Life Beyond Thought: A Letter from Rondane
Life is a force that goes beyond our thoughts – it is experienced through open awareness. It cannot be fully grasped by the conscious mind nor described in words. Every attempt to define it captures only a fragment of its vastness. Life transcends judgments of what is good or bad; it embraces light and darkness, joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain – and even death. Life force simply is. It manifests regardless of our wishes and is always present to be experienced.
The limitations of living a compassionate, loving life are created in human thoughts, judgments, and expectations – and in the energetic consequences these thoughts carry in the world we co-create.
So how can I answer your question from this place of awareness?
Life simply is – and so am I.
If you’re asking about my constructed personality and its current state, then know this: life will never fully meet the expectations of my mind – and so I will never fully meet the expectations of others’ minds. This truth brings me peace and acceptance, allowing me to welcome whatever life brings with open arms and an open heart.
Thanks to this, I can truly appreciate the simple, even the smallest of moments, and experience them with gratitude and joy. In a state of open awareness, I can observe everything around me – including my own mind – and recognize it as a tool. The mind is a blessing, but it can separate us from the pure experience of life. It is a wonderful servant, but a terrifying master. Being aware of the mind and using it virtuously is essential.
Kolektivní nepochopení funkce mysli přináší mnoho utrpení.
When we allow ourselves to simply be, we can find clarity and adjust our perspective. Being present in the moment is the essence of life. It may sound difficult, but in truth, it is that simple.
The answer to your question is:
Life is now, here in Rondane.
Life is within me and you, just as we are.
Can you feel your in-breath? That’s it!
Life is miraculous and beautiful – even when it defies our expectations.
It is the same everywhere, yet made up of countless unique fragments and manifestations that, at first glance, may seem so different.
Afterword
This writing came as a response to a friend’s question during my time in Rondane, a famous mountain range in Norway that has inspired many artists – including Harald Sohlberg and his painting Winter Night in the Mountains.
During the months and years I spent working and living in these mountains, I embraced Mindfulness and gradually integrated it into my being. At that time, I was more connected with myself and with the pulsing rhythms of nature in the picturesque Norwegian mountains than with society.
From the perspective of traditional Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, and Mindfulness, this reflection points to the importance of living with open awareness and heart – of seeing life as it truly is.
Life is a continuous stream of experiences, shaped by our thoughts and perceptions.
By becoming aware of the role of the mind and cultivating conscious presence, we can find harmony and peace.
Modern psychology and quantum physics also support the idea that our reality is influenced by our consciousness and perceptions – reinforcing the interconnectedness of everything.
Even though I gained many deep insights during the autumn of 2022, when I wrote this letter – during a time of major personal transformation – life hasn’t become just pleasant or easier since.
What it has brought is a deepening of understanding – an acknowledgment that the path of growth is not about avoiding hardship, but about meeting it with presence and honesty.
This recognition continues to evolve within me. And as I share and revise these reflections now, at the end of spring 2025, turning them into an article, I am once again reminded of a passage from one of my favorite books by Pema Chödrön, which guided me during that time – When Things Fall Apart.
Her words point directly to this truth: that wholeheartedness does not protect us from falling, but brings us understanding, and gives us the reason and the courage to rise again and again.
Wholeheartedness
Wholeheartedness is a precious gift, but no one can truly give it to you. You have to find a path that has heart, and then walk it with integrity. Along the way, you will repeatedly run into your own headaches and your own falls on face. But in wholehearted commitment to this path, those uncomfortable experiences are not obstacles. They are simply part of the texture and energy of life.
Sometimes, when everything feels perfect and you’re soaring, you might think, “This is it, this is the path with heart.”But suddenly, you fall flat on your face. Everyone is watching. You ask yourself, “What happened to that path with heart? This feels more like a path of mud on my face.”
When you are truly committed to this path, it stings, it bites. It’s like someone laughing in your ear and challenging you to figure out what to do when you don’t know what to do. It humbles you. It opens your heart.
