Let Go, and Mindfulness Appears Without Effort!

Getting (back) into “A Still Forest Pool” by Achan Cha. On p. 2:

“The heart of the path is so simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are. That is all I do in my own practice.” ... and:

“Do not try to become anything. Do not make yourself into anything. Do not be a meditator. Do not become enlightened. When you sit, let it be. When you walk, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing.”

So to be mindful, here, present in this moment, doesn’t require effort, other than to notice and let go of clinging. In fact, making an effort to be mindful puts an extra layer of thought and focus onto simply being here. This isn’t only unnecessary, it’s limiting, because it narrows the open awareness that we really are!

As Achan teaches, clinging to love and hate - craving and aversion, is what takes us away from this natural, open awareness. When we let go of this clinging, we return to awareness, and we are present in this moment, at peace, living fully, and open to correct action and to the truth!

But letting go of clinging doesn’t mean to make it “wrong”, or try to prevent ourselves from having thoughts or feelings of clinging. Dwelling in this natural, open awareness, we notice when thoughts and feelings of clinging come up, and naturally let go of them and return to awareness of the moment.

In fact, being open to noticing clinging makes clinging part of our practice! It will come up, and that’s ok. We decide, and remind ourselves, to notice it and let it go.

Then, mindfulness appears by itself!