If you are with a friend and getting gleeful - oops, not neutral. If you are at the store and getting upset at the lines, the cashier (or anything else) - oops, not neutral.

The state of neutrality is non-reactive - it simply IS, things simply ARE what they are, it is the epitome of presence and it is ... peaceful.

Imagine not getting all het up because someone is acting like a jerk, or because something happens , or because of the weather, or because of [1 million other things]. The expended anger, frustration, pissiness, [1 million other reactions] doesn't really change anything does it? And in fact, the neutrality really does change something. It is the most powerful, sturdy position you can put yourself in.

It's not an easy task, learning neutrality, but it's a worthy one. If you can take just ONE thing in your life, one recurring incident for instance, and find a way to breathe through it to a place of non-reaction, and act from that place of neutrality, that is a big deal and the impact is reverberating. Usually the pattern is like this:
a) First - after each situation, you notice afterward that you lost your cool, and you wish you wouldn't have
b) If you start practicing neutrality, you might begin to notice during situations that you have lost your cool and that you'd rather not
c) If you keep at it, you will begin to notice right when you start losing your cool. It's going to take some practice, and sometimes you may recognize it and react anyway, but eventually you might learn to break off abruptly until you find your neutrality again.
d) Eventually - if you keep up, you will begin to notice before a situation causes you to react, and you will be able to take appropriate action to avoid the reaction and stay in the place of neutrality.

In the place of neutrality, we lose our judgment, we begin to recognize that everything is a perfect part of a Perfect Whole. It is here that we can experience God in every cell of our being, and in every particle of all of life. That is a powerful experience.

Blessings.
- Darshan

© 2009 Darshan F Jessop