Rules are a Great Tool for Liberation
In contrast, the aspiration to true freedom is growing
For the past week, after reading a fascinating article, I’ve been doing 22 minutes of coherent breathing every day. But most of the time I find it hard to discipline myself.
Years ago, I followed a course on the tea ceremony taught by a Japanese woman. She had been raised by the Jesuits and had a very personal sense of irony. Every week, I would repeat the strictly coded and precise gestures required to perform a tea ceremony. Like driving a car, you have so many things to think about at the same time, and then one day you stop thinking about them and do it well without thinking.
One day, I realized with hindsight that I had just carried out the ceremony in a state of grace, happiness and mindfulness.
Every day, I rebuild my inner need, my aspiration, but I’m resistant to discipline. I suffer from this because part of our deconditioning and human progress is driven by repetition. Every day, I remotivate and revive my need to overcome my reluctance to slip into a time constraint.
Rules can be seen as a great tool for liberation, as we can see it with Buddhist monks or in the Tea Ceremony. Rules provide a framework that allows individuals to attain freedom and liberation in various ways.
Rules provide a time container separating us from worries and from the flow of daily tasks. Once this container is repeated day after day, it constitutes a shortcut to access higher states of consciousness.
- Disciplined Practice: Rules help create discipline and structure in one’s life. By engaging in a disciplined practice, individuals can cultivate mindfulness, self-control, and self-awareness. Buddhist monks, for example, follow a strict daily routine that includes meditation, chanting, and other spiritual practices. This discipline allows them to explore their inner nature and to liberate from their own limitations and attachments.
- Ritual and Mindfulness: Rules often manifest in the form of rituals or ceremonies, such as the Tea Ceremony. These rituals require participants to be fully present in the moment and engage in each step with mindfulness. By following the precise rules of the Tea Ceremony, individuals can let go of distractions and immerse themselves in the experience. This focused attention cultivates a state of presence and liberation from the habitual patterns of the mind.
- Inner Transformation: Rules can serve as a catalyst for inner transformation. They create new neural pathways. They provide a framework for self-reflection and personal growth. For Buddhist monks, the precepts they follow are not just external rules but also a means for developing inner virtues. By adhering to these principles, individuals can liberate themselves from negative emotions, mental agitation, ultimately experiencing greater freedom and liberation.
- Sense of Community: Rules also builds a sense of community. When individuals come together to abide by a shared set of rules, it creates a harmonious environment where everyone can thrive. In the Tea Ceremony, the adherence to rules and etiquette promotes a sense of unity and respect among participants.
In summary, rules can be viewed as a powerful tool for liberation. By providing clarity, discipline, mindfulness, inner transformation, and building community, rules create a framework that enables individuals to transcend their limitations and achieve a sense of liberation.