Michael Singer - The Inner Sport of Letting Go

Quick Overview

Michael Singer explains that the true inner sport of letting go involves learning to relax through internal discomfort and not reacting defensively to external events, which is the essence of spiritual growth, contrasting this with merely performing external actions like yoga or exercise without addressing internal blockages.

Key Points: The greatest lesson learned is how to relax through disturbance, rather than trying to force comfort or avoid discomfort. Spiritual growth is defined by the ability to relax through internal sensations, not by performing external techniques like yoga or weightlifting. The inner ego/self is extremely sensitive and naturally defends itself against uncomfortable internal states, leading to reactive behavior. When external events cause internal disturbance, the instinct is to react defensively (e.g., getting angry, locking doors), but true growth requires letting the disturbance pass. The speaker contrasts this inner work with external achievements like being good at sports or business, which do not lead to spiritual evolution. The path involves consciously choosing to let uncomfortable feelings pass through the psyche rather than resisting them or reacting outwardly.

Context: Michael Singer discusses the concept of 'letting go' as the core of spiritual practice, contrasting it with common external spiritual pursuits like physical yoga postures or competitive activities. He emphasizes that genuine spiritual evolution comes from facing and relaxing through internal discomfort, a process the ego naturally resists by trying to control external circumstances or react defensively.

Detailed Analysis

Michael Singer asserts that the most significant lesson in spiritual practice is learning to relax through internal disturbances rather than resisting them or trying to control the external environment to achieve comfort. He compares this inner work to physical practices like yoga or weightlifting, noting that while physical techniques are fine, they do not constitute true spiritual growth if the internal mechanism of reaction remains unchanged. The ego is inherently sensitive and programmed to defend itself from discomfort—whether physical pain, emotional upsets, or external criticism—by reacting defensively (e.g., getting angry, shutting down, trying to fix the situation). Singer argues that true spiritual evolution involves consciously choosing to let these internal disturbances (like fear, insecurity, or anger) pass through the psyche without reacting, which is the essence of the 'inner sport.' He uses the analogy of a tennis player who, despite being great at forehands, cannot hit a backhand; similarly, people often neglect the internal skill of processing uncomfortable feelings. He stresses that this ability to handle internal discomfort without external manipulation is what allows for genuine growth, contrasting it with the human tendency to create external structures (like securing homes or blaming others) to avoid feeling what needs to be felt internally.