When we pursue our desires, we create a separation between subject and object. This happens because we perceive our goals as separate and attempt to achieve them through action. We identify with the "doer" and believe that action is necessary for fulfillment.
The object or goal we pursue exists outside our immediate consciousness. The problem lies in trying to reach the object with our minds. To align ourselves with the object, we must move our consciousness toward the goal.
Our inner center recognizes wholeness, and that we are already aligned with everything. To achieve this recognition, we need to delve deeper into the various layers of our minds and bodies. A state of flow, where the actor and the deed are merged, is achieved when we remain centered. In this state, everything flows effortlessly.
Do you have the patience to wait for the mud to settle and the water to clear? Can you remain still until the right action arises naturally? When we disturb the lake's water, it becomes murky. To see clearly, we must wait for the mud to settle; only then will the water be clear, and we will see the light. We shouldn't wait for rescue; it's about faith in the unknown. We may not clearly see the way out, but we have faith that it exists. An effortless state doesn't mean spending our lives meditating in isolation; we can fully live our lives while being less attached to outcomes. We can enter an effortless state while engaging in any activity. This occurs when the subject (us) and the object (the activity) become one.
To achieve optimal results, you should concentrate on the one thing at the time, excluding other thoughts and other activities as much as possible. Lose yourself in your work, immersing your self in the creative process. Essentially, putting yourself into the work—your being into the work then the subject and object become one. We become the work; therefore, we won't tire of it because we cannot tire of ourselves. However, if the self is absent, if being isn't sufficiently present in the work, the work becomes tiring and exhausting. That which is an essential part of us cannot exhaust us.
In reality, we don't perform our actions. When our self is sufficiently present, our actions flow effortlessly. We let go of striving to achieve particular outcomes, and surrender to life.
Our personality and the self-concept we identify with are not truly our essential selves. However, we can reach oneness between the subject and object when we transcend the distance. The perceived separation between us and the object, however, becomes the source of suffering.
Therefore, we need to align ourselves with life. We need to become one with life, not be tired of ourselves. Finding effortlessness in everything we do. When my will and divine will are one, we become effortless.
Non-doership
When nothing is done out of a striving for personal control, nothing remains undone, and the doer has completely vanished. There is no individual doer with complete control over their reality. Reality unfolds according to a divine order. Identifying with the doer of our actions only increases our self-importance. When we let go of this false identity, it is no longer just "I" that lives, but our true selves.
We are like waves in the ocean, not separated from the source of its power. The wave moves as the whole ocean moves; it does not act as an independent entity. If a single wave suddenly tried to move against the ocean, it would be destroyed. The illusion of control—believing in absolute control—will never create positive outcomes if we oppose the divine order.
The State of Flow
The state of flow is characterized by alignment between our inner state and our outer actions. It's a state of high alertness without conscious thought—a state of "no-mind"—combining calm confidence with lighthearted focus. We increase our inner will while simultaneously releasing external effort.
When we don't react to experiences, but instead fully attend to the present moment and focus on one thing at a time, we are in a state of flow. This involves letting go of effort.
Here are some examples of people completely immersed in activities, experiencing a flow state:
Athletes: A basketball player, completely absorbed in the game, moves fluidly and effortlessly, scoring without conscious thought.
Musicians: A guitarist, lost in the music, improvises with effortless grace and creativity.
Writers: A novelist, deeply immersed in their story, finds words flowing onto the page without conscious effort; hours pass unnoticed.
Surfers: Riding a perfect wave, they are completely in tune with the ocean, feeling a sense of oneness with the environment.
Artists: A painter, completely engrossed in their artwork, blends colors seamlessly, creating something beautiful without conscious thought.
Gamers: Deeply immersed in a challenging video game, their reflexes are sharp, strategies flow effortlessly, and they are completely absorbed in the virtual world.
Natural State
The effortless state involves making no effort and maintaining neutral focus. It is a state of silent, non-resistant calm in body and mind, allowing a return to your natural, effortless being—a state in which connections to higher levels of being (soul, higher self) are re-established.
You have been conditioned to believe that happiness is a goal to be achieved. This is far from the truth; it is not something to strive for. Happiness can be reached only through our conscious effort. The state of happiness never stays permanently; it comes and goes as we are going through different experiences. When we pursue happiness, we usually look outside for it. It is not sustainable in this way. Happiness is an internal state that we can find when we look within. In silence, we discover our true selves. Is it worth the effort? Do you want to spend your life seeking and chasing happiness outside yourself?
The effortless state is not passive or apathetic; it is alignment with the divine. We are not meant to be passive or unintentional. When we want to be more intentional in our lives, we cultivate inner attitudes while releasing outer effort.
We need to find our innermost essence, our complete virtue, our soul, or the creator's spirit within. To penetrate deeper layers of our being, we must cultivate a will that directs our attention. This will direct attention, and this focused attention expands our energy to match the vibration of our being. It is being conscious of being: "I AM that I AM."
Once we find our innermost essence, we are in our natural, effortless state. We no longer strive to achieve anything or pursue happiness; we find everything within ourselves. We are whole, individual selves.