The Weekly Universe
Volume #9
Those who seek peace in external things,
whether in places or devotional practices,
people or works,
in withdrawal from the world,
or poverty, or self abasement…
However great these things may be,
or whatever their character,
they are still nothing at all,
and cannot be the source of peace.
Those who seek in this way,
seek falsely,
and the farther they range,
the less they find what they're looking for.
They proceed like someone who has lost their way.
The farther they go, the more lost they become.
But what, then, should they do?
First of all,
they should renounce themselves
and then they will have renounced all things.
Truly, if someone were to renounce a kingdom,
or the whole world,
while still holding onto themselves,
they will have renounced nothing at all.
And indeed, if someone renounces themselves,
then whatever they might keep,
Whether a kingdom, or honor,
or whatever it may be,
they still will have renounced all of these things.
~ Meister Eckhart
Are you still holding onto yourself, afraid to renounce yourself? What if you let go?
What does it mean to renounce yourself? It means to choose to give up your own personal wishes, desires, and ambitions. It means to let go of what you think you want, and instead, release your being into the infinitely intelligent flow of the universe.
Watch your desires appear, and renounce them, if you choose. Notice what remains — pure beingness — that which has always been there, whole, perfect, and unconditionally enough.
But, don’t forget to let go of your desire to let go of desire.
All you have to do is just be, which is all you’ve ever been doing, anyways. Renounce yourself into that eternal truth.