Degrees of Presence
Question: Is it possible to think and be present?
Leonard’s Answer: It is important to know that there are levels of Presence. It is as if Presence exists on a vertical scale or axis. As you deepen into Presence, you cross a point on the vertical axis where time disappears. Now you are in the Eternal realm. There is no time. Life does not exist outside of the moment, and you do not exist outside of the moment. You are completely absorbed into the Oneness. You are completely absorbed into the moment of Now. All sense of separation has dissolved. It is a highly exalted state. At this level of Presence, thinking is impossible. At this level, there is no one here as an individualized Being to think. Any thought would take you out of the moment. Of course, revelations can arise out of the silence, but this is radically different from thinking. A sense of knowing arises out of the silence, but this is radically different from understanding that occurs within the mind. To experience this level, even for a few moments will transform every aspect of your life, including your sense of yourself.
But you don’t have to be at this deep level of timeless Presence all the time. As you ascend on the vertical axis of Presence, time becomes once again available. You can use your mind to think, and you can participate in the world of time, but you no longer get lost there. It is more than enough if you are fundamentally present. This means that you are more grounded in Presence than you are lost in the mind. Now you can think, without becoming reabsorbed into the mind. You think consciously, and when you are done thinking, you naturally return to Presence. You are no longer a victim to those endless thoughts that keep dragging you to somewhere in your past or somewhere in your future.
Of course, as a present and conscious being, you are free to think, remember, imagine, and enjoy the world of time in any way that you like. The beautiful thing however, is that you can move up and down the scale of Presence at will. One moment you might be choosing to consciously think. The next moment, you are at the deepest levels of eternal Presence and silence. You are no longer imprisoned within the mind. You can move freely between the world of the mind and the eternal world of Now. Your memories, beliefs, ideas and opinions still exist within the mind, but you are no longer identified with any of it. You know that only this moment is the truth, and you are relaxed in that simple truth.
You can also speak from Presence. When you speak from Presence, there is no agenda that originates from within the mind. You are not speaking from within the mind. You are speaking and expressing from the source, which is at the center of your Being. You are present as you speak. You can also create music or art from Presence. Even Einstein’s most brilliant inspirations arose from the source and not from his mind. In these creative and inspired moments, the mind is simply a clear instrument of expression.
~Leonard Jacobson
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March 3rd, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Thank you Leonard. I’ve wondered about these questions many times. You have answered them perfectly for me.
March 4th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Wow, how clearly stated! It seems that one of your greatest gifts is the ability to explain some very difficult concepts in concrete and understandable terms. Thank you so much!
March 4th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Thanks a lot. I got a few answers here to some questions I have been THINKING of for some time.
March 6th, 2010 at 4:46 am
Very beautifully stated. It makes perfect sense, but to BE in the present moment seems so difficult. I would love to experience it.
March 7th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
That which is here, right now, always. It is always because how can life not be, if it wasn’t always here, right now?
I mean to say that by going into thought yes always is a mere illusion. And now is indefinite. But now is always. Or let me rephrase that always is just unfolding right now. Actually I am feeling the urge to just be silent. It seems to emphasize the truth more precisely. Thank you Leonard for sharing. I am truly grateful.
May 7th, 2010 at 9:18 am
I loved the experience of reading this piece. As it began, I took it as a bit of an invitation to allow a very deep level of presence. It was a beautiful experience, of course, but it almost instantly took away my ability to read! It was then that I made a conscious choice to move into conscious thinking (and then slipped rather quickly into unconscious thinking as is still my primary habit).
I attend the Tuesday night lectures whenever possible, so I know the experience of hearing this sort of discussion live, which is very different from reading it. In the live setting, you can let the mind go and let the vibe wash over you and whatever happens, it’s all good.
I do have a question too (which will come as NO surprise to you, Leonard). Since the experience of moving from one level of presence to another is conscious, to what degree do you experience that move as seamless/automatic and to what extent to you experience it as consciously-decided-upon? The way you describe it, I almost get the visual of you moving from one “room” to another–the conscious thinking room–the no-thought-pure-awake-awareness room–and back again. I’d love a bit more on that experience so that I can become more adept at it myself.
Big Love and Infinite Gratitude!!
May 14th, 2010 at 10:20 am
something very unusual happened to me the other day. When I read one of your posts on twitter.
I don’t know if I can explain it but I will try. Your post started out saying don’t diminish yourself in any way,at that point, everything stopped my mind was silent, the mind was not involved yet there was a knowing that rose up that that’s what the mind does it diminish itself constantly causing it’s self unhappiness.I woke up this morning, and for the first time in my life. There was nothing on my mind.
thank you
john