Dr. Jagdish Dave
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Mindfulness

Inner Work

8/28/2021

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Acceptance-based inner work is one of the core components of the Mindfulness paradigm. We know the flowing water of a river is far less likely to contain impurities than trapped water. Trapped water is an incubator for harmful bacteria and is often contaminated. We need to let the river of feelings flow to avoid the harmful effects of trapped feelings. Our feelings are experienced in our body and if we do not let them come and go mindfully, they become toxic and cause physical illness. Since body and mind are interconnected the blocked toxic energy creates mental stress and causes mental health problems. In order to prevent and avoid the harmful effect of suppressing or blocking emotions we need to do the inner work for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. And so when we are open to our feelings as they arise, we recognize and acknowledge them, accept them, investigate and let them go mindfully. This is the way we free ourselves from the grip of our negative and harmful feelings and emotions. This is the way we cultivate skills of emotional regulation and emotional resilience. This way we can cultivate our Emotional Intelligence.

We are social beings. We are connected with people. We have a variety of interactions with people in our life. Our inner work is essential for our personal well-being as well as our relational well-being. When we do the inner work we create a wholesome environment within ourselves which facilitates the creation and the sustenance of healthy interpersonal relationships. This way we can cultivate our Social Intelligence. Social Learning and Emotional Learning are as
important or perhaps more important than Intellectual Learning. And this is what we need to do in schools and families and the community at large. We know the cause of suffering in our personal and interpersonal life and also in the social and political arenas. We need to wake up and work on these problems diligently. 

We are also spiritual beings. We have the potential to self-realize and get enlightened. The light of wisdom shines within us. It is our own inner light that removes the clouds of delusion and opens the door to seeing Reality-Truth- that liberates us from the self-created suffering. This is a spiritual journey. All wisdom traditions teach us different ways of liberating ourselves from ourselves. As the Rigvedic sage says,” Truth is one. Paths are many.” The Bhagavad Gita shows
four Yogas-spiritual paths- of awakening, self-realization and enlightnment: Path of Self-knowledge called Gnana Yoga. Path of Selfless Service called Karma Yoga. Path of Devotion called Bhakti Yoga and the Path of Meditation called Dhyana Yoga. Gautam Buddha realized and taught the Eightfold Path of liberation. One has to find one’s spiritual path and follow it earnestly, patiently and diligently. This is also inner work. Such inner work cultivates Spiritual
Intelligence.

Inner work is for physical, mental, emotional, relational and spiritual well-being. And as we know sometimes for doing this inner work we may need a Guru to guide us or we may find our own path by ourselves. Satsanga, compassionate presence and support of like-minded people can be very helpful. May we find our path of liberation to live mindfully, freely and fully!

Let me conclude with the wise words of a wise teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. 
Embrace Strong Emotions
Do not fight against pain, do not fight against irritation or jealousy.
Embrace them with great tenderness, as though you were embracing a little baby.
Your anger is yourself, and you should not be violent towards it, the same thing goes for all your emotions.
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