I thought about it Machig Labdro(1055-1149) emphasizes the “recognition of rootlessness” during days of solitary retreat in a ramshackle little hut nestled among hillsides with a slimy pond of toady frogs and a wild green meadow home to a small herd of deer.
Machig’s entire line of teaching is about separation (Tib.: get up), cutting off the root of suffering. He often uses the metaphor of a tree for the spiritual path. We can continue to cut the branches of all the particular forms of our ignorance and confusion, but this is an endless task until we cut the root of attachment to self, the false idea that we exist as a separate self in a dualistic world. This is the rootlessness he is referring to here.
When we look at who or what we really are—you or me—there is nothing solid. We have no basic roots that unite us thing– solid, independent, unchanging. This is the no-self that the Buddha taught. I exist only in relation to other relative things that have no permanence or independent existence in themselves. This is the truth of interdependent togetherness. It’s not that I don’t exist; it’s that “I” don’t exist as I usually think of myself, fundamentally separate and apart from others and the world around me. I am much more permeable and ephemeral than I tend to think. Just as the wave never exists outside the ocean, but always only as an appearance the the ocean, thus the self, is ultimately not a self-contained entity, but always a set of various patterns, conditions, and relationships, never separated from the ground of being.
Recognizing rootlessness means letting go of my constant attempts to assert my separateness, to create a defensible “space” of identity. Who I am, what I do, what I believe in, what I like, what I don’t – these are the cornerstones of my identity and also the golden chains that bind me. To recognize rootlessness is to loosen the tight grip on me, like a fist finally relaxing its futile attempts to grab air.
So Machig says whatever you grab, let go, let go, let go. Realize that you are ultimately rootless; ultimately everything is rootless. And that, believe it or not, is good news! Because by letting go of our grip on our seemingly solid but remarkably temporary territory, we open ourselves to the much vaster and more powerful groundless ground of our being that is “not meeting and parting.”
Listening to the drumming of the spring rain on my tiny roof, I realized that rootlessness makes it easier to wake up to the cooing of the evening dove, the chirping of crickets, the gentle gaze of deer. I’m not trying to build a mini-empire of my life. “I” simply pass through like these beings. This is rest, not apart from the movement of things, but directly within them, more present and more alert.
The true realization of rootlessness is the ultimate view. On a relative level, we all have roots – our family, our friends, our animals, our beloved places. Looking at the tall ponderosas reaching into the sky, I thought more of the nature of the roots themselves. Roots are like tentacles that reach into the heart of the earth, drawing nourishment and sustenance from their relationship with the myriad forms of life. Rootlessness means letting go of the idea that our roots have an end point, that they hold us firmly to a solid foundation. “This is mine, this is me.” The call to rootlessness calls us to reach our roots so deeply that we are connected to all beings, until the roots open us to rootlessness. Until we realize that there is no soil because we are the soil.
If we stop grasping rooted firmness when we loosen our grip on our territory, then what? Then “take it easy. Just take it easy.” Rest like this – rootless in the vast soilless earth, in the source of everything – at all times, with everything, everywhere. We’re starting to believe that a lot not exclusively. We are with everything; we are all things. Inseparably. Always.
EXERCISE
Rest on the path of the corpse
The purpose of this reflection is to give you an experiential taste of resting in the soilless land we are discussing. These are Machig’s instructions:
Rest the body like a corpse.
Rest in the manner of a farmer.
Rest your mind in the way of heaven.
The exercise is best done lying down on a comfortable surface, in such a way that you can most easily relax all parts of your body. You can set yourself a timer so you don’t have to worry about time (20-30 minutes is ideal). You can say the words silently to yourself or have someone guide you, pausing appropriately between instructions.
- Close your eyes and become aware of your breath.
Relax your body like a corpse.
- Let your body release all tension. Scan your body, let every part of you relax, and surrender to the ground beneath you. Let your legs open, your thigh muscles relax, your belly sink into your spine. The arms are spread out, the hands are relaxed, the tiny muscles in each finger are released. Limbs feel heavy. Notice the weight of your head on the ground. Let go of all tension in your body as if falling asleep at night. If you notice any tension, gently release it into the ground.
Rest in the manner of a farmer.
- Think that nothing and no one owns you. No one is listening; no one is keeping score. Let go of everything that takes hold of you: worries, hopes, fears. Be aware of what you are trying to hold together in your life right now – relationship elements, work, health, money, spirituality. Let go of everything you think you need to hold on to. As if you were letting go of a handful of gold leaf, gently let go of all the things you are holding and let them flow out on the exhale; see them drift off into the open space around you. Whenever you notice a point of stress or worry, see if you can now simply drop it like an open fist and release its contents to the wind.
- Finally, see if you can even let go of the feeling that “I” am resting, “I” am letting go. Let go of the effort. Let’s do it right. Be like the one who belongs to nothing and has nothing. That’s how you will be everything.
Rest your mind in the way of heaven.
- Be aware of your conscious mind. Let your awareness expand as if it were vast, like a bright blue summer sky. This sky has no edge, so your awareness can simply open without limits. First, you can imagine relaxing your brain as if it were a muscle that you can let go. Then allow awareness itself to relax. When thoughts arise, think of them as clouds passing through the open sky of your awareness. Rest deeply in this sky-like awareness.
- Allow yourself to feel without doing anything. When you reach the point of fear or contraction, bring a gentle, kind attitude. Accept any boundaries you encounter and gently explore how you can compassionately relax a little more.
- Continue this meditation for as long as you like, relaxing your body, emotions and mind at increasingly subtle levels.
- Now gradually bring movement back to your hands, feet and limbs. Try to make your meditation useful for yourself and others.
♦
From Skymind: The Radical Path of Open Consciousness, The Secret Teachings of Machig Labdrön, The Great Wisdom of Tibet. © 2026 Charlotte Rotterdam and Pieter Oosthuizen. Reprinted with permission from Shambhala Publications.
