Drop The Story

Many years ago I was in Berkley working with a Breathwork facilitator who was helping me find some clarity in a difficult time in my life. Evenings she took me to a college auditorium where a spiritual teacher named Gangaji was giving a series of nightly talks. Each talk explored ways of letting go of the identification with our body/mind and to live from a much deeper place beyond the limited conditioning of the mind. I had been practicing meditation for some time by then so the basic understand was clear to me. Much of her teaching was done thru having a student appear of the stage with her in a dialogue whereby the student asked Gangaji questions and spoke of their difficulties.

Through these interviews there was a suggestion that she offered over and over to each student. It was simply “Drop the Story.”

She was speaking to that inner conversation we are constantly having with ourselves about what’s happening, what we want, what we fear. She was pointing to the fact that although this narrative is of course occurring, it blocks us from living from a deeper truth beyond our limited conditioning.

By dropping the story for even a brief time, we can make contact with what is underneath the story line - stillness, spaciousness, presence.

As I said, I had been on the spiritual path for quite some time by then, but the simplicity of her suggestion has a powerful impact os me. Too often a spiritual practice can be complex and cause us to become more in our head. This message said “Just let it go. Don’t try to understand it of fix it.”

Very often When I am lost in thought I simply say to myself “Drop the story.” When I am able to do this it’s most always helpful.