Awakening Through Resistance

HOW can practicing resistance serve our awakening? When we desire something, there are three aspects: 1.The object of our desire and 2.The feeling of desire, which is part of ego and 3.That which is aware of the desire but not involved in the pull – and this is Awareness, or our True Self.

So when we resist a desire - we help facilitate awakening by isolating the above three aspects of a desire. When we become consciously aware of Awareness itself – we create an opportunity to shift our identity into it. And if you have already seen what you are - and attempt to live as much as possible of your life from here - then this practice will help strengthen your seat in your True Self and keep expanding your Consciousness to ever higher levels of Awareness.

Examples of great areas useful for resistance practice:

1. When you get a mosquito bite – do not scratch it - not even once. Then it will disappear quickly. And as you know – if you do scratch it – it can last for several weeks!

Awakening

2. There are several opportunities to practice resistance around eating: A: Do not eat at the first sign of hunger. Have a glass of water and wait until you feel hungry again. B: Eat slower – chew thoroughly - and stop eating when you no longer feel hungry – versus eating until you feel full. C: If you do not have time to eat in peace – have a liquid meal. These practices also yield benefits in the dual world as they serve both healing and preventive care for our bodies.

3. NEVER end a meditation prior to your initial intention. One of the main goals meditation serves - is to stop obeying ego - so if we give in to a desire to cut the meditation short - we give in to ego – and end up strengthening the very thing we want to weaken.

4. Resist saying something nice or agreeing with others just because you want to be liked. This for many automatic behavior strengthens our ego. Instead – just feel the discomfort of taking the risk of being disliked - and later sit with the question: “WHO is feeling threatened.” Also inquire into “WHY is it important for ‘ the little you’ to be liked.” This very powerful practice will quickly dismantle ego’s house of cards and help identify your True Self. Once you are aware of your True Self and start seeing the dual world from here – you have an ever increasing solid foundation of confidence and peace which no-one can rock. This practice will free your dependence on nourishment from outside of your True Self and also weed out insincere friends.

5. This blog is too short to share recommendations regarding drug and alcohol addictions and other OCD’s. But if you are in recovery - I’m sure you already have several tools to which you can apply this resistance practice.

What NOT to resist:

It is crucial to NEVER resist feelings – this would just strengthen ego. When we run away from that which is uncomfortable - it gets stored inside of us – creates various blockages and distortions in our behavior – delays healing and makes restorative work an unnecessary hard job. Feelings will only ever go away when they are faced. So ego-dissolution very much involves dealing with our stuff. But no need to do it alone – there are many options of emotional and psychological support professionals.

Also never resist thoughts. Fighting fuels their power. Just leave them alone and ignore them.

I see resistance practice as one of many forms of living meditation. There are opportunities all day long to deepen our seat in Source. I live for these invitations to let go of that which does not serve the Light - and simultaneously expand and stabilize my Awareness.