There is a lovely human contradiction here.
Meditators are strung out between being primal primates and transcendent gurus.
The organic reality is that meditators sit in a complex system of nerves, juices and synapses. These biological essentials are hardwired into basic instincts for survival — for the individual and for the species. Sometimes these built-in nature drives can be bloody and harsh.
In the culture of traditional eastern meditation this is reflected in the classic Tibetan Buddhist mantra:
I am a sack of skin filled with unpleasant things.
Less harsh is the mantra:
I have a body, but I am not my body.
Softer and emotionally literate is the more modern version:
I have a body, but I am more than my body;
I have emotions, but I am more than my emotions;
I have thoughts, but I am more than my thoughts.
But these mantra pose a really interesting and substantial paradox. Who is the “I” who has all these things?
The “I” is obviously still a persona, an identity, a “me!” But this “I” is claiming to transcend and be detached from the sack of skin, the body, emotions and thoughts. This “I” is more than the flesh and blood identity.
In the Christian tradition we know only too well the problems associated with detaching from and condemning the physical body. The arising challenges range from a gentle dissociation that is harmless to others, to an uncontrollable flood of repressed, corrupt and abusive libido. This pathology of course is not restricted to Christianity, but may be found in any tradition that represses the body and its instincts.
But there is also a psychological challenge which is hardly acknowledged and requires more enlightenment. It is more subtle and has to do with status and survival. And is sometimes very destructive.
It is one of the most ordinary basic instincts in human beings. It is the survival drive that requires a stable sense of status. Where we sit in the social pecking order is a crucial element of psychological stability. We can see the politics of dominance hierarchies playing out all across the animal kingdom.
In the human species, status anxiety, and not knowing where one stands in the social hierarchy, can lead to mental illness and suicide. Moreover when someone’s status is threatened or disrespected, it can trigger powerful basic instincts of defensiveness, anger and aggression. This is the culture of gangs, bitchfests, prisons, mafiosi and dictators.
When a meditator, therefore, self-soothes and calmly observes the world around them, they transcend the usual dynamics of status and survival. In their consciousness the meditator is detached from, higher than, everyone else who is caught up in the noise, arousals and delusions. By virtue of being calm and watchful, the meditator has achieved – at least within their model of reality – a higher status.
This higher status gives them, as a biological creature, quite naturally, feelings of superiority. No wonder some meditators feel smug. At its worst the gentle smile of a meditator may be an expression of conceit.
And . . . perhaps they have genuinely achieved a higher status. Perhaps this is a positive evolutionary step onward for human beings.
If calm meditative watchfulness is a positive evolutionary step onward, then what matters now is whether the meditator has the reflective skills to understand the trickiness of the human psyche and whether they have insight into the hardwired drives of their sack of skin filled with unpleasant things. What matters too is whether they have an instinct for compassion.
Looking back at my own practice, I remember that in my twenties i was a smug meditator for a while. I did not know better and it was a stage before I developed a more insightful and loving temperament.
In fact, I now wave a flag and will assert that the experienced meditator has reached a higher stage of human evolution and development — has higher status!
But this higher status, in the context of the great ocean of cosmic consciousness, is meaningless. (Try competing with a galaxy!) As meditators experience over time, there are never-ending new and higher states of consciousness in our infinite enquiry into love, wisdom and the mystery.
Our plateau of calm awareness is but a starting point for ever more expanded states, more compassionate awareness and service.
So yes, I would have everyone on the planet able to practise the skills of calm awareness. But I would also want them to understand and appreciate the flesh and blood realities, the basic instincts of their biological creaturehood.
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Meditation requires insight at all levels.
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The image below is of St Simeon the Stylite who lived on top of a pillar for decades.
I disagree with you, on the statement that you made,about the body, mind and soul not being connected. If the mind and body, where not connected we would be dead.
Meditation allows us to ascend to that higher level from which we can see better that all is one, only for our body memories to then reassert their discernment to find the separations within that new level too! Expansion cycles are infinite too 😀
I remember after the Tsunami in Thailand Buddhist monks were going round telling survivors they shouldn’t be upset about losing their loved ones. (As if it was karma). Upsetting the understandably distraught people even more…
Meditation without retaining human feeling. compassion and empathy can become worthless.
In my opinion.
I like you tackling this ‘head on’, William. it’s true that some meditators can come across as very smug and I think your reasoning of why… is spot on. One of you best lines then is ‘in the context of great cosmic consciousness it means nothing’. I think there are various other things we can consider to knock any incipient smugness from ourselves:
– In a ‘earthly context’:The hungry tiger would still find the smug meditator sitting in lotus position tasty. The smugness means nothing to it, nor the cold hard rain that might fall on the smug meditator or the rotting food that will not wait for the smug meditator. I.e. unless anyone here can ‘ascend’ the world carries on, and most of that world doesn’t care less. The human world might care but would prefer someone who contributes (even if that is wise thoughts and insights – but just looking at other with superiority is not really contributing).
– Perhaps not in the material wealthy West… but in a poorer country people have wood to cut, water to carry, crops to plant. How is the smug person superior to them? S/he doesn’t even promote peace or wisdom
I started my meditation practice in the 1970’s when Marareshi Mahesh Yogi taught it in Montreal. I have found that after 5o years of practice, I am at peace with myself, calm, caring and a good listener around others, and my ego has dissolved. I feel very small, humble and grateful when I sense the light in the universe. I hope I was never smug about being a meditator!
Thank you William, this is very helpful.
After many years of meditating but not in a group situation I find that I am soon going to be doing just that, so this is a timely reminder on many levels, thank you!!
Thank you William. It reminds me that whatever ‘benefits’ we find in meditation, we should use them to be of service…
Thank you William… so well said and I’m sure everyone can relate including myself. Namaste 🙂
The struggles remind me of this poem by Kabir, particularly ” I bought some Burlap, but I still throw it elegantly over my left shoulder” and at the end he is still proud of himself. ….
“Friend, please tell me what I can do about this world I hold to,
and keep spinning out of control !
I gave up my sewn clothes and wore a robe,
but I noticed one day the cloth was well woven.
So I bought some burlap, but I still
threw it elegantly over my left shoulder.
I pulled back my sexual longings,
and now I discover I’m angry a lot.
I gave up rage, and now I notice
that I am greedy all day.
I worked hard at dissolving the greed,
and now I am proud of myself.
When the mind wants to breaks its link with the world,
it still holds onto one thing.
Kabir says: Listen my friend,
there are very few that find the path!
Good poem!
👍 🙏
This totally chimes with my own experience! Thank you William.
Excellent article. Thank you
Thank you for this writing this. I took up meditation a number of years ago to in some way help me with depression & grief. I now carry on with the practice & your descriptions help me understand some of my experiences and sensations. This blog really struck a chord with me. Many thanks. Cheers
Thank you
Thank you, William, to remind of me of the meaning of connection of our body and our relationship to others people!
For me it is easy to be seduced by my curiosity and the thrill of an ever expanding consiousness. But I feel meaningless if my consciousness is not combined with compassion and serve “all my relations”.
I think of Buddha who with compassion returning to the markesplace.
And in Christiany that we are limbs in the same body, the leader have to lead by serving and that love is the highest.
Thank you William, I found this really interesting, and it gave me food for thought.