There Are a Million Ways to Do The Work Without Doing It
Here’s one that a friend recently described to me. I immediately could relate.
Is this you at times as well?
A Quick “Yes” for Question 1 and a Quick “No” for Question 2
Everyone knows that the answers to questions 1 and 2 of The Work are either yes or no for each question.
1. Is it true? (yes or no)
2. Can you absolutely know it’s true? (yes or no)
You only speak out your final answer of “Yes” or “No” when answering these questions. But the deliberation that happens inside in order to come up with a yes or no is meditation. That’s where the real inquiry takes place.
But with Repetition the Mind Can Go on Autopilot
Instead of taking time to really sit in the question and consider it with curiosity like a scientist, the mind takes a shortcut.
The mind thinks that #1 is not really thorough enough because #2 adds the absolutely which is very definitive. So it goes for a for a very quick yes to #1 and a very quick no to #2. The result is that there is really no depth to the meditation on either question.
As my friend put it, “I see a yes or no but don’t allow a commitment that is deep and real. Instead I just gave an answer so I can get to where I can give a real answer to the definitive “absolutely” #2. And even this answer is given in a shorter time. My mind has figured out a way to ‘save time’ in answering the questions—its lighting fast deduction has saved me so much time that could be wasted dropping in and waiting for the answer. Yeah right!”
It Sounds Funny, but That’s the Mind for You
It will use any trick to stay out of the deep end. And the best trick of all is to pretend that it is in the deep end when it’s really not. And then say later that The Work is not really working for me. Or say, “I love The Work, I do it every day,” even though I’m really just a skimmer.
Call it laziness, or call it smarts, the mind is happy to skim along without actually dropping in and doing any real meditation.
My Friend Had an Interesting Solution
He decided to turn it around and go super slow instead.
He said, “This weekend I went for a 75 minute walk and sat in question #1 the whole time, not allowing my mind to jump to its no/yes pattern. Here it is 2 days later and I am still doing a slow-cook, long-time processing—a background meditation of sorts, and lots has been showing up over the days.”
I’ve heard Byron Katie say that the whole process of The Work is contained in just this one question, “Is it true?” And I love my friend’s reminder to slow it down and open to the richness sitting untapped in questions 1 and 2 .
Have a great week,
Todd
“Is it true? Ask yourself, “Is it true that Paul doesn’t listen to me?” Be still. If you really want to know the truth, the answer will rise to meet the question. Let the mind ask the question, and wait for the answer that surfaces.” Byron Katie, Loving What Is
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