Stop For A While

Dr. Rajesh Bhola
India
Sep 21, 2012

At all the Prajapati Brahm Kumaris' centres there are clocks which chime every hour. Islam prescribes stopping for ritual prayers, called Salah or Salat – which must be performed five times a day. Salah is intended to focus the mind on God, and is seen as a personal communication with him, to express gratitude and worship. Many other religious sects in the world have also adopted a similar practice of ‘stopping’, as per some timing. This practice may at first seem quite artificial, but—simple as it is—it does have a profound effect over the course of a day. There is a build up of tension as we rush from one task to another. While working, our mind gets conditioned. The unconditioned mind delights in the miracle of daily life, enjoys each breath, savours taste, and looks quite naturally with a glow in its eyes. Because of our conditioning, we experience this bliss only rarely. The practice of ‘stopping’ allows our original nature to surface. This original nature is not something we can construct; in fact, the folly is that we try to construct what is freely available to us. We need to just stop doing what cuts us off from our natural happiness. The essential intervention that is required in our lives is one which can be described as ‘stopping’.

The effect of ‘stopping’ is to bring us peace and joy. It is also an everyday exercise, in which we introduce ‘stops’ into our ordinary activities. Every time we stop in this way, we have an interlude of a few moments, in which we return our attention to an immediate reality. Learning to stop is very meaningful. When you feel anger, for instance, do absolutely nothing. Do not let yourself be swept away by the rage. Cultivate stillness, by ‘stopping’ for a while. The energy of your emotion should be added to your spiritual fire, and not be dissipated in meaningless and destructive gestures. Return your attention to your breathing, and enjoy a few moments of being alive. Whatever the task in hand, stop for a while and pay attention to your breathing, and to whatever is immediately before you. During the time of stopping, try to gain distance and detachment from your current mental state; it will allow you to ease naturally into a state of tranquility, without effort or contrivance. During this process what will count is not the ability to prevent thoughts or emotions from arising, but the ability to catch ourselves in a particular mental or emotional state. 

Stopping for a while grounds us. When we stop and appreciate our breath for a moment, or look at the way the sunshine blends the sky and the sea, we are—for a moment at least—no longer individual human beings. We are simply whatever that is which registers beauty, stillness, peace and tranquility. It is nameless; it is the unconditioned. Many people who have visited religious places have imbibed this practice into their lives, with good effect. 

When we stop and sit in meditation, we sit still. All manner of things may arise in the mind, but the body remains still. The fire burns, but is contained. Things arise; we watch them arise and watch them depart. If you find that the mind wanders, notice what has come up... and then return your attention to the breath. Without losing consciousness of the breath, notice how you are conscious of other smells, sounds, sensations, surroundings and imaginings – arising from within or outside. Finally, let go the impulse. This exercise is an enlightened action. We see feelings come up in us in response to our awareness of the forms that appear in our mind; and we gently but effectively contain these feelings in a nurturing way. This practice of stopping for a while provides us an opportunity for an introspection, and puts us in touch with our deeper life. It strengthens us against the ravages of greed, hate and delusion. We learn to be still in the midst of all that is going on, and we master the fire within us. υ

Dr. Rajesh Bhola is President of Spastic Society of Gurgaon and is working for the cause of children with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities for more than 20 years.