Gone. Gone. Gone.

I have been reading a great book this week by Tim Ferriss called “Tools of Titans.” I am enjoying the succinct summaries of his favorite podcast profiles. Glimpses into great minds=priceless! 

One individual, I don’t remember which, talked about the power of the “Gone” meditation. The "Gone" meditation is simple, and I used it several times on my hike down into, along, and out of the Grand Canyon yesterday. The "gone" technique is useful for times when you are trying to meditate and your thoughts simply run wild (monkey brain). Rather than freak out about your inability to still your thoughts, just become the silent observer of your thoughts and quietly say “gone” as soon as you notice each thought that arises, leaving. If you practice watching your thoughts arise, and then depart, you will begin to notice how fleeting your thoughts are, and when you are tempted to obsess over a thought or get caught up in cyclical thinking, or addictive behaviors, you can tap into your awareness of just how soon these thoughts will pass. 

Well, I really liked this idea and felt it could be applied to every aspect of life, not just meditation. It reminded me of the Buddhist pillar of “non-permanence” and how “this too shall pass.” Everything, good and bad, is "in-process" and will soon enough be over. Nothing lasts forever and remembering this truth frees us from attachment and outcomes. The "Non-permanence” realization helps free us from suffering.

So how was this so helpful on my hike? Well, first, it was 32 degrees when we first starting our descent into the Grand Canyon at 7:24 am at the North Kaibab trailhead. I hate being cold, so I slapped on my jacket, gloves, and beanie, and told myself that soon enough the sun would come up and the cold would be “gone.” I’d warm up and maybe start wishing for some cold again.

Then the rain came, and rather than complain, I simply noticed the rain, appreciated the wetness, and said, “soon it will be gone.” And sure enough, the rain came off and on. Coming and going. . . . Here, gone, here, gone. It was awesome!

Same with the difficult stretches of trail. The 5,781 foot descent was steep and I knew that soon enough it would be “gone” and we’d be walking on flat ground before ascending 4,800 feet. Each would come and go and rather than dwell on the pain of the present, I decided I’d enjoy each sensation and simply notice when it was “gone.” I was amazed by how fast each phase passed. Nothing lasts forever, and even more interesting is how fast things pass.

Finally, on our final push, we got surprised by a freak hail storm. It beat upon us with freezing fury. I didn’t panic or curse because I KNEW it would soon be “GONE.” I watched it come and go in stoic fashion. It was incredible to observe and the best was the double rainbow that followed. That rainbow, of course, is now “Gone,” but bet your bottom dollar, I sure did enjoy it while it lasted. 

And that my friends, is the power of GONE. It helps us embrace and enjoy the beautiful while it graces our presence and detach from, observe and appreciate the beauty in the ‘bad." All the while knowing that nothing lasts and all things shall pass. Gone. Gone. Gone.