When a client and I recently acknowledged the charged atmosphere of the times, the word sukha came to my mind.
The Sanskrit word, Sukha, means good space.
In contrast, duhkha means bad space. (ha = space or empty.)
Deeper perceptions come to me in geometric forms and patterns which makes sukha tangible– a peaceful and expansive SPACE that exists between thoughts. As fleeting as those moments can be, they are a respite from the ever busy mental chatter that is ego serving. Not that ego is a bad thing. But when peaceful space, sukha, inserts itself, one’s ability to experience a moment of bliss, even in the midst of societal or personal chaos, can be helpful to the body, mind, and spirit. Good space = Sukha.
It is possible to create this good space no matter what is happening on the outside of us.
We allow for good space when we become the objective and quiet witness to our surroundings. Where we do not judge our humanness. Where we are not putting ourselves or others down. We can even insert sukha in between the positive thoughts, for with sukha, there is no thought. Only a tangible connection to the greater Good.
Practice for a few moments, daily.
One of my favorite sayings (I’ve been saying this so long that I don’t know if it’s mine or someone else’s) is that the Universe is conspiring to help us. However you want to interpret the term Universe–I see it as a web on which we all exist. And this web, stronger than we know, can connect us to a source that is beyond word description. This source is good and only wants for our conscious and creative evolution. And it is always there, whether or not we acknowledge it.
I use my body, not my mind, as a barometer and ask these questions: Is my jaw tight? My gut tense? Is my breathing shallow? Tapping into the body barometer gives me insight as to whether or not I have disregarded my connection to this web. And if I have, it reminds me that I have an opportunity to make room for that good space.
One way is to take deep breaths, for if you can fully take in the life force, prana, then connection to that which conspires to help is duly noted by the body, mind and spirit.
Because we are human, sukha comes and goes. I see this as useful because we have something to compare: the endless random chatterings of the ego vs. the good space which is there for us when we allow It.
It is especially important now to summon up this good space. How can you find it?
The best way is by checking in to see how your body feels.
Then by breathing into the heart and finding a pleasant scene to gaze or focus upon and concentrate on that scene.
You can also close your eyes, place your hand over your heart and your gut and breathe deeply.
Sukha also gives us the opportunity for creativity—since good space allows juices to flow from from the greater web.
This reminds me of a Paul McCartney interview that I heard the other day. He said that he awoke with the entire tune of ‘Yesterday’ in his head. Sukha was at play there~ in that good space an entire tune came to him. This is an example of sukha’s presence: an openness (space) to expression that improves and heightens our connection to the Universe’s web. Mr. McCartney was simply a conduit.
As a young child, I would experience sukha by watching dust particles float through rays of sunlight that streamed, lazily, into my grandmother’s living room. I still remember those expansive moments, watching each particle take its time through the yellow sunlight, nowhere to go. My breath would get deeper and I would find joy in the peace that I felt. In the 1960’s, turning on the mid-day news meant seeing stories of war in far off lands and hearing about strife in American streets. But in those moments when the news was turned off and my body and mind synced with my location, there were those lovely, lazy dust particles. To me it was like magic. And memorable because I was in a ‘good space’. Those moments expanded time too and showed me that bliss was possible by simply being.
Perhaps you can think of moments that were magical for you when you were intensely present. When your breath got deep, your heart opened, and pure Joy was felt.
Our greater purpose, I believe, is to allow for good space to enter as often as possible, for this gives our senses full reign to enjoy what the Universe craves: an ability to experience Itself through our existence. We are the eyes and the ears on this web of Life. We feel, we taste, we hear, we smell and we see. We work for this greater consciousness which enjoys our presence when we enjoy our presence. Can it really be that simple?
When you turn off the news, put away your phone, close down your computer, take a moment to be the witness by experiencing, fully, what is around you. Take a deep breath. Give gratitude for this chance to be a part of Life’s expression of Itself. Perhaps that is our main ‘job’. And maybe it’s the most important job that we have. Creating more of that ‘good space’ allows for moments of pure joy and is easier on the heart as well as the mind. And gives the spirit a respite from the mind chatter which tends to harden the web, making it more difficult to experience that which is our soul-right.
We have the chance to make the best of this Life’s sensory experiences. And I think we can all vote on the benefit of momentary joys and blisses, for they are just as important as anything else that we experience.
May we all experience that good space, that sukha, which is free and limitless and always available.