Silence

"The Monk" Collection of Cynthia Braun

"When you become aware of silence, immediately
there is that state of inner still alertness. You are
present. You have stepped out of thousands of
years of collective human conditioning."
Echart Tolle, 'Stillness Speaks'

The ego is very tricky and quite seductive, it easily
convinces us that it is the voice to listen to, the
momentum to act from. Last night I crashed and
burned because I fell for it again. I was depressed
and confused and wondering whether I was doing
the 'right' thing in regards to the paintings I am
working on in preparation for a show in June.
I even questioned whether I am even an artist.
The ego had my full attention.

Thank God I have developed this awareness
muscle and I caught myself. Busted!! Back to the
now. Was I painting right then? No. Was there any
decision to make right at that moment? No. A beautiful
minister/mentor, Paula Scott would always say that
spiritual practice was like sitting down at the piano
to learn to play. It took patience and and lots of
practice.

About 12 years ago I met my friend Joe for breakfast,
and after we went to take a walk on the beach. On
the walk I had the most phenomenal spiritual
experience of my life and it only lasted a few minutes.
Everything went quiet. I could hear everything, but
my perception was one of silence, stillness, peace and
joy.

One of the gifts of this experience is my hunger for
stillness and silence. This morning I am practicing
my relationship to that yummy place and listening
to the 'small still voice' as I write this and now face
entering the studio.

Silence. Stillness. Peace. All is well.