Bliss is one of those words that hasn’t stood the test of time very well. It has become lost in airy-fairy phrases that convey little meaning. A marriage may be very happy, for instance, but to speak of wedded bliss is usually an expression for a state that has little to do with the phenomenon of body and mind. So we tend not to use the term bliss very much. I think perhaps we should.
Bliss can occur naturally in body as well as mind
Bliss occurs when the energy of the body reaches a certain pitch and vibrates through the nervous system. There has to be an alignment of sorts. Everything is in tune. In effect, the body is singing. It becomes melodious. The very cells of our body vibrate happiness. It can be an extraordinary sensation, yet it feels the most natural thing in the world. That’s because it is natural. Sadly, most people don’t experience it.
Why the mind is involved – but it’s better if we don’t think very much
Anyone who has had the experience of bliss will tell you that it is accompanied by great clarity and wakefulness. There is also a feeling of being totally at ease.
Most of the time, our mind is arguing with itself and creating tension. Instead of accepting what life presents fully and completely, our mind argues that there is a better way. Things could be, and ought to be, different. This is an anathema to bliss. Instead of analysing all the time, let the mind enjoy some stillness.
Let your awareness flood your body
Consciousness is the key to bliss but we also need the body. Bliss comes when body and consciousness are united. Rarely does our consciousness fill our body completely. We may be aware of our hands typing or our legs walking. A headache or pain somewhere may trouble us. These everyday things are normal for all of us. But if we let our awareness spread through the whole body at the same time, something wonderful happens.
The easiest way of doing this is to let your consciousness ride the breath. As you breathe out, feel as though your breath reaches all parts of your body. There’s no analysis to do – just enjoy it and let go.
Healing bliss
As the body relaxes, we may have different sensations. It is important not to become attached to them as the whole process involves letting go of everything. As we do so, the blood vessels and energy channels in the body tend to dilate. Qi (chi) and blood can reach all parts of the body more easily, taking the natural healing powers of the body to where they are needed. This is healing as natural as it gets. And it paves the way for bliss.
Can’t stop thinking? Treat yourself to a copy of The Art of Not Doing
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