Everything Is Its Emanation

• The in-person retreat I’ll be hosting at my home here in Santa Cruz, California still has a few spots left. The dates are March 8-10, 2024 (Friday evening through Sunday mid-day). Cost is $100 for the weekend. For further information or to register, please email: john@johnastin.com.

• The Zoom group exploring Peter Brown’s book, The Yoga of Radiant Presence still has space available. We’ll be meeting Tuesdays, 10-11:30 am Pacific time from March 5th to April 23rd. Cost is $100 (no one will be turned away for lack of funds). Email: john@johnastin.com to reserve a spot.

• I am doing a house concert, Sunday evening, April 28th in North San Juan, CA. For further info: john@johnastin.com.

EVERYTHING IS ITS EMANATION

Imagine for a moment that this existence is like clay and that the myriad experiences and circumstances that arise all represent the different ways the clay of life can shape itself.

Just like actual clay remains clay, regardless of how it’s being shaped, feel how the clay of life, irrespective of the particular forms it may assume remains what it is. Life. All that appears, all the distinctive shapes and forms that life can assume, are fundamentally equal in the sense of being made of whatever everything is ultimately made of. We could call that fundament, “life.” But we could also call it pure mystery for saying everything is made of life, of course begs the question, what exactly is life?

From this perspective, we can just relax as there's no need to transform the shape of this moment in order to make it more alive for it is already brimming with the vitality that is everything. We don't have to modify what's appearing. We don't have to experience anything in particular because everything that we happen upon is life, everywhere attention may land is simply how reality is appearing in that instant. There’s no need to strategize in order to bring reality forth for it is being brought forth as everything that appears, the unending flow of life, being everything.

Yes, reality is constantly modifying and transforming itself. But it remains itself through all its apparent changes. And so, nothing can keep you from experiencing this because the only thing that exists is the experiencing of this! There’s no need to correct the moment, no need to engage in some activity to pull yourself closer toward it as what’s being perceived right now is already it.

Sure, we can imagine that we're somehow not seeing this, believing that what’s being experienced is somehow other than the undivided wholeness. But actually, it’s impossible to notice anything other than the wholeness for there is only the wholeness, this singularity appearing as whatever appears. Everything is its shining, its emanating, this astonishing creativity that springs forth as each momentary perception, all of it happening spontaneously, with no effort required.

And so, we don't have to contrive our way into any particular state. We don’t need to achieve some better experience, secure some other moment that’s somehow clearer, more awakened or whatever. No, this moment, exactly as it is, is already the clear seeing. The moment appears in perfect clarity. The appearance of the moment is its clarity, the clear presence of whatever appears. Whether what’s appearing is being described as exhaustion, confusion, disappointment or contentment, it appears in and as perfect clarity, the clarity of what is.

This incredible, inexplicable, miraculous presence, the force and power giving rise to everything, the mysterious force generating each moment, exploding as each instant, is forever slipping away, elusive in its ever-transforming nature and yet always right here.

And because it requires no effort for it to be, we can completely relax and just enjoy the absolute, inexplicable miracle of it, the power, the openness, the indescribable beauty that is always here, effortlessly. Nothing need be done to bring it about for here it is! There is no escaping nor departing from it, no possibility of ever being cast out of this that is everything. Every moment, reality’s miraculous, inconceivable emanation…