Resistance

The following comments are edited from a discussion in another forum:

Resistance is so pervasive in most peoples lives, such a habit, that we don’t realize we’re doing it. We can point to concepts or beliefs we might have that get in the way but much easier to explore resistance via feeling. Feelings are what gives resistance energy.

The trick is thus in what some call mindfulness or restful alertness. Noticing. When circumstances arise in our lives, how do we respond? Do we react? And does that reaction have an underlying resistance to it?  Are there habitual reactive “negative” emotions arising?

This is a solid sign we’re resisting what is. We’re not allowing what is to be as it is.

This is not to say we shouldn’t have opinions or preferences. Those are natural. The issue is with conflict, making wrong. Using our preferences to make exceptions bad.

As we become aware of our reactivity, we can allow the emotions as they arise. This allows them to complete and resolve. The “power source” of our resistance gradually gets unplugged. The drama settles. The air clears.

Note that emotions are NOT the issue. Emotions are fine. Beautiful even. It’s when we use them to push against, to resist, and to fuel ideas and beliefs that are against life that our suffering arises.

Resistance behaves almost like an emotion itself, but it has a physical edge to it. It is even stored physically. Like emotions, resistance should not be demonized either. Some resistance is good, like when we hesitate before doing something foolish. The issue is with resistance to life.

When we can resolve some of that backlog, we can find ourselves slipping into Be Here Now without effort. Being OK with what is, as it is. Meditation is profoundly useful for this as it cultures inner peace and restful alertness. But the stuff that’s still being activated by habit mind, often unnoticed in our day to day lives – that’s what can use a little conscious attention.

Fear
Fear is certainly one way resistance shows up. For some, it might be anger, or blame, or whatever. But fear is at the root of it. Generally this core fear of being separate is deeply subconscious until later in the game, in the leadup to unity.

Some describe this process like peeling an onion. Layers and layers, seemingly endless. But a lot of people also note that there is often a bunch of clearing just before an opening. It’s a good sign when the process becomes conscious.

Fear and other potent emotions are powerful manifesting energy. Another great reason they’re good to let go of. But again, the idea is not to get rid of emotions. That’s just resistance again. The idea is to allow them to be there. Curiously, this brings them peace and in many case resolves them. You’ve allowed them, acknowledged them. Everyone just wanna be luved. 😉

You are a human living in the world. You will not have an absence of fear. But you will  cease being driven by, limited by or attached by fear. Fear will simply arise on appropriate occasions. If you are able to just see the fear without being afraid of it, without resisting it, you can step through and out of it in just a few moments. It will be more like a breeze or passing traffic. You might notice it due to its uncommonness, but it will simply move on by.

This is the same as with physical pain. Once you acknowledge having received the pain signal, the body will ease right up on it, perhaps shift to an ache.

Desire is also not the barrier – it’s the attachment to a desire that can be a barrier. Attachment to concepts. Attachment to feelings. Attachment to desires. Funnily enough, the last barrier to awakening is often our concepts of awakening. Once we let it go, there we are  😉
Davidya