Videos | Open Space Practice, (AKA: A Thousand Shades of Gray)

In yoga, I learned to always “return to neutral.” This means before moving into the next pose, on the other leg or other side for example, that you return to neutral, to center, to rest. This is in part for safety, to slow you down, keep you from speeding too fast into the next pose and possibly hurting yourself.

Neutral is also related to “mind the gap,” observing the space between thoughts and experience, the awareness that comes before the thought, before judgement–vast space. In shamatha meditation, we are taught to notice the moment between breaths–not breathing in or out, but rather the space of rest between. Neutral is the moment, the space that is unattached to hope or fear.

Neutral is unbiased, neither positive or negative, center, middle, moderate, unattached, not supporting or favoring, having no color, no judgement, no side, uncommitted, calm, detached, patient, indifferent, inert, relaxed, easy, unconcerned, undisturbed, gentle, inscrutable, satisfied, serene, still, unemotional, unmoved, untroubled, equitable, and impartial.

Neutral is not being triggered by events or caught up in emotions or distracted by thoughts. Neutral is peaceful abiding, calm awareness, the acceptance of reality, what is as it is. It is non-attachment, overcoming desire, letting go and letting be.

Neutral is a concept of meditation and mindfulness, “the sacred pause” that Tara Brach speaks of in this video, this guided meditation. “It gives us a chance to come home to our hearts again.”

I can’t seem to resist a 30 day blogging challenge. In October it was Blogtoberfest, NaBloPoMo in December, and Small Stones in January. This month, it’s the A to Z Challenge. I am starting a few days late, but I have enough left that if I post every day, I can do the whole alphabet. Everyone else is on D today, but that’s okay.

One of my favorite memoirs, for the writing and the title and the idea, is Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. Amy Krouse Rosenthal, the author, describes the book this way: “It is a sort of alphabetized memoir…(my) life in encyclopedia form.” When I first read about the A to Z blogging challenge, I immediately thought about her book. So, the fact that I can’t pass up a blogging challenge and that this particular one reminds me of one of my favorite books in my favorite genre of books means I’m all in. Let us begin…

A is for acceptance. Knowing my limitations. Understanding that nothing more can be done, nothing else is necessary. Agreeing with reality, not grasping or rejecting. Letting go of wishing I were somewhere else or that things were different. The willingness to tolerate what is, to meet the truth where it resides, where it rests, to stay and rest with it. Experiencing the situation, connecting with it. Making no attempt to change, protest, reject, or exit reality. Seeing reality for what it is, wholly and accurately. Welcoming, embracing the genuine nature of things. Letting go, surrendering, softening, yielding. Relaxing into what is, as it is.