The Ground of Being

“The Ground of Being,” a commanding phrase that theologian Paul Tillich (1886–1965) used, is an excellent metaphor for what most of us would call God (Acts 17:28).”

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When all fades away, what is left is the ground of being. Its ground is groundless. Its language is wordless silence, and its movement is stillness.

Everything known rests in its heart, and the one who enters that heart understands that true knowledge is to abandon accumulation and recognise that wisdom finds its home in the unknown.

Entering into the mysterious immensity, one becomes the immensity. Becoming the immensity, one can embrace all that is, including the embrace.

This is how one is to embrace the great mystery.

Not by going anywhere or doing anything but by opening to become the opening.

It is like the space between the inside and the outside of the window. When the window opens, that space does not draw a line of distinction between the two.

The great mystery will always remain a mystery.

Therefore, the surrendering of grasping at circular philosophies is essential. This does not mean blind devotion. On the contrary, it means sharpening the rational mind enough to cut itself open at the root and see it too as a fabrication.

With nothing to stand on, how does one stand?

This is how to establish oneself in the ground of being. It is by sweeping the rug out from beneath the feet constantly.

With nowhere to stand, the immensity is evident. Seeing no end to its essence, one expands in all directions.

Like this, embrace the great mystery.

What is left but a pure trust which produces natural surrender, which in turn produces pure trust like two hands shaking, meeting and merging?

Like this, falling through the open window without a frame and no ground to catch you, rest in the embrace of the space that holds you.