Tag: Zen

The Stage Beyond Oneness

When Even the Kosmos Falls Away

There comes a point when even the most expansive vision collapses—not from error, but from completion.

On the path of awakening, seekers often journey from the confines of selfhood to a union with all things. Ego dissolves, and what once felt separate now reveals itself as interconnected. Compassion grows. The heart blooms for all beings. One begins to live for the Whole.

But for some, even this union becomes too crowded.

Even the notion of “One” becomes too noisy.

This is the threshold where Kosmocentric awareness—a state of profound unity with all life and existence—gives way to something quieter, more radical. Not a deeper connection, but the quiet erasure of the very need for connection. Not expansion, but the release of expansion itself.

This is acentric awareness.

Not centered on the self.

Not centered on the world.

Not even centered on the All.

Acentricity does not point toward identification with something greater. It simply makes no identification at all. No vantage point. No witness. No center from which to perceive. It does not declare that all is One—it no longer needs such declarations. Truth requires no thesis here.

Reality just appears.

Without context.

Without a watcher.

Without the echo of a thought that says, “I am aware.”

Call it suchness.

Call it the absence of everything, shimmering as everything.

Call it the stillness that doesn’t oppose movement, because it was never still.

This isn’t transcendence. It isn’t detachment. It isn’t a stance. It’s the utter end of stance—the collapse of spiritual architecture, without the rubble. It doesn’t reject the world. It simply no longer perceives it as something to accept or reject.

And what does such a life look like?

Unremarkable.

Utterly simple.

Perhaps quiet, perhaps animated.

But always empty of claim, even the claim to be empty.

There are no teachings left to transmit. Not because truth has been mastered, but because it was never a possession. No more climbing. No more seeking. No more union. Not even rest—because rest would imply effort once existed.

This is the unborn silence that does not speak—not even through the mouths of sages.

It appears as a leaf falling, as someone stirring soup, as the sound of a crow at dusk.

And you might pass by it without knowing.

Because it doesn’t need to be known.

It just is.

And it is no one’s.

Morgan O. Smith

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Beyond the Veil of Emptiness

Unraveling the Mystique of Nothingness

In the contemplative realms of the philosophies of the East, the concept of ‘Nothingness’ often surfaces as a profound puzzle, a riddle wrapped in mystery. This notion, far from being a mere absence or void, invites us on a journey beyond the ordinary boundaries of thought and understanding.

When I refer to ‘Nothingness,’ I am pointing towards a reality that eludes the grasp of conventional ideas and definitions. It is not simply a negation of ‘something’ nor a space waiting to be filled. This Nothingness is a state of pure potentiality, unbound by the limitations of conceptual thinking. It is the silent backdrop against which the drama of existence unfolds, yet it is not separate from the play itself.

In the rich landscape of nondual understanding, Nothingness is not a destination to be reached or a concept to be understood. It is the very ground of being, the essence that permeates all existence. In the wisdom traditions of the East, this is often likened to the vastness of space – ever-present, all-encompassing, yet intangible and indefinable.


This exploration into Nothingness challenges the mind’s habitual tendency to label and categorize. It invites a surrender, a letting go of the need to understand or explain. Here, in this space of not-knowing, lies the potential for true spiritual awakening. It is in this realm where the mind is quieted that one may glimpse the ineffable truth of oneness.

In the dance of existence, Nothingness and form interplay seamlessly. Understanding this interplay is not an intellectual exercise but an experiential realization. It is a recognition that form arises from and returns to this formless void, like waves rising and falling in the ocean. This realization brings a sense of liberation, a freedom from the constraints of ego-driven perceptions.

Engaging with this concept of Nothingness requires a radical shift in perspective. It is about seeing beyond the apparent dualities of existence and non-existence, form and formlessness. In this understanding, one recognizes that the true nature of reality transcends these dichotomies.


In conclusion, the journey into Nothingness is not a journey outward to some external reality, but an inward voyage to the depths of one’s being. Here, in the heart of silence and stillness, the mystery of existence reveals itself not as a puzzle to be solved, but as a truth to be lived.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

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The Pursuit of Absolute Nothingness

A Journey Towards Enlightened Emptiness

Introduction: In the dynamic, incessant stream of thoughts, preferences, and subjective biases that characterize the human experience, the concept of attaining a state of Absolute Nothingness captivates imaginations. Is it possible to achieve a mental and emotional vacuum where thoughts, biases, judgments, and self cease to exist?

Understanding Absolute Nothingness:

  • Absolute Nothingness isn’t simply the absence of thought, but a profound emptiness that transcends understanding and defies our typical notions of existence and selfhood.
    • Exploring philosophical and theological contexts (Buddhism’s Sunyata or Zen’s Mu) can unveil varied interpretations and methods to approach nothingness.
  • The Paradox of Pursuing Nothingness:
  • Engaging in a quest towards absolute emptiness ironically imposes a desire and a goal, an antithesis to the state of desirelessness intrinsic to nothingness.
    • Considering the Daoist perspective, acting without intention (Wu Wei) might provide insights on pursuing without pursuing, and attaining without seeking.
  • Dismantling the Self:
  • Dissolving the self involves peeling away layers of personal identity, biases, and preconceptions, effectively blurring the lines between self and non-self.
    • This dismantlement raises questions about existence, consciousness, and whether one can truly function without the scaffold of selfhood in a society constructed upon individual identity.
  • Navigating Through Socio-Cultural Paradigms:
  • The endeavour to transcend preferences, judgments, and selfhood might be perceived as antithetical to societal norms that emphasize individuality, accomplishment, and progress.
    • Achieving absolute nothingness within the structural and cultural boundaries of our world presents a paradox between isolation and immersion in societal dynamics.
  • Ethical and Moral Dimensions:
  • The state of having no judgments, preferences, or perspectives raises questions regarding moral and ethical obligations. Does transcending biases and perspectives dissolve moral compasses?
    • Exploring the ethical implications of an unbiased existence may unravel whether absolute neutrality coexists with moral responsibility.
  • Psychological and Neuroscientific Perspectives:
  • The psychological viability of achieving a state devoid of thought and self-perception opens an intriguing discourse. Can one’s mental health be preserved, or even enhanced, in a state of nothingness?
    • Neuroscientific inquiries might delve into the processes and consequences of perpetually inhibiting cognitive and emotional functionalities to sustain a blank slate of consciousness.
  • Relinquishing Time and Anticipation:
  • With no anticipation, worries, or references to the past or future, time dissolves into an irrelevant concept, creating a perpetual ‘now’ with neither history nor destiny.
    • Contemplating a timeless existence fosters a reflection on how human experiences, relationships, and endeavours are intimately entwined with temporal perception.

Conclusion: Absolute Nothingness, both as a philosophical concept and a spiritual aspiration, navigates through paradoxes, ethical conundrums, and existential inquiries, offering a mesmerizing void that invites and perplexes. The possibility and implications of achieving a state devoid of self-thought, and time present not only a spiritual journey but also a philosophical and scientific exploration into the profound depths of consciousness and existence.

Morgan O.  Smith

Yinnergy Meditation & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith

You Are What You Eat, and Also What You Don’t

The Eastern Philosophy of Consumption and Abstention

In the intricate dance of life, we often hear the adage, “You are what you eat.” Rooted in the wisdom of many cultures, this phrase suggests that our physical and mental well-being is profoundly influenced by the food we consume. But just as importantly, the choices we make about what we refrain from eating also define us. In the vast expanse of Eastern philosophy, whether feasting or fasting, you are that.

The concept of ‘Ahara’ in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of life, teaches that everything we consume, be it food, thoughts, or experiences, becomes a part of our inner and outer constitution. It’s not merely about the nutrients we obtain, but the energy, the ‘prana’, that comes with it. A meal cooked with love nourishes the soul, just as a dish prepared in haste or anger might leave us feeling unsettled.

Conversely, the act of abstention or fasting, common in Eastern practices like Buddhism, Jainism, and Taoism, is not merely a physical exercise. Fasting is as much a mental and spiritual activity as it is a physical one. By abstaining, we aren’t merely depriving ourselves; we’re creating space. Space for reflection, for inner growth, and for reconnecting with the self.

In the Zen Buddhist tradition, the act of eating mindfully, paying attention to every morsel, and being grateful for the nourishment is a form of meditation. On the other hand, moments of abstention teach us about the impermanence of desires. As Lao Tzu stated in the Tao Te Ching, “To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, subtract things every day.”

In the end, the balance between consumption and abstention is a personal journey, an inner dialogue. It’s about recognizing that every choice we make, whether to indulge or to refrain, is a reflection of our inner state, our philosophies, and our connection to the world around us.

As we navigate through the rhythms of life, let us remember: that we are not just shaped by what we consume but also by what we choose to let go. And in that delicate balance lies the true essence of existence.

Morgan O. Smith

Yinnergy Meditation & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!

https://linktr.ee/morganosmith