Have you ever heard of the abiding state?
Well, as for where I heard it from, it’s like a spirituality thing where some really advanced people feel bliss like literally all the time, not just when undergoing meditation or whatnot.
But let’s not talk about that. That’s a bit too high of a hurdle for us normal people, yeah?
Instead, let’s take a look at what we can glean from the state.
Now, the thing about the abiding state is that it is pretty much permanent. You don’t have to go out of your way to summon it. Naturally, it just is.
So basically, the way that this concept can apply to us is just this. Simply have some habits that come automatically, spontaneously and naturally to you. These habits will form your natural state of being as they are just an unequivocal part of you without question.
And now just for a quick example of how this can be useful.
I once had a next-door neighbour who had difficulty walking. By logic, he should need walking aids or not find walking very convenient.
But still, the old man grit his teeth and insisted on walking, without aids, every time he went out of the house. Even till the day of his death, the old man still just insisted on walking, like any other normal person.
According to my mother, it is precisely because the old man insisted on this habit and made constant, good use of his legs rather than instead compensating and slacking off and getting an electric wheelchair or whatnot that he retained the ability to walk all throughout his life. Having not done so, he would probably have lost this function.
So, back to the abiding state.
Make some habits just thoroughly ingrained into you and your default mode of acting. So thoroughly mesh them with your life that you just cannot imagine them not being part of your life. This way, the habits just become something you naturally accumulate a certain level of prowess in.
For instance, say you’re learning Japanese. Your friend is also learning it. Well then, why not integrate this into your everyday lives? When conversing with your friend via messages, converse in Japanese! Basically, doing so at least half the time when you speak with your friend will become like second nature to the both of you, and you will also naturally rack experience points in the language!
Fitness is really a great way to employ the abiding state. I once had a boss who would go running like everyday. It simply was an unquestioned natural part of his life incorporated!
And you can easily do so for any other exercise you want!
Love swimming? Well, swim everyday then! Like it’s a natural part of you! You’ll get your exercise and stay fit for sure!
Love yoga? Well, at least stretch a bit every morning after you wake up! You’ll most definitely get more flexible over time!!!
Well of course, you might not be able to do it on days you’re sick, but otherwise, they’ll just be a normal, basic go-to of your state of being!
Really, think about it. What’s the alternative?
Well, if you consider the abiding state a passive in that it just happens automatically without you having to think about it, plan or whatnot, alternatives to it would be more like actives. Alright, I think that probably, I should go get some exercise done now! you think. Regretfully, however, it only happens like once every 3 days!
Well, yeah, obviously that’s already better than nothing!
Still, think about it. What if doing so was just your default mode and you would automatically do it no matter what, unless really so incapacitated?
Why, nobody could ever question your healthy lifestyle!
Of course, your abiding state practices do not even have to apply to fitness alone. They could apply to anything! In fact, in these being your abiding state, you’ll just naturally becoming very well versed in said topics and able to wax eloquent on them like there’s no tomorrow!
For instance, some people listen to music everyday. Well naturally, they probably know like at least 20 times more songs than you!
Some people practise the piano everyday. Well naturally, they’ll be able to freely dance their fingers across the keys, producing a jolly ole tune! Even play without having to look at the score or make their own song even!
See?
Actually, it isn’t really that much of a stretch to call the abiding state your way of being!
These ways of being are so unequivocally you, you so meshed with them!
And naturally, you’d have poured attention and interest and time in. Clearly, you’d have some level of knowledge and skill in it at least!
So, why not have a little think about your abiding state today?
Obviously, there’s still this lower state one tier down where you actively make a decision on ‘alright, I’ll do this now’ and it really doesn’t come that 100% naturally for you. It isn’t an effortless natural part of ya!
But even so, hey! Why not see if you can promote one of them to being part of your abiding state?
Think about it this way. What activity do you find meshes so well with you that you’d declare your love to it, make it a part of your everyday life?
When you’ve got nothing better to do, without even having to think, why, you naturally automatically gravitate towards doing it now!
This activity is me. I am this activity. I ponder not upon what prospective upcoming activity I will have. No! I do this!
Hmm, I guess this is where top experts of their fields are born!
Additionally, isn’t this such a blissful, easy state to have in life?
Ah, no need to wrack the brains! No need to rely on and ride those spur of the moment urges! Instead, everything is just there, oh so neatly laid out! What do you usually do in your free time? Why, I’ve got a straight answer! No need to ponder and give less confident answers yeah!! Lol.
End.