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Isness Of Life: Is It “Findable?” Power & Gift Zen Tao

by Sanjiv Manifest | Dec 11, 2024

isness of life: “… The miraculous is in the ordinary …” ~ Trevor Rufli

The answer, of course, is Yes! … and, if not, then it should be Yes! … because of the very meaning of the term isness … but, unfortunately, with most such questions (topics) the answer is inexplicably elusive – for many reasons – which is why further exploration is worthwhile.

But before taking a deeper dive into this specific question, let’s step back and consider another elusive – yet intimately intertwined or related – question : how peace might come?

In our self awareness journey peace seems elusive, doesn’t it? … at least initially (for most 🙂 ) … but as we continue and explore deeper (or “progress” further) … and “take in” the different insights … or words from various teachers, traditions “sink in” over time … we find that peace seems to be more and more just here! … it feels like it just comes in slowly … is felt gradually …

“… And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow …” … simple yet profound words from Yeats’ The Lake Isle of Innisfree … words that Trevor Rufli uses to underscore his point that peace or freedom (from our unnecessary suffering) comes dropping slowly …

And this peace that comes dropping slowly … is really about the recognition – or realization – of the “isness of life” … the more we realize the “isness of life” the more peaceful we feel … and isness, of course, is all about what is already here …

Unfortunately, the majority struggle to realize what is already here; including it’s profound implications on suffering or rather dissolving of suffering. Instead, sadly, most remain distracted and “miss” the isness that’s here and at all times … this “missing” itself is one of the inexplicable paradoxes of life 🙂 … so despite the seeming absurdity of “is it findable?” it remains a practical question … and hence is worth a deeper examination … thus this post.

We’ve been exploring Trevor’s recent book Zen to reveal the extraordinary Tao … in a multi-part series … and in this concluding part 4 we share Trevor’s insights about … peace coming in slowly … which also answers the opening key question about the “isness of life” : is it “findable?”

Each of the previous parts explored different topics via substantive chapter excerpts:

… Part 1: the practical matter of separateness or more accurately the illusion of separateness and why we can’t see through it … …

… Part 2 : a mini dive on the perplexing – yet inevitable – matter of seeking … that seemingly creates this illusion of self … which prevents us from realizing what we already have …

… Part 3 : his thoughts on can we walk with the Tao … via what might be called balanced seeking … followed by thoughts on The Tao shines on self … …

{All italicized text in this post is from Trevor’s book and is published here with the publisher New Sarum Press’ generous permission. Scroll to the bottom for a free downloadable Table of Contents.}

Travelling Light: Isness of Life

Freedom comes slowly too. It comes to us gently as we realise there is nothing we need to do or to have—we already have it. There is nowhere we need to be other than where we are now. We can rest where we are in this very moment. We are free as we realise we are not for something, other than what life is for. We can be as we are. And we can let peace come, we don’t have to seek it. In finding our path we find that the ground is truly taken from under us:

Above, not a tile to cover the head;
Below, not an inch of ground for the foot.

R.H. Blyth, Haiku

This freedom is absolute, it is in our daily life and can be found at every turn. It is available to us whether we are stuck in a frustrating traffic jam or viewing a beautiful sunset. We can find it in the trip into town just as it is in the meditation retreat. It is also available regardless of our situation in life. It is our birthright. It is here and now in this very moment, instantaneously and immediately.

The miraculous is in the ordinary.

As our knowing deepens we begin to discover what can only be called the isness of life. This is the growing sense that we are moving along with life’s unhindered momentum. In our flowing, rather than resisting, we experience what are the givens of life. We begin to experience that, despite our opposition and attempt to control the flow of reality, it goes on regardless. The momentum begins to sweep us away as we transcend the constraints of self and begin to experience the Tao. In expressing the Tao we find that all that can be said is that it so perfectly, simply and clearly is. There is something else which comes with the experience of isness. We experience in an absolute way that everything is okay, that everything is perfectly alright. Nothing can happen to us, for we happen as life happens. We know we are not the river, we are the sea and have always been the sea.

Go easier now, knowing how special you are! We are the result of billions of years of evolution, we have been forged out of the great furnaces of stars. For now we are challenged by the limits of our I-centred consciousness. But we represent so much more for we possess a consciousness that when freed of the tension of self can expand in all directions, with apparently no limits to its expansion.

The universe is in the palm of your hand.

Stay tuned for more … words of wisdom from Jean Klein, Sunyata, Amaya Gayle … via New Sarum Press books …

All italicized text above (except otherwise noted) is from Zen to Reveal the Extraordinary Tao and is published here with the publisher New Sarum Press ‘ generous permission.

And click here for a FREE downloadable copy of the Table of Contents, graciously and generously made available by the publisher New Sarum Press.

You can purchase the book at Amazon.