Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Act of Listening is the Soil
Just listen, because if you are capable of listening and seeing the truth of what is being said, then thought will not act. If you are in that state of listening, the fact, the truth, will act. If a seed is planted in the earth and has vitality, it will grow. In the same way, the act of listening is the soil. The act of listening is only possible when there is attention, and attention does not exist if there is interpretation, evaluation, condemnation, or judgement of that to which you are listening. If you listen completely, attentively, without any observer who is the thinker, then that very act of listening will put away what is false, and you will listen only to what is true. The act of listening is the field. In that field every kind of seed is sown, and only the seed that has vitality, energy, strength, will come up, will flourish. That’s what we are doing now. We’re actually listening, neither accepting nor disagreeing nor judging. We’re actually listening so completely that the very act of listening destroys what is false and lets the seed of truth take root. The Collected Works vol XVI, pp 146-147
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Observing without the Screen of Knowledge
Observation implies no accumulation of knowledge, even though knowledge is obviously necessary at a certain level: knowledge as a doctor, knowledge as a scientist, knowledge of history, of all the things that have been. After all, that is knowledge: information about the things that have been. There is no knowledge of tomorrow, only conjecture as to what might happen tomorrow, based on your knowledge of what has been. A mind that observes with knowledge is incapable of following swiftly the stream of thought. It is only by observing without the screen of knowledge that you begin to see the whole structure of your own thinking. And as you observe—which is not to condemn or accept, but simply to watch—you will find that thought comes to an end. Casually to observe an occasional thought leads nowhere. But if you observe the process of thinking and do not become an observer apart from the observed, if you see the whole movement of thought without accepting or condemning it, then that very observation puts an end immediately to thought—and therefore the mind is compassionate; it is in a state of constant mutation.
J.Krisnamurti The Collected Works vol XIII, pp 299-300
J.Krisnamurti The Collected Works vol XIII, pp 299-300
Monday, October 19, 2009
Seed Intention - What am I writing for?
Upon returning to the moment of simple breathing, letting everything else go, I very quickly came to the same seed intention which I planted a couple of months back... yet with much greater depth and clarity, visions of an open green pasture with plenty of space for new growth, potential flowers of creation blooming all around. To flower or blossom in philosophical/cosmological vision, feeling and imagination, a new more vivid meaningful creation onto the vast field of my mental and physical existence(s).
To sum it up from a more personal perspective, which actually proceeded the images described above, I am writing for the purpose of giving my inner astral/mental/emotional realities an expression/manifestation on the page, a process that serves to help me make some sense of this endless constant stream of thoughts, utilizing an essential part of myself that I choose to honor, attempting to understand, and seeking an effective structure and substance through the honorable art/craft of writing.
Joel
To sum it up from a more personal perspective, which actually proceeded the images described above, I am writing for the purpose of giving my inner astral/mental/emotional realities an expression/manifestation on the page, a process that serves to help me make some sense of this endless constant stream of thoughts, utilizing an essential part of myself that I choose to honor, attempting to understand, and seeking an effective structure and substance through the honorable art/craft of writing.
Joel
Self Enclosure - Reflections
"Feeling remorse for how self-enclosed/absorbed I have been for so long, wanting to be totally on top of my own game so that I can be more present and available to others (within reason, needing private time too)... and gratitude for how things have h...eld together so far, for the continued chance to thrive....."
No matter how much I care about life and people I remain predominantly self-centered. A naturally occurring self-oriented (ego-driven) energy is not finding it's full release and expression for the best good of all, the individual and the collective. The block, most often connected to an inner psychic wound, is where the ego is not okay or comfortable in itself and it's where the soul being clouded by ego dysfunction is unable to reach out and connect with the wider world surrounding one.
Perhaps more reflections like these to follow....
JDZ
No matter how much I care about life and people I remain predominantly self-centered. A naturally occurring self-oriented (ego-driven) energy is not finding it's full release and expression for the best good of all, the individual and the collective. The block, most often connected to an inner psychic wound, is where the ego is not okay or comfortable in itself and it's where the soul being clouded by ego dysfunction is unable to reach out and connect with the wider world surrounding one.
Perhaps more reflections like these to follow....
JDZ
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Transformative Power of Giving Gratitude
by Bente Hansen • Wappingers Falls, NY
“Give gratitude,” the voice inside my head said very clearly. My immediate response was to question. What would giving gratitude yield? What was its purpose? These words were first heard back in the mid-nineties, and since that time gratitude and I have undergone a lengthy transformative journey of learning, healing and manifesting.
In recent years, living with gratitude has become somewhat of a “catch cry” of the New Age Movement. People talk about it as though it is the most natural thing in the world to do. Yet, the real transformative impact of living in gratitude still eludes many people.
If you are one of those people who occasionally, or even daily, think of something to be grateful for then you have begun to live in Gratitude. However, giving a fleeting thought of gratitude isn't highly effective. Let's assume that someone you know is ill and you receive word that they are healing. You may quietly express a sentence of gratitude. Immediately another thought distracts you, and then another, resulting in a weakening of the gratitude energy. Giving momentary gratitude is better than giving none, though its level of effectiveness is low.
When gratitude is practiced as a regular and meaningful expression—where thought, emotion and intention are involved—it has the potential to change life positively and dramatically.
The process I recommend consists of three stages. Incorporating these produces the most effective energy for creating change. Setting aside time, on a daily basis, to be in a space of gratitude is essential for this.
1. Gratitude for the tangible things. This includes consciously giving gratitude for the basics such as money to pay bills, food, friends, etc.
2. Gratitude for the intangibles. This relates to such things as love, fun, good health, etc. These are essential for well-being and happiness.
3. Gratitude for things desired. This last step is important as it creates the energy to bring in desired changes. For example, if you desire a career change a Gratitude statement may be, “I am grateful for the perfect job that is now mine”.
Always express Gratitude in the present tense. Giving Gratitude in the present tense commands that this is how it is to be now, and not in the future.
It is also beneficial to infuse the act with feeling. Expressing the emotion of gratitude strengthens the energy, thereby sending a message to the Universe that you are serious about your intentions.
Initially I was skeptical about undertaking this practice. However, my spirit guides were emphatic about the need to do this on a daily basis. Within a relatively short time (three months) I felt happier about life and the things I desired and expressed gratitude for, actually manifested!
It does not matter what you are experiencing in life, Gratitude has the power to change the things you are dissatisfied with. When undertaken daily in a conscious and mindful manner it has the power to change any aspect of your life.
If you are an avid television viewer you are exposed to countless fear-generating messages. I encourage you to switch off the television set, or choose to view only positive programming. It is pointless to worry about things you are powerless to change. Instead, choose to create a more harmonious lifestyle by undertaking daily Gratitude practice.
During the years I’ve advocated Gratitude practice, I’ve seen clients change from feeling disempowered, angry and highly stressed to become empowered and optimistic. For individuals who have suffered abuse and other stressful states I recommend the use of a Gratitude Journal. This involves writing down, in a designated book, at least one statement of Gratitude daily. The act of writing strengthens the energy around that particular Gratitude. Visualizing the issue, situation or emotion that is to be healed strengthens it further. Each entry is dated to record a process of growth. I have observed abused clients become empowered to create significant changes in their lives in as little as one month.
The most marked change is always in the emotional state. Feelings of fear, stress, anger, etc. gradually dissipate and are replaced with states of appreciation, empowerment and even self-love. Regardless of whatever adversity you encounter Gratitude has the ability to change the experience to one of growth and empowerment.
Gratitude needs to be expressed daily in order for its energy and effectiveness to be maintained.
Gratitude is generated from thought. Thought is energy. When energy builds up it manifests in the form in which it is directed.
Through the practice of daily Gratitude you discover your power as creator of your reality.
Through Gratitude practice you learn the importance of language. Mindfulness of thought has the potential to create miracles!
Some Gratitude statements:
“I am grateful for the abundance of love, harmony, friends, prosperity, etc that I experience daily.”
“I am grateful that I have an abundance of finances for my bills, living costs and other incidental needs.”
“I am grateful for the new job that pays well, and offers many opportunities for professional growth and advancement.”
“I am grateful for my body's excellent health and its self-healing abilities.”
If you are experiencing a health challenge or financial difficulties, giving Gratitude as a positive statement creates the energy of whatever you are stating. In time subtle changes will become evident.
I encourage you to assess how you would like your life to be, and then begin the Gratitude process. Experiment with different ways of expressing Gratitude. Find the way that feels most comfortable and then ensure diligence in its application. With persistence and patience you will find yourself reaping the rewards!
The Transformative Power of Giving Gratitude
Australian, Rev. Bente Hansen is an empathic energy healer, channeler, spiritual counselor and medical intuitive. She is divinely inspired and is intuitive on all levels. Bente recently moved to NY though her client base is international. Bente is the author of Messages From Beyond (2001) and The New World of Self Healing (2006). Contact at: www.dynamicenergyhealing.net or bhansen9@hotmail.com or 845 297-4106.
“Give gratitude,” the voice inside my head said very clearly. My immediate response was to question. What would giving gratitude yield? What was its purpose? These words were first heard back in the mid-nineties, and since that time gratitude and I have undergone a lengthy transformative journey of learning, healing and manifesting.
In recent years, living with gratitude has become somewhat of a “catch cry” of the New Age Movement. People talk about it as though it is the most natural thing in the world to do. Yet, the real transformative impact of living in gratitude still eludes many people.
If you are one of those people who occasionally, or even daily, think of something to be grateful for then you have begun to live in Gratitude. However, giving a fleeting thought of gratitude isn't highly effective. Let's assume that someone you know is ill and you receive word that they are healing. You may quietly express a sentence of gratitude. Immediately another thought distracts you, and then another, resulting in a weakening of the gratitude energy. Giving momentary gratitude is better than giving none, though its level of effectiveness is low.
When gratitude is practiced as a regular and meaningful expression—where thought, emotion and intention are involved—it has the potential to change life positively and dramatically.
The process I recommend consists of three stages. Incorporating these produces the most effective energy for creating change. Setting aside time, on a daily basis, to be in a space of gratitude is essential for this.
1. Gratitude for the tangible things. This includes consciously giving gratitude for the basics such as money to pay bills, food, friends, etc.
2. Gratitude for the intangibles. This relates to such things as love, fun, good health, etc. These are essential for well-being and happiness.
3. Gratitude for things desired. This last step is important as it creates the energy to bring in desired changes. For example, if you desire a career change a Gratitude statement may be, “I am grateful for the perfect job that is now mine”.
Always express Gratitude in the present tense. Giving Gratitude in the present tense commands that this is how it is to be now, and not in the future.
It is also beneficial to infuse the act with feeling. Expressing the emotion of gratitude strengthens the energy, thereby sending a message to the Universe that you are serious about your intentions.
Initially I was skeptical about undertaking this practice. However, my spirit guides were emphatic about the need to do this on a daily basis. Within a relatively short time (three months) I felt happier about life and the things I desired and expressed gratitude for, actually manifested!
It does not matter what you are experiencing in life, Gratitude has the power to change the things you are dissatisfied with. When undertaken daily in a conscious and mindful manner it has the power to change any aspect of your life.
If you are an avid television viewer you are exposed to countless fear-generating messages. I encourage you to switch off the television set, or choose to view only positive programming. It is pointless to worry about things you are powerless to change. Instead, choose to create a more harmonious lifestyle by undertaking daily Gratitude practice.
During the years I’ve advocated Gratitude practice, I’ve seen clients change from feeling disempowered, angry and highly stressed to become empowered and optimistic. For individuals who have suffered abuse and other stressful states I recommend the use of a Gratitude Journal. This involves writing down, in a designated book, at least one statement of Gratitude daily. The act of writing strengthens the energy around that particular Gratitude. Visualizing the issue, situation or emotion that is to be healed strengthens it further. Each entry is dated to record a process of growth. I have observed abused clients become empowered to create significant changes in their lives in as little as one month.
The most marked change is always in the emotional state. Feelings of fear, stress, anger, etc. gradually dissipate and are replaced with states of appreciation, empowerment and even self-love. Regardless of whatever adversity you encounter Gratitude has the ability to change the experience to one of growth and empowerment.
Gratitude needs to be expressed daily in order for its energy and effectiveness to be maintained.
Gratitude is generated from thought. Thought is energy. When energy builds up it manifests in the form in which it is directed.
Through the practice of daily Gratitude you discover your power as creator of your reality.
Through Gratitude practice you learn the importance of language. Mindfulness of thought has the potential to create miracles!
Some Gratitude statements:
“I am grateful for the abundance of love, harmony, friends, prosperity, etc that I experience daily.”
“I am grateful that I have an abundance of finances for my bills, living costs and other incidental needs.”
“I am grateful for the new job that pays well, and offers many opportunities for professional growth and advancement.”
“I am grateful for my body's excellent health and its self-healing abilities.”
If you are experiencing a health challenge or financial difficulties, giving Gratitude as a positive statement creates the energy of whatever you are stating. In time subtle changes will become evident.
I encourage you to assess how you would like your life to be, and then begin the Gratitude process. Experiment with different ways of expressing Gratitude. Find the way that feels most comfortable and then ensure diligence in its application. With persistence and patience you will find yourself reaping the rewards!
The Transformative Power of Giving Gratitude
Australian, Rev. Bente Hansen is an empathic energy healer, channeler, spiritual counselor and medical intuitive. She is divinely inspired and is intuitive on all levels. Bente recently moved to NY though her client base is international. Bente is the author of Messages From Beyond (2001) and The New World of Self Healing (2006). Contact at: www.dynamicenergyhealing.net or bhansen9@hotmail.com or 845 297-4106.
Why Death is not a Problem
Why Death is Not a Problem
by Lonny J. Brown • Peterborough, NH
If you were God, the All-Knowing, Omnipotent Universal ONE, what would you do for kicks?
One possible way you could have fun that would be interesting or novel would be to disperse your awareness into a zillion separate parts, each “making believe” that it was the most important ... not quite seeing how it fit into the whole picture. Then you (I, we, he, she,) could watch the drama unfold with great interest (fear, delight, chagrin,) in all it’s infinite variety, conveniently forgetting it’s just THE ONE, playing hide-and-seek with Our Self!
All newborn infants instinctively “know” that they are one with creation. They may get cranky and complain, but the newly-incarnated never worry like we “mature” people do. Naturally fearless, fresh from the womb of creation, a baby continues to directly experience its own cosmic nature. You don't remember it very well, but you too once existed in such a state, not that long ago. The process of forgetting—and eventually remembering -- this universal connection, is the drama of your life and your journey towards enlightenment.
BODY & SOUL
Soon after being born, like most human beings, you underwent the necessary processes of individuation. You were introduced to your family, tagged with a name, indoctrinated into your social role, and bequeathed your cultural identity. Soon forgetting your cosmic origins, you became completely preoccupied with your sexy new existence. The accumulating sensory intake of the present vehicle began to feel like the center of all experience. This centralization of experience and vantage point over time formed memory, and the focus of attention we call the ego, or “self.”
You point towards your body and identify “me,” as opposed to the rest of the world. The conventional and most convenient boundary between this assumed separate “self” and all others is your skin, which you rightly endeavor to protect and defend, and from which you gain pleasure and security. Yet sooner or later, we all will discover that we are more than flesh and bones.
Discovering that “I am not my body” does not require that you renounce it. The only renunciation necessary is of your fear of losing it. As the body ages, the package of meat which your narrowed awareness called home, begins to feel more like a cage. Eventually, it becomes the tomb of the ego. That is why we are well advised to cultivate an awareness of spirit not defined by, but projecting through the material form.
The realization of immortality usually only dawns after death—and only after much tribulation—for the unprepared. In contrast, such an awakening while still in earthly existence is surely a prize worth seeking. With it comes a peace of mind that far surpasses any gratification offered by the temporal world.
HOW TO DIE
Paradoxically, dying is the greatest opportunity to realize enlightenment in a person’s life. The process of dropping the body and passing beyond presents a unique and potentially liberating perspective on the game of human incarnation.
How then can a person die into liberation, consciously, in equanimity, without fear or delusion? The answer sounds deceptively simple, yet it requires a lifetime of practice. The way to enlightened death is the way of enlightened living. It is to LET GO.
LET GO of your expectations. Let go of your position and preferences. Let go of what you think is important. Let go of your philosophy. Let go of your world. Let go of your precious idea of your identity. Systematically let go of your body, and each and every element in it. Again and again, let go of your breath. Let go of your mind. With faith in the Universe, let go of being human. Let go of everything you think of, everything you would grasp for security. The only way out is through. If you stop clutching and clinging for safety, you will discover that you are already safe. You need to let go and trust, to see that you are bigger than your whole life, yet always cradled in the womb of the Universe.
In this way, when we completely and absolutely let go, dying is miraculously transformed from the most horrendous experience imaginable to the most expansive and beautiful. It becomes natural and welcomed … no more tragic or traumatic than walking into the next room, taking
off an old ill-fitting suit of clothes, and turning on the light.
Ah … just like that, death becomes the answer to the riddle of your incarnation. You finally remember that being born and dying are like inhaling and exhaling, and you no longer wish for one without the other. You “wake up” to discover, with considerable amusement, that there was nothing to fear all along. You expand into complete understanding of the ingenious timeless perfection of All.
So don’t worry. Death is the surprise ending that makes the mystery make sense. It’s the pause that refreshes; the punch-line to the joke of your incarnation. And if you’re still fond of your material existence, rest assured you’ll re-enter it, to continue your vividly convincing, Technicolor,
“3-D” sense-surrounding epic thriller. Enjoy the ride!
Lonny J. Brown is the author of Enlightenment In Our Time (BookLocker.com), and the online column, “The Holistic Mystic” (TheMetaArts.com). His writings on holistic health have appeared on AOL’s Alternative Medicine Forum and in Alternative Health Practitioner, Yoga Journal, and many other progressive publications. Brown teaches holistic health, mind/body healing, and stress reduction courses at hospitals, schools and businesses throughout the US. www.LonnyBrown.com, lonny@holistic.com.
by Lonny J. Brown • Peterborough, NH
If you were God, the All-Knowing, Omnipotent Universal ONE, what would you do for kicks?
One possible way you could have fun that would be interesting or novel would be to disperse your awareness into a zillion separate parts, each “making believe” that it was the most important ... not quite seeing how it fit into the whole picture. Then you (I, we, he, she,) could watch the drama unfold with great interest (fear, delight, chagrin,) in all it’s infinite variety, conveniently forgetting it’s just THE ONE, playing hide-and-seek with Our Self!
All newborn infants instinctively “know” that they are one with creation. They may get cranky and complain, but the newly-incarnated never worry like we “mature” people do. Naturally fearless, fresh from the womb of creation, a baby continues to directly experience its own cosmic nature. You don't remember it very well, but you too once existed in such a state, not that long ago. The process of forgetting—and eventually remembering -- this universal connection, is the drama of your life and your journey towards enlightenment.
BODY & SOUL
Soon after being born, like most human beings, you underwent the necessary processes of individuation. You were introduced to your family, tagged with a name, indoctrinated into your social role, and bequeathed your cultural identity. Soon forgetting your cosmic origins, you became completely preoccupied with your sexy new existence. The accumulating sensory intake of the present vehicle began to feel like the center of all experience. This centralization of experience and vantage point over time formed memory, and the focus of attention we call the ego, or “self.”
You point towards your body and identify “me,” as opposed to the rest of the world. The conventional and most convenient boundary between this assumed separate “self” and all others is your skin, which you rightly endeavor to protect and defend, and from which you gain pleasure and security. Yet sooner or later, we all will discover that we are more than flesh and bones.
Discovering that “I am not my body” does not require that you renounce it. The only renunciation necessary is of your fear of losing it. As the body ages, the package of meat which your narrowed awareness called home, begins to feel more like a cage. Eventually, it becomes the tomb of the ego. That is why we are well advised to cultivate an awareness of spirit not defined by, but projecting through the material form.
The realization of immortality usually only dawns after death—and only after much tribulation—for the unprepared. In contrast, such an awakening while still in earthly existence is surely a prize worth seeking. With it comes a peace of mind that far surpasses any gratification offered by the temporal world.
HOW TO DIE
Paradoxically, dying is the greatest opportunity to realize enlightenment in a person’s life. The process of dropping the body and passing beyond presents a unique and potentially liberating perspective on the game of human incarnation.
How then can a person die into liberation, consciously, in equanimity, without fear or delusion? The answer sounds deceptively simple, yet it requires a lifetime of practice. The way to enlightened death is the way of enlightened living. It is to LET GO.
LET GO of your expectations. Let go of your position and preferences. Let go of what you think is important. Let go of your philosophy. Let go of your world. Let go of your precious idea of your identity. Systematically let go of your body, and each and every element in it. Again and again, let go of your breath. Let go of your mind. With faith in the Universe, let go of being human. Let go of everything you think of, everything you would grasp for security. The only way out is through. If you stop clutching and clinging for safety, you will discover that you are already safe. You need to let go and trust, to see that you are bigger than your whole life, yet always cradled in the womb of the Universe.
In this way, when we completely and absolutely let go, dying is miraculously transformed from the most horrendous experience imaginable to the most expansive and beautiful. It becomes natural and welcomed … no more tragic or traumatic than walking into the next room, taking
off an old ill-fitting suit of clothes, and turning on the light.
Ah … just like that, death becomes the answer to the riddle of your incarnation. You finally remember that being born and dying are like inhaling and exhaling, and you no longer wish for one without the other. You “wake up” to discover, with considerable amusement, that there was nothing to fear all along. You expand into complete understanding of the ingenious timeless perfection of All.
So don’t worry. Death is the surprise ending that makes the mystery make sense. It’s the pause that refreshes; the punch-line to the joke of your incarnation. And if you’re still fond of your material existence, rest assured you’ll re-enter it, to continue your vividly convincing, Technicolor,
“3-D” sense-surrounding epic thriller. Enjoy the ride!
Lonny J. Brown is the author of Enlightenment In Our Time (BookLocker.com), and the online column, “The Holistic Mystic” (TheMetaArts.com). His writings on holistic health have appeared on AOL’s Alternative Medicine Forum and in Alternative Health Practitioner, Yoga Journal, and many other progressive publications. Brown teaches holistic health, mind/body healing, and stress reduction courses at hospitals, schools and businesses throughout the US. www.LonnyBrown.com, lonny@holistic.com.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Noticing versus Giving Attention
Noticing and giving attention to something are very different. When you notice your thoughts, you have stepped away from them and are no longer so identified with them. Noticing creates a space between your thoughts and you. When you notice something, you become aligned with the Noticer, or the real you. And that provides an opportunity to choose whether you’ll give those thoughts further attention or not. When you simply notice something, you are aligned with your real Self, or Essence. This Self is sometimes called Awareness. You are the awareness that is aware of, or notices, everything, including thoughts. You are not your thoughts or the thinker; your thoughts and the sense that you are the thinker is the egoic, or false, self.
Unlike noticing, attention is more like a spotlight that focuses on something to the exclusion of everything else and gets lost in it. When we give our attention to a thought, we become identified with it if our attention lands there long enough. Whatever we give our attention to becomes magnified in our awareness. Noticing, on the other hand, is more like a moving spotlight that doesn’t land in one spot. When we are aligned with Essence and noticing what we are experiencing, we are noticing lots of things: Our awareness moves from a thought, to a sensation, to an object, to a sound, to an intuition, to another sound, to a feeling, to a knowing, to another object, and so on. Our awareness jumps around so quickly from one thing to the next that we barely realize all the things it’s taking in. Noticing is what the real you, or Essence, does as it experiences life. It gives attention to what needs attention in order to function, and then it moves on. The state of ego-identification, however, is a state of giving attention to thoughts or feelings more than the other aspects of experience—and believing them. This ends up coloring our experience of life and interfering with experiencing it purely.
Because nearly every thought comes from the ego, when we give our attention to thoughts, we become identified with the ego and its desires, beliefs, attitudes, judgments, and perceptions, and we see life through the ego’s eyes. Instead, if we spend less time giving attention to thoughts and more time noticing other aspects of experience, our experience of life will change; life will seem simpler, easier, more peaceful, and less stressful.
Learning to notice thought without identifying with it is the key to moving out of ego-identification and experiencing who you really are. Instead of being absorbed in your thoughts, take one little step back and notice what you are thinking. What you are thinking is really what your ego is thinking, not the real you.
Practice noticing your thoughts, and you can become free from the ego. Meditation is valuable because meditation is the practice of noticing thoughts without getting involved in them. You already know how to do this; there are lots of thoughts you have that you don’t get involved in. When you meditate, focus on something, such as a sound or a candle flame or a mantra or your breath. Then, when you notice yourself thinking, gently bring yourself back to whatever you are meditating on. Meditation trains you to bring yourself back to sensory experience (the real experience in the moment) and away from absorption in thoughts. We can’t ever get rid of thoughts because they are beyond our control, but we can learn to just notice them and then go back to the sensory experience we are having in the moment.
Be careful that noticing thoughts doesn’t turn into giving your attention to them because that can quickly turn into absorption in thoughts and, consequently, ego-identification. Just notice any thoughts and feelings (which are also products of the ego) that show up, and then turn your attention away from them and onto anything else that is going on, and you will land in the Now, and you will experience the peace, contentment, guidance, and wisdom of your real Self.
Gina Lake
www.radicalhappiness.com
Unlike noticing, attention is more like a spotlight that focuses on something to the exclusion of everything else and gets lost in it. When we give our attention to a thought, we become identified with it if our attention lands there long enough. Whatever we give our attention to becomes magnified in our awareness. Noticing, on the other hand, is more like a moving spotlight that doesn’t land in one spot. When we are aligned with Essence and noticing what we are experiencing, we are noticing lots of things: Our awareness moves from a thought, to a sensation, to an object, to a sound, to an intuition, to another sound, to a feeling, to a knowing, to another object, and so on. Our awareness jumps around so quickly from one thing to the next that we barely realize all the things it’s taking in. Noticing is what the real you, or Essence, does as it experiences life. It gives attention to what needs attention in order to function, and then it moves on. The state of ego-identification, however, is a state of giving attention to thoughts or feelings more than the other aspects of experience—and believing them. This ends up coloring our experience of life and interfering with experiencing it purely.
Because nearly every thought comes from the ego, when we give our attention to thoughts, we become identified with the ego and its desires, beliefs, attitudes, judgments, and perceptions, and we see life through the ego’s eyes. Instead, if we spend less time giving attention to thoughts and more time noticing other aspects of experience, our experience of life will change; life will seem simpler, easier, more peaceful, and less stressful.
Learning to notice thought without identifying with it is the key to moving out of ego-identification and experiencing who you really are. Instead of being absorbed in your thoughts, take one little step back and notice what you are thinking. What you are thinking is really what your ego is thinking, not the real you.
Practice noticing your thoughts, and you can become free from the ego. Meditation is valuable because meditation is the practice of noticing thoughts without getting involved in them. You already know how to do this; there are lots of thoughts you have that you don’t get involved in. When you meditate, focus on something, such as a sound or a candle flame or a mantra or your breath. Then, when you notice yourself thinking, gently bring yourself back to whatever you are meditating on. Meditation trains you to bring yourself back to sensory experience (the real experience in the moment) and away from absorption in thoughts. We can’t ever get rid of thoughts because they are beyond our control, but we can learn to just notice them and then go back to the sensory experience we are having in the moment.
Be careful that noticing thoughts doesn’t turn into giving your attention to them because that can quickly turn into absorption in thoughts and, consequently, ego-identification. Just notice any thoughts and feelings (which are also products of the ego) that show up, and then turn your attention away from them and onto anything else that is going on, and you will land in the Now, and you will experience the peace, contentment, guidance, and wisdom of your real Self.
Gina Lake
www.radicalhappiness.com
Love Is Gentle
I was listening to a song the other day, and some of the words were “Love is gentle, and love is kind.” The truth of that really touched me. We think of love as being a feeling—an emotion—but true love is more of a doing. Love touches, love gives, love is gentle, and it is kind. That’s how we know it. We know love by its fruits. Love acts: It listens, it caresses, it nourishes, it nurtures. It does whatever is needed of it. Love naturally responds to life as it presents itself.
Romantic love isn’t like this at all. It is a giddy feeling, an excitement, an anticipation of getting something from someone. It makes us feel like a kid at Christmas—“Yippee! I’m going to get what a want!” Romance is exciting, fun, and feels wonderful, but it’s not really love. It’s too self-centered for that. When we are in love, we are often oblivious to the needs of others, as we have only the beloved on our mind. We become fascinated and obsessed with the beloved to the exclusion of everything else. We love the beloved, not for what he or she is, but for what we think that person might mean to us and to our life. We are excited because the beloved is believed to enhance us. The feelings of romantic love are created by an illusion (i.e., psychological projection) and by the release of certain chemicals in the brain. Romantic feelings are a very different kind of love than true love; they are a falling in love with what we hope will be our salvation and happiness forever. That kind of love never lasts; it often disappears upon getting to know someone better. If we are lucky, it turns into something more true, more real, more akin to our true nature.
It is our nature to love, to be gentle, to be kind. When all thoughts drop away or are ignored, love is our natural response to life. The only thing that ever interferes with love is a thought, usually a judgment or a fear. These are the enemies of true love. They undermine it and eat away at it, or prevent it altogether. Love cannot exist in the ego’s world of judgment and fear. And yet we, as humans, need and want love so desperately. Because of this, we learn to love for love’s sake, for the joy of loving, without conditions, just because it is our nature. We learn to move beyond the ego’s judgments and fears because doing so is the only way to get what we really want—true love. To get that, we need to return Home, and so we eventually do. We find a way to love in spite of our judgments and fears. We discover this very simple truth: Love is an act of kindness, not a giddy feeling. Love is a doing, a natural expression of our true nature, not a feeling we get from others. The ego manipulates others to do what it wants so that it can feel love, but that is the opposite of love. Love allows others to be just as they are; it supports and nurtures, listens, and cares. Love flows toward others from within us. It exists within us and is not gotten from others.
This kind of love is the most fulfilling thing in the world. Experiencing it doesn’t require that you be beautiful or rich or healthy or intelligent or have a special talent or standing in life; experiencing it only requires that you express it. It is free, and it frees us, and it frees others from the ensnarement of the false self. It is the greatest gift, and one that doesn’t cost the giver anything. It takes nothing from the giver and returns everything. This is the great secret we are meant to discover.
Gina Lake
www.radicalhappiness.com
Romantic love isn’t like this at all. It is a giddy feeling, an excitement, an anticipation of getting something from someone. It makes us feel like a kid at Christmas—“Yippee! I’m going to get what a want!” Romance is exciting, fun, and feels wonderful, but it’s not really love. It’s too self-centered for that. When we are in love, we are often oblivious to the needs of others, as we have only the beloved on our mind. We become fascinated and obsessed with the beloved to the exclusion of everything else. We love the beloved, not for what he or she is, but for what we think that person might mean to us and to our life. We are excited because the beloved is believed to enhance us. The feelings of romantic love are created by an illusion (i.e., psychological projection) and by the release of certain chemicals in the brain. Romantic feelings are a very different kind of love than true love; they are a falling in love with what we hope will be our salvation and happiness forever. That kind of love never lasts; it often disappears upon getting to know someone better. If we are lucky, it turns into something more true, more real, more akin to our true nature.
It is our nature to love, to be gentle, to be kind. When all thoughts drop away or are ignored, love is our natural response to life. The only thing that ever interferes with love is a thought, usually a judgment or a fear. These are the enemies of true love. They undermine it and eat away at it, or prevent it altogether. Love cannot exist in the ego’s world of judgment and fear. And yet we, as humans, need and want love so desperately. Because of this, we learn to love for love’s sake, for the joy of loving, without conditions, just because it is our nature. We learn to move beyond the ego’s judgments and fears because doing so is the only way to get what we really want—true love. To get that, we need to return Home, and so we eventually do. We find a way to love in spite of our judgments and fears. We discover this very simple truth: Love is an act of kindness, not a giddy feeling. Love is a doing, a natural expression of our true nature, not a feeling we get from others. The ego manipulates others to do what it wants so that it can feel love, but that is the opposite of love. Love allows others to be just as they are; it supports and nurtures, listens, and cares. Love flows toward others from within us. It exists within us and is not gotten from others.
This kind of love is the most fulfilling thing in the world. Experiencing it doesn’t require that you be beautiful or rich or healthy or intelligent or have a special talent or standing in life; experiencing it only requires that you express it. It is free, and it frees us, and it frees others from the ensnarement of the false self. It is the greatest gift, and one that doesn’t cost the giver anything. It takes nothing from the giver and returns everything. This is the great secret we are meant to discover.
Gina Lake
www.radicalhappiness.com
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Abhyasa and Vairgya
Absorption or "going into it"... where do we draw the line as to what is a dangerous and deadly place to lose oneself and what is absolutely necessary for the purpose of passion... the desire to inquire and discern the nature of all such phenomena like fear and negative thinking/feeling... to be free of it entirely, fully absorbed only in the continuous act of just noticing and clearly observing .. and the subsequent creation/expression born of attention
Absorption or "going into it"... where do we draw the line as to what is a dangerous and deadly place to lose oneself and what is absolutely necessary for the purpose of passion... the desire to inquire and discern the nature of all such phenomena like fear and negative thinking/feeling... to be free of it entirely, fully absorbed only in the continuous act of just noticing and clearly observing .. and the subsequent creation/expression born of attention
Abhyasa is the active engaging extrovert aspect of Consciousness... it is the inhalation, the creative spark of consciousness
Vairagya is the passive dispassionate/detached introvert aspect of Consciousness... the exhalation and return to consciousness
Abhyasa is the movement from one to two which leads to three, and onward the same applies to all odd #'s (yang)
Vairagya is the return movement from two back to one which leads to zero, the same applies to all even #'s (yin)
Zero is the RETURN factor, the negation or destruction, clearing of space (inside and out)
One is the ACTIVE factor, the affirmation or manifestation, filling of space, the flip side of Two
Two is the RECEPTIVE factor, the experience complementing the action, the having that goes with doing
Three is the COGNITIVE factor, the thinking that complements both action and experience, and modifies them
Four is the ATTENTIVE factor, the reality that is manifest surrounding all being-doing-having, created by thinking
Five is the CREATIVE factor, the spontaneous expression/expansion arising out of attention and the will to creation
Six is the COHESIVE factor, the application, implementation and devotion that accompanies creative expression or action
Seven is the UNITIVE factor, the socialization, service and social interaction, self and others, subject and object integration
Eight is the ELIMINATIVE factor - Evolution, death and rebirth, self transformation and regeneration, trials and tests of faith
Nine is the LIBERATIVE factor - Actualization, freedom and full potential, teaching and healing, benevolence and renewal of faith
Ten is the REGENERATIVE factor - Perfection, Fruition, "fully ripened karma" or dharma, Mission accomplished, Return of One to Zero
Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen are the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent factors (respectively) that pervade all individual experience (1-10)
Observations and Journal of Awareness:
JDZ
Absorption or "going into it"... where do we draw the line as to what is a dangerous and deadly place to lose oneself and what is absolutely necessary for the purpose of passion... the desire to inquire and discern the nature of all such phenomena like fear and negative thinking/feeling... to be free of it entirely, fully absorbed only in the continuous act of just noticing and clearly observing .. and the subsequent creation/expression born of attention
Abhyasa is the active engaging extrovert aspect of Consciousness... it is the inhalation, the creative spark of consciousness
Vairagya is the passive dispassionate/detached introvert aspect of Consciousness... the exhalation and return to consciousness
Abhyasa is the movement from one to two which leads to three, and onward the same applies to all odd #'s (yang)
Vairagya is the return movement from two back to one which leads to zero, the same applies to all even #'s (yin)
Zero is the RETURN factor, the negation or destruction, clearing of space (inside and out)
One is the ACTIVE factor, the affirmation or manifestation, filling of space, the flip side of Two
Two is the RECEPTIVE factor, the experience complementing the action, the having that goes with doing
Three is the COGNITIVE factor, the thinking that complements both action and experience, and modifies them
Four is the ATTENTIVE factor, the reality that is manifest surrounding all being-doing-having, created by thinking
Five is the CREATIVE factor, the spontaneous expression/expansion arising out of attention and the will to creation
Six is the COHESIVE factor, the application, implementation and devotion that accompanies creative expression or action
Seven is the UNITIVE factor, the socialization, service and social interaction, self and others, subject and object integration
Eight is the ELIMINATIVE factor - Evolution, death and rebirth, self transformation and regeneration, trials and tests of faith
Nine is the LIBERATIVE factor - Actualization, freedom and full potential, teaching and healing, benevolence and renewal of faith
Ten is the REGENERATIVE factor - Perfection, Fruition, "fully ripened karma" or dharma, Mission accomplished, Return of One to Zero
Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen are the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent factors (respectively) that pervade all individual experience (1-10)
Observations and Journal of Awareness:
JDZ
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Insights - Astrological-Personal-Universal
Astrological references to Ken Wilbur synthetic reference of Causal, Astral and Physical Bodies... those *embodying* the five sheaths of maya or illusion (original ignorance).
Causal Body & Bliss Sheath - "ALL of US" - The Sun (universal energy, heat & light)
Astral Body & Intellectual/Mental-Emotional/Energy Sheaths - "US" or "YOU and I" - The Moon (human intelligence, thought/feeling and vital energies, subjectively and personally experienced via interpersonal relations)
Physical Body & Physical Food Sheath - "I ME & MINE" - The Ascendant (and most especially Houses 1-4). All that incarnates in form and is nourished by food, by the Earth itself, which most distinctively of all gives the masked appearance of being separate (my self and my reality, Ascendant/Horizon and Mid-Heaven/Meridian respectively), My World and World-View as coming from a unique most individual (separate) perspective.
While the Moon and Astral Body represent a "living past" which IS the present (here and now) experience, and ever changing reality, The Ascendant and Sun are together that NOW reality, of clarity, consciousness, choice and freewill, forever marching toward a projected living future *in the present*.
The Moon, as Earth's satellite (its subjective/soul existence) magnetizes and directly connects to the opposite polarities (the shadow side) of Sun and Ascendant (and Mid-Heaven)... meaning the opposite angles, the Descendant and Nadir, are primary indicators of the past shadow (or trail) that the Ascending Sign or Rising Sun leaves behind when continuing along its immediate worldly path of active manifestation, which is then projected upon others in interpersonal relationship(s).
Likewise the sign 180 degrees (opposite) the Sun is a key indicator of one's Solar past from the unique perspective of the Sun Sign. Where the Sun develops overtime along its soul path and purpose the Moon takes on and is modified by the past or shadow/polarity of the Sun Sign. While the Solar perspective remains forever future-oriented, a vital presence connected to a source, to the eternal (unchanging) present moment.... It leaves a shadow of past experience, of personal karmic baggage, behind which is at the root of self-undoing and gives purpose via contrast to the Sun and its Higher Purpose.
To be continued...
JDZ
Causal Body & Bliss Sheath - "ALL of US" - The Sun (universal energy, heat & light)
Astral Body & Intellectual/Mental-Emotional/Energy Sheaths - "US" or "YOU and I" - The Moon (human intelligence, thought/feeling and vital energies, subjectively and personally experienced via interpersonal relations)
Physical Body & Physical Food Sheath - "I ME & MINE" - The Ascendant (and most especially Houses 1-4). All that incarnates in form and is nourished by food, by the Earth itself, which most distinctively of all gives the masked appearance of being separate (my self and my reality, Ascendant/Horizon and Mid-Heaven/Meridian respectively), My World and World-View as coming from a unique most individual (separate) perspective.
While the Moon and Astral Body represent a "living past" which IS the present (here and now) experience, and ever changing reality, The Ascendant and Sun are together that NOW reality, of clarity, consciousness, choice and freewill, forever marching toward a projected living future *in the present*.
The Moon, as Earth's satellite (its subjective/soul existence) magnetizes and directly connects to the opposite polarities (the shadow side) of Sun and Ascendant (and Mid-Heaven)... meaning the opposite angles, the Descendant and Nadir, are primary indicators of the past shadow (or trail) that the Ascending Sign or Rising Sun leaves behind when continuing along its immediate worldly path of active manifestation, which is then projected upon others in interpersonal relationship(s).
Likewise the sign 180 degrees (opposite) the Sun is a key indicator of one's Solar past from the unique perspective of the Sun Sign. Where the Sun develops overtime along its soul path and purpose the Moon takes on and is modified by the past or shadow/polarity of the Sun Sign. While the Solar perspective remains forever future-oriented, a vital presence connected to a source, to the eternal (unchanging) present moment.... It leaves a shadow of past experience, of personal karmic baggage, behind which is at the root of self-undoing and gives purpose via contrast to the Sun and its Higher Purpose.
To be continued...
JDZ
Sunday, October 4, 2009
I Am the World and the World is Me
To see is to do... pure attention, no division between observer and observed. Separation equals dysfunction equals resistance and conflict. Unity equals seeing, feeling and doing all at once, instantaneously, in the moment, without spatial and temporal barriers to climb... As a wise Zen therapist (now a Roshi) once said to me "just be here" and the rest will take care of itself.
All that i see that I dislike in the world is within me, violence and discord, as well as all the good. Though differing in degrees and magnitude of disharmony and conflict the essence is the same. It is both within me and without me, the negative and the positive qualities I attribute to the outside world...
Right now the most delusive and dysfunctional things in my life now are my thoughts, however enlightened or deluded, holding onto my cherished thoughts is the source of all dysfunction and dissatisfaction. As A.H. Maslow explains it "self-actualization is a complete immersion in the matter hand, without any trace of self-consciousness".....
And wisdom is emptiness of mind accompanied by clarity (and cleansing) of perception
JDZ
All that i see that I dislike in the world is within me, violence and discord, as well as all the good. Though differing in degrees and magnitude of disharmony and conflict the essence is the same. It is both within me and without me, the negative and the positive qualities I attribute to the outside world...
Right now the most delusive and dysfunctional things in my life now are my thoughts, however enlightened or deluded, holding onto my cherished thoughts is the source of all dysfunction and dissatisfaction. As A.H. Maslow explains it "self-actualization is a complete immersion in the matter hand, without any trace of self-consciousness".....
And wisdom is emptiness of mind accompanied by clarity (and cleansing) of perception
JDZ
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