The Still Center Within

We all harbor that unchanging core within ourselves. This essence is the foundation of our being, ever-present as we navigate through life.

As Eckhart Tolle points out, the prominence of this inner stillness fluctuates based on our circumstances. During moments of meditation or prayer in a tranquil setting, this presence is front and center. However, when we are juggling dinner preparations while our kids run amok, that stillness retreats to the background.

What about the petals? Ram Dass interprets them as the dynamic forces of movement and change surrounding our stable core.

I liken those petals to clouds drifting across the sky—ever moving while the sky remains constant and serene. Just like the sky, our unchanging essence persists, even amidst the chaos.

Life's Impermanence

This notion of constant change is encapsulated in the Buddhist concept of impermanence. Nothing remains the same, not even moment to moment.

I witness this vividly through my three young children. They are in a state of continuous growth—learning new words, developing new behaviors, and changing physically.

Like the petals, they sway with the winds of life, sometimes receiving too much sun or not enough water, leading to shifts in their color or vitality.

My own physical state reflects this as well; one day I feel fine, but after a lengthy writing session, my body may protest with stiffness or discomfort. No two days pass with my body feeling exactly the same—there's always an element of change.

The Unchanging Essence

Despite these fluctuations, my core—the "center of the flower"—remains constant. This core represents my spirit, my soul, or as referred to in Hindu philosophy, my atman. It's that divine aspect, that connection to the universe, residing within each of us.

Much like the flower, this essence is inherently perfect. It requires no alteration or enhancement because it is already complete.

The key lies in realizing and identifying this essence as the true self.

How do we achieve this? By shedding the egoic burdens and mental clutter we've accumulated throughout our lives. This inner noise often distracts us, leading many to mistakenly identify with it rather than their still center.

The Essential Insight

However, that clutter does not define you. You are the still center of the flower. The most significant journey in life is recognizing and embracing this truth.

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