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Inner Hollowness

When we are stuck with a thought, it’s quite difficult to come out. First of all, we don’t remember anything other than the thought. Even if we remember to breathe, it’s next to impossible to take our awareness away from the thought and concentrate on breath. Just a few moments of awareness of breath, and the brain goes back to thoughts. As if some strong magnet is pulling us towards thoughts. We again recall breath and try to concentrate, just to fail again. 

The habit of dwelling in the world of thoughts is so strong. The world of breath is tasteless. We soon get bored. The brain wants something interesting. It gets back to thoughts. Thoughts of the past and future. Some memories and some analysis. We travel back and forth in time. 

When we concentrate on breath, through awareness of breathing, we travel into the depths of our being. We observe what is happening in different parts of our bodies. The moment we have that awareness of sensations in different parts of our body, we are free from thoughts. In that state, we have full awareness and control over our attention. We can play with it. There exist millions of possibilities that we can play with.

That awareness in daily life appears difficult. First of all, there are so many conflicting demands that need our attention. Second, even in leisure, we don’t remember to breathe. Third, even if we remember, memory is quite short, and the habit pattern takes over quite soon. That’s why life for most of us is a routine. Our attention is not in our hands. It goes in auto mode. Only if we decide to live with awareness in each moment can this habit pattern be broken. Either one or the other thought will take over. That’s why most of us are busy with our desires, greed, and ambitions and keep glorifying those and criticising others who deviate even slightly. We feel insecure in the presence of such people, who live with awareness and challenge the habit pattern of thoughts. We keep moving away from reality, and that’s why inner hollowness also keeps increasing day by day unless we understand the urgency to take action and start living with awareness. 


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