Causeless Sweetness

The Fragrance that Emanates from a Silent Master's Presence

I’m noticing a gradual shift in the attunement of my receptivity towards the teachers I sit with — like a bird instinctively changing it’s familiar flight pattern, drawn by some unseen currents in the wind.

For many years my sensitivities have orientated around the clarity of ‘expressed understanding’ as a North Star for discerning who to learn from, especially when I take on the role as a student of truth, freedom, love and non-duality.

This ‘expressed understanding’ capacity as a device for discernment started out as quite a clunky instrument — I would simply track the logic of what was expressed, paying attention for contradictions and inconsistencies.

…And as a base, it wasn’t a bad approach. But as my understanding of reality deepened, I quickly realised that ‘contradiction’ and ‘inconsistency’ were relative to the level of understanding that was present. And that paradox was a common outcome when it came to investigating matters of reality through direct experience.

I also built an appreciation for skillful means, and the importance of teachers meeting my mind and others in a ways that were sensitive to our existing predispositions.

With time, it became clear to me that what ‘expressed understanding’ meant at a mature level was to meet a question with a completely intuitive response—arising spontaneously in the moment, with little to know prior thought. Which is only possible to do effectively when the teacher is so utterly and fully grounded in the truth of our shared being, that they can just open their mouths, and with full trust, the most relevant words, stories and analogies just flow out of them, free from any resistance — as if they were faithfully operating as an instrument for Truth itself.

Witnessing teaching at this level of mastery is a marvel.

Upon hearing a masterful response, typically, the questioner just melts into silence. Not an outward silence of nullification, paralysis of ego-based fears. But rather an inner silence of total contentment. Completeness and peace.

For a few moments anyway….

What is also impressive about these sorts of responses is that although the answer is sensitively tailored to the nuances of the questioner (e.g. their proclivities, level of understanding, emotional state), the response also always holds steady the consistent orientation of moving the questioner towards realising their true nature. Different signposts always pointing the direction home.

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CAUSELESS SWEETNESS

Recently though, the questioning mind has begun to quieten, and more and more I am finding myself enjoying the simple silent presence of being with a mature teacher.

In just being goal-lessly present, there is an emerging sensitivity to another kind of expression that I am recognising as consistent with mature teachers. I’m calling this expression ‘causeless sweetness.’

As opposed to how the teacher responds to questions, this is more about how being present in their immediate field naturally feels — especially when they are just being silent, or moving about their daily activities.

The source of this sweet causeless fragrance is hard to point to. Ineffable really. It’s the teacher’s whole being.

But if I were to attempt to get more specific, I’d say it’s a powerful softness in their eyes. A gentle enthusiasm in their face. It’s the lightness with which they turn about. The thought-free graciousness when they give without condition or receive with surprise. An effortless kind of warmth in their body’s motions towards others.

All of this culminates in a fragrance of unrelenting sweetness that is given off no matter the situation or circumstances the person is under (and so is determined to be causeless). Even in moments of intensity, illness or tiredness, their luminous heart shines through without effort.

The consequence of being in such a teacher’s presence is that I notice the thinking mind gently falls silent. I notice tension in the body eases, the heart rate slows and the breath becomes gentle and rhythmic. And out of this presence, an openness is created, that fills every corner of the moment with this sweetness, with peace and with warmth — dissolving the walls of identification, and exposing this sweet fragrance as the very natural substrate of our shared being.

A wonderous enthusiasm for life follows, and I find it difficult to hide the smile that my face keeps wanting to make.

What a gift these beings are.
Kind attendants of God, here to gently help us wake up from our deep dream-filled slumber. Long may they flower.

With sincerity and love,
David