Practicing the Lost Art of “Il Dolce Far Niente”
by Leo Drioli

There’s that old Italian phrase “Il Dolce Far Niente – the Sweetness of Doing Nothing” that comes to mind quite often for me these days. Not to say that I actually do a lot of nothing as most of my days are quite filled with plenty of things to do, but, deeper down below the surface, this ancient practice lures me in, and with it an attitude of not only doing nothing, but being it. And, there is a sweetness to this Nothingness, whether doing or being it that most of us hunger for. Why? It’s not that we are lazy deep down but that we are actually 100% fulfilled as this pure beingness or Presence that we truly are.

Have you noticed that when the joy, happiness or bliss arises, it comes without a reason? Sure, it might have happened while you were relaxed and at peace doing nothing on a beautiful beach in Bali … but if we dig a little deeper, we’ll find that it’s not the beach in Bali that offered the sweetness of “Il Dolce Far Niente” but our own True Nature, Divine Self, No Self, Soul or Beingness … whatever we wish to call it, that offers itself up to the moment to be experienced.

And, it’s always another place and another time that offers its sweetness up, have you noticed? The place and time can never be repeated ... thus, if we go seeking the succour there, we won’t find it.

I remember as a teenager, listening to one of my favourite Beatles tunes, and feeling the rush of a magical musical moment, goose bumps through my whole body, and going back to that particular point in the song to feel the thrill again, to no avail. It’s never found where it was but always arriving right here.

And that is the true, deeper meaning of this “Dolce Far Niente” … the joy of simply being, no matter what we are doing or where we are doing it ... it’s acausal!

This insight that it can only be re-discovered afresh in THIS moment offers immense freedom, every moment. And the joy in knowing that what we are actually seeking when we practice this lost art of “Il Dolce Far Niente” is the pure beingness that is always forever right here, right now.

My Italian heritage has gifted me with many qualities I am deeply grateful for … I am passionate about life, I appreciate all its pleasures and I feel deeply and express myself with a full range of emotions but, beyond the genetics and cultural influences lies the truth of me (and you!!) … this vast, limitless, infinite and eternal expanse that knows no bounds, that simply is and thrills to be seen, and to be known ... to be savoured.

This I am, this you are too … we are both doorways into the “Dolce Far Niente” of this moment, every moment!

This leads me to what’s known as the Last Step or the Final Practice, actually the no-practice of ... simply being here, can’t get any easier than THIS!

Leo Drioli is co-editor of Innerself Newspaper, author of “Every Moment’s a Miracle” and as a singer/songwriter has recorded his collection of original Heart-Songs CD “Let Your Spirit Sing”.