Rut or Groove, Again

Last week, I asked you to comment on whether you thought I was in a ‘Rut’ or a ‘Groove’ or some combination of those states in our group sessions. I received a lot of feedback. Most of it was very positive concerning the question itself. Many had thoughts in both directions.

Being ‘in a rut’ has the sense of following the same steps or path without making much progress, without growing, and without being open to new paths or opportunities. Like you are walking in a circle, going nowhere, frustrated.

Being ‘in the groove’ elicits the feeling of flow, movement in a more progressive way, in the musical sense of being in tune with the melody. Perhaps moving ahead with more joy and equanimity.

So, the sense of being in a rut or in a groove is our own personal perceived sense of where we are in this moment. It may have nothing to do with our day-to-day spiritual prayer or sitting practice, or what we experience in group practice sessions. The feeling of being in a rut is more reflective of our growing awareness of reacting from habitual patterns; reacting in the same way over and over again to similar situations that arise in our lives.

In fact, being ‘in a groove’ with spiritual practice may mean engaging the mind with awareness, in the same way, over and over again. We repeat the same practices repeatedly with the intention of awakening to our true nature. The habitual patterns that arise in the mind have been ingrained as ‘helpful’ or ‘protective’ over many years in our lives, but may no longer serve us on the journey to awakening. Many teachers have suggested certain practices in response to difficulties we have had in meditation and then said, “Try that for a year or so, and let me know how it works out.” Some have even suggested that we don’t get to the depth of our practice until the mind gets used to a practice for long enough to be willing to finally let go. Letting go of the resistance, letting go of our clinging, letting go of our patterns of thinking, letting go of trying to make something happen.

So, if our practices seem ‘rut-like’ to you, I encourage you to persist with your practice until you uncover where the resistance is in the mind. What part of your mind needs more attention and acceptance. How can you sit with the difficulty, allowing it the space it needs to be seen, understood, and accepted. This is our compassionate presence to feelings that allows these patterns of reaction to dissolve and release on their own. We need to be open to these feelings, because, if you can’t feel it, you can’t release it.

And, perhaps, all this worry and questioning is for naught. You may not be in a rut. You may be in a groove. Everything may be groovy!

And if you have questions along the way, “I’m listening.”