The other day, while taking a minute of silence prior to a podcast recording with my good friend, Saqib Rizvi, I noticed something I often notice when sending my attention inward: the feeling of my heart beat. Depending upon the moment, I feel it in different physical locations, my ears, throat, hands, feet, and in the heart area itself. You might go inward now and notice how you feel your own heart beat in this moment (or it might be a lack of feeling). Closing your eyes might help, as well as letting go of trying to make it happen, just rest into this moment and see if you become aware of the sensation of the heart doing its thing, the thing that it is always and has always been doing since you were in the womb.

On this particular occasion, sitting in silence with Saqib, I noticed the feeling in and around the heart area, a subtle sort of rhythmic thumping. Simultaneously, I noticed something else: the ticking of a clock. I was struck by the similarity of these two phenomena, one seeming to come from inside, one from a seemingly external source, but sitting there, eyes closed, both physically happening within me. This made me think of the potentially flimsy barrier between “inside” and “outside.” The clock is not in my control, but I feel it within me, and similarly for the heart, it is a part of me and yet I did not make it, nor can I give it commands.

I’m reminded of Alan Watts’ words about the experience of sound/listening being the easiest way to enter the “meditative state.” Through listening, the inside world and the outside world “come together” in a way that can provide much relief of the me against the world feeling. I’ve included a musical incorporation of Watts’ words on the subject below (he starts speaking at about 00:19).

All

you

need to do

is

watch

&

listen.

***On a final note, I’ve added an option at the end of these blog posts for you to make a small contribution if you’d like. Please only do so if you feel moved to, and know that your donation goes directly toward helping me continue to provide affordable individual guidance as well as create new content, such as this blog, in the name of increased well-being and reduced psychological suffering. One particular project I’m currently working on is a book that encapsulates my psychological, philosophical, and spiritual perspective on getting to know oneself deeply and getting out of one’s own way. If you’re so inclined, your contribution would support these efforts and would be greatly appreciated (click the button below to donate). Thank you for being here!