Inner Work

For the week of March 19, 2007

The Ground of Presence

Presence, though singular in its wholeness, has three primary and interdependent components, each one whole in itself. In recent weeks we have studied the will-arrow of presence and the conscious field of presence. Now we return to the ground of presence: sensation.

While our thoughts and emotions often take us into the past and future, our body stays here and now. Body awareness anchors us in the present moment. And the energy of sensation mediates awareness of our body.

For example, if you focus your attention in your right hand for a few minutes and then compare your experience of your right and left hands, you may notice a difference between the two. This difference signals the presence of the sensitive energy in the right hand and shows that the sensitive energy can be moved and accumulated intentionally. Through persevering in the practice of sensing parts and eventually the whole of your body, you establish yourself in the present moment.

Furthermore, the sensitive energy forms an inner platform on which the conscious energy can stand. The stronger and more complete the sensitive energy in your body, the greater your access to pure and clear awareness, to consciousness. As you sit sensing your body as a whole, the silent field of consciousness gradually emerges into your awareness and envelops you. As you become well-practiced in sensing and in entering the still field of consciousness during sitting meditation, you find yourself able to be in sensation and later even in consciousness during ordinary activities.

Consciousness may arise without whole body sensation, but with much diminished stability. Sensation gives us a substantial home in the present and consciousness naturally fills that home.

So the conscious field of presence resides on the ground of sensation. And our will acts through the conscious field. And will, in the form of attention to our body, collects the sensitive energy. Thus the three components of presence, the will-arrow, the conscious field and the ground of sensation, all depend upon and support each other. Though full presence requires all three, we start with the foundation, with working toward robust, visceral, continuing, full-body sensation. From there, the rest becomes possible and evolves organically.

For this week, increase your work with the energy of sensation. Notice how it impacts your whole presence.

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