Hein Reitsma

The last months of 2019 my life was out of control. I recognized the signals from two earlier occasions. My work assignments almost stopped, I had more dis-eases and I couldn’t sleep well. This time it seemed really serious and I knew in general that the best way forward is to surrender. It bothered me that I was living in a world where nothing lasts. Things just went up and down. Nothing was profound. I desired a simpler life and I decided that my mind still ruled too much. I started to work on some traumatic experiences from the past. Which I did successfully and finally one day something inexplicable happened to me. Suddenly, I experienced in my body an everlasting peace and happiness. I became aware of a world that is based on solid powerful being. Things appear and disappear but this beingness is the peaceful centre. Of course, I had already read something about it, but I had never experienced it myself. Eckhart Tolle describes it wonderfully in his book the Power of Now, guide to spiritual enlightenment.

Now, after I have experienced it myself what strikes me most is that it’s so obvious. Why didn’t I see it before? I remember moments that were a bit similar, but they didn’t last for long. The ‘centre being’ was missing. What if enlightenment is this obvious? What if there is no mystery? Isn’t it in front of us, staring at us, waiting until we finally see it? I think the mind overlooks it, because it simply can’t understand the unimaginable. The mind can’t grasp, clarify, sort or value ‘no-things’ like presence, awareness, beingness or oneness. We train our minds to focus on content. The real thing is LIKE no-thing. A fulfilling peaceful emptiness. Of course, we can read wonderful books about it, but it’s only after I experienced it myself that I, by scanning the books again, realized that it has something to do with the real thing.  I’m not sure of course, but I don’t care. My life is a lot simpler now. I’m deliriously happy with this breakthrough.

As John Greven, the writer in Oneness, the destination you never left states: “What is obvious, but perhaps overlooked, is by far more than you have-or can image.”  (www.onenessjustthat.com John Greves)

John Greven has a wonderful metaphor for these kinds of breakthroughs. At the moment our mind is disrupted or confused, we can more easily notice things the mind normally overlooks. Greven uses the example of his focus on the space between the letters in the word “nowhere”. He suddenly reads “now here”.  Right at the moment you think you’re nowhere, you’re actually in the now and here !! Ready to encounter your true self. Wow, this is a real paradigm shift. So, in the now it’s appropriate to think and feel your nothing? (no past, no future, just now) Yes, because when you’re nothing you’re open to really everything. No filters, no judgements, no boundaries but true love to whatever reveals itself to your liberated awareness. Liberated from the constraints of the mind. A familiar other constraint is: “It can’t be that simple ! It must be more complicated”.

No sir, it’s that simple! “Enlightenment” for example is hard to find, because guru’s say it’s about “finding” your true self. The great thing is…..We already are our true selves !! Finding our true selves is like a fish looking for water. The best moment for the fish to become aware of the presence of water is when it’s being pulled to dry land. A real dark disruptive moment. So, don’t try to become or to improve, just try to be aware of the real you. And don’t forget, it’s right in front of you. But…the moment you think: “I’ve got it !” You couldn’t be further off. Your mind will immediately take over with desires, fantasies and in the end the fear to lose what you’ve just achieved. When you feel you’re ‘nowhere’ and out of your comfort zone, you’re close and when a sudden indefinable inner peace takes over, your connected. Stay alert for the fears and doubts your mind will throw in. Just observe them and don’t take them serious. Your mind will try to stay in ‘power’ because it wants to save you .