Awe-some Practice I

The experience of ‘awe’ — an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, or wonder, produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or intense — can invoke a moment where the mind is so overwhelmed it just stops!

This gap in the seeming endless stream of thoughts provides a unique opportunity for practice. What is left in the pause without thought is awareness. Rather than grabbing our phone for a selfie or to record the event on social media, we can choose to relax into the space created by this pause of the thinking mind; this opening to the essence of the mind.

The following recommendation comes from the late Tibetan teacher Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.

The only way to acquire the great qualities of Enlightenment is to repeat many times the short moment of recognizing mind essence.

There is no other method.

These ‘awesome’ moments of recognition of awareness don’t last for more than a brief time, whether we like it or not. One reason for short moment practices is that there is no stability right now.

By being aware, recognizing, and resting in this recognition many times, we get used to it and it becomes easier to drop into that space.