....Think back to a happy time. A
really, really happy time in your life.
Go back as far as it takes.
To a time when you felt so light you thought you might float.
Do you remember it?
The carefree feeling?
The acceptance of the moment, of yourself, of life?
Feeling unfettered by thoughts of the future, and oblivious to the past?
Feel it a little longer...
There.
Very nice.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Monday, August 30, 2004
Love Thomas Moore....
Ponder the spectre of yourself as one human being in the over six billion people on Earth.
See Earth as one tiny planet in a galaxy of billions of stars, and that galaxy as just one of billions of galaxies in our expanding universe. We are so minute as to be nonexistent. And yet, we have the power to visualize, to imagine the entirety of the cosmos.
See Earth as one tiny planet in a galaxy of billions of stars, and that galaxy as just one of billions of galaxies in our expanding universe. We are so minute as to be nonexistent. And yet, we have the power to visualize, to imagine the entirety of the cosmos.
In your journal, write about the paradox of being both microscopic and immense.
"I think we would be able to live in this world more peaceably if our spirituality were to come from looking not just into infinity but very closely at the world around us -- and
appreciating its depth and divinity."
-- Thomas Moore
appreciating its depth and divinity."
Absent, minded....
....no, not as in forgetful, more like I've been absent from the blogoshpere since last wednesday. But I have been ever mindful of you all, whoever you may be.
Blogging is such an interesting phenomenon on many levels but especially so if you know that at least somebody (if only family and friends) reads it. I sometimes feel a sense of responsibility almost to my readers (sic). I know how I feel when I go to a site and they haven't posted in a while. I actually worry about them, hoping everything's okay. (I know, that's my co-dependency showing).
The whole month of August has been filled with activity what with numerous birthdays this month including my own and my wife's. We have been doing marathon celebrating this past week with family gatherings held mostly in local restaurants with the resulting addition of several extra pounds to the various midriffs.
Then on to S.C. to the in-laws for the weekend and another night out at a local fish house. (That's right, the deep-fat fried kind).
Well, now that were all caught up on the newsy stuff I hope to be a little more consistent for the near future. It's just good to be able to sit quietly and write anything at all. Glad to be back to blogworld.
Blogging is such an interesting phenomenon on many levels but especially so if you know that at least somebody (if only family and friends) reads it. I sometimes feel a sense of responsibility almost to my readers (sic). I know how I feel when I go to a site and they haven't posted in a while. I actually worry about them, hoping everything's okay. (I know, that's my co-dependency showing).
The whole month of August has been filled with activity what with numerous birthdays this month including my own and my wife's. We have been doing marathon celebrating this past week with family gatherings held mostly in local restaurants with the resulting addition of several extra pounds to the various midriffs.
Then on to S.C. to the in-laws for the weekend and another night out at a local fish house. (That's right, the deep-fat fried kind).
Well, now that were all caught up on the newsy stuff I hope to be a little more consistent for the near future. It's just good to be able to sit quietly and write anything at all. Glad to be back to blogworld.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Free To Flow....
Has it ever struck you that those who most fear to die are the ones who most fear to live? Life is flexible and free, and you are rigid and frozen. Life carries all things away, and you crave stability and permanence. You fear life and death because you cling. You cannot bear the thought of losing a relative or friend; you dread losing a pet theory or ideology or belief. When you cling to nothing, when you have no fear of losing anything, then you are free to flow like a mountain stream that is always fresh and sparkling and alive.
There is something deadening about going through life cautiously.
Source: Anthony de Mello: Selected Writings
There is something deadening about going through life cautiously.
Source: Anthony de Mello: Selected Writings
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
The Gift of 'No'....
We have to give them "No."
Granting them the priviledge of "No" is the foundation of relationship. And, of course, they have to grant the same thing to us. There is no possibility of relationship with those who cannot take no for an answer. How many people in your experience can you say "No" to, without having to defend, excuse, justify, or explain? Those are valuable people. I recommend haning onto them. They will not be easily replaced.
The others are everywhere. "You have to do it my way, or else" is the theme of our association with them. It's say "Yes," or be sorry, with them. They don't understand that the primary gift is the gift of "No." Or, see that relationship requires us to honor the preferences, interests, inhibitions, and disinclinations of those in relationship with us. We cannot assume that our way is the best way, and have to trust the others to know what is good for them, and allow them the freedom of their own positions and choices, without taking it to heart when they don't do it our way.
Jim Dollar
Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
Granting them the priviledge of "No" is the foundation of relationship. And, of course, they have to grant the same thing to us. There is no possibility of relationship with those who cannot take no for an answer. How many people in your experience can you say "No" to, without having to defend, excuse, justify, or explain? Those are valuable people. I recommend haning onto them. They will not be easily replaced.
The others are everywhere. "You have to do it my way, or else" is the theme of our association with them. It's say "Yes," or be sorry, with them. They don't understand that the primary gift is the gift of "No." Or, see that relationship requires us to honor the preferences, interests, inhibitions, and disinclinations of those in relationship with us. We cannot assume that our way is the best way, and have to trust the others to know what is good for them, and allow them the freedom of their own positions and choices, without taking it to heart when they don't do it our way.
Jim Dollar
Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Thanks, Albert
Connected to All
Albert Einstein
We are part of the whole which we call the universe, but it is an optical delusion of our mind that we think we are separate.
This separateness is like a prison for us. Our job is to widen the circle of compassion so we feel connected to all people and all situations.
This terrible individualism must inevitably have an end...
Albert Einstein
We are part of the whole which we call the universe, but it is an optical delusion of our mind that we think we are separate.
This separateness is like a prison for us. Our job is to widen the circle of compassion so we feel connected to all people and all situations.
This terrible individualism must inevitably have an end...
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Friday, August 20, 2004
End of week post....
TGIF....no, not the restaurant. At least it used to be called that. Now it's just Friday's I believe.
Actually, my week really ends tomorrow but not many relate to that.(I own a hair salon, we work Saturdays).
All in all a great week has transpired. I turned 62 Wednesday and suddenly for the first time I'm sort of feeling the reality of that. On the inside (where the real me resides) I feel exactly the same as I always felt. So do you and when you realize that, it can be a major clue to the discovery of who you really are....that eternal self that is the same, always.
That one on the inside that never changes is the real you, the real self. Learn to get in touch with that (in meditation, centered prayer or whatever works for you). It makes for a whole new perspective on life and death. Whatever happens to your body or your circumstances, that inner self that you sense and are aware of that never changes continues on in its inevitable, glorious way.
Be here now.
Actually, my week really ends tomorrow but not many relate to that.(I own a hair salon, we work Saturdays).
All in all a great week has transpired. I turned 62 Wednesday and suddenly for the first time I'm sort of feeling the reality of that. On the inside (where the real me resides) I feel exactly the same as I always felt. So do you and when you realize that, it can be a major clue to the discovery of who you really are....that eternal self that is the same, always.
That one on the inside that never changes is the real you, the real self. Learn to get in touch with that (in meditation, centered prayer or whatever works for you). It makes for a whole new perspective on life and death. Whatever happens to your body or your circumstances, that inner self that you sense and are aware of that never changes continues on in its inevitable, glorious way.
Be here now.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Birthday boy!....
This morning I watched as Jennifer hobbled out to her car with her borrowed cane to help support her bum right knee. “I feel so stupid”, she said. She will only be 58 next week. (Don’t tell her I said that) and is rather youthful looking but is beginning to experience a few aches and pains commensurate with adding another birthday, speaking of which, today is my 62nd year on this planet. We will celebrate tonight with a home cooked meal! to be shared with my brother and his wife. I don’t think any one else will be here unless I’m in for some kind of surprise I don’t know about.
I doubt it, though. They surprised me for my 60th, and I don’t think I’m due for awhile.
Anyway, Happy Birthday to me! Ya’ll join me in my celebration if you like. I won’t mind at all. ( :
I doubt it, though. They surprised me for my 60th, and I don’t think I’m due for awhile.
Anyway, Happy Birthday to me! Ya’ll join me in my celebration if you like. I won’t mind at all. ( :
Oneness....again
The question often arises; how can we all be one?
The recent discoveries (the last quarter century) in quantum phsyics lays down the groundwork for our understanding of the essential union, or oneness of all things (including, of course, people!).
But we won't go there today. Suffice it to say that another little metaphor sometimes says it so much better than some dry academic explanation can ever do. Besides, I am far from an academic type.
The thought was this: There are many islands we can see in the ocean (remember the ocean thing from previous posts). They do look all seperate from one another but under the surface they are all connected.
We too, though unique in our outward bodies, are all connected under the surface so to speak, at the molecular level,and the energy that sustains them is the same in all. We usually call this energy God, or Spirit.
I realize this is overyly simplistic but if you want more depth I could refer you to the writings of Ken Wilber and many others if you like. Also, I write most of this in between clients and am lucky to complete any kind of coherent thought. ( "
Maybe I can say this more clearly next time when I can think without the constant interruptions, usually from the phone. The appointments I appreciate, the telemarketers I do not. Will try again tomorrow.
The recent discoveries (the last quarter century) in quantum phsyics lays down the groundwork for our understanding of the essential union, or oneness of all things (including, of course, people!).
But we won't go there today. Suffice it to say that another little metaphor sometimes says it so much better than some dry academic explanation can ever do. Besides, I am far from an academic type.
The thought was this: There are many islands we can see in the ocean (remember the ocean thing from previous posts). They do look all seperate from one another but under the surface they are all connected.
We too, though unique in our outward bodies, are all connected under the surface so to speak, at the molecular level,and the energy that sustains them is the same in all. We usually call this energy God, or Spirit.
I realize this is overyly simplistic but if you want more depth I could refer you to the writings of Ken Wilber and many others if you like. Also, I write most of this in between clients and am lucky to complete any kind of coherent thought. ( "
Maybe I can say this more clearly next time when I can think without the constant interruptions, usually from the phone. The appointments I appreciate, the telemarketers I do not. Will try again tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
More on the anger thing....
You say I shouldnt stop my raging anger. Why?
You shouldnt stop your anger, nor should you suppress it. When you suppress your anger you bottle it up inside and you either explode it all out like a volcano at a later stage, or it starts to eat away at your body as sickness.
When you fully express anger without being conscious of yourself, you reinforce your guilt and make it real. Anger is just suppressed guilt which you cannot bear to see inside of you for fear of punishment so you try to project it out onto the world.
Thats why we say the best thing to do with anger is to let the anger do as it likes, but simply sit back and watch it, without judgment. Over time, this diffuses the energy supply because you are denying its energy source.
You shouldnt stop your anger, nor should you suppress it. When you suppress your anger you bottle it up inside and you either explode it all out like a volcano at a later stage, or it starts to eat away at your body as sickness.
When you fully express anger without being conscious of yourself, you reinforce your guilt and make it real. Anger is just suppressed guilt which you cannot bear to see inside of you for fear of punishment so you try to project it out onto the world.
Thats why we say the best thing to do with anger is to let the anger do as it likes, but simply sit back and watch it, without judgment. Over time, this diffuses the energy supply because you are denying its energy source.
Anger....
How does one stop their raging anger?..
..by not trying to stop anything. Get angry. Be as angry as you like. If you try to stop it you will give it more power.
When you attempt to stop something you give it more power by validating it's existence.
What you do need to do though is to watch your self getting angry. (Become the witness of yourself as Ken Wilber would say). After a while, you will start to see the anger happening as a separate thing from you. You will not be identified with it. You will watch it as though you are watching TV.
Over time, the anger will settle down and disappear. You will not have any need for anger because it is not giving you a false sense of power any more. You have separated it from you and do not derive a false sense of life from it.
This is classic self observation in practice. It is what most call a type of prayer, but it is a non-verbal praying. It is learning to be in the silence, just witnessing, watching, observing all that arises within, including and especially the anger. Just
don't try to make something happen. The simple act of self observation takes the sting out of anger or any other strong emotion
.
Learn to let it be what it is. Of course, this is not to say that you should allow anger to manifest itself in negative or destructive ways. You are still responsible for whatever actions you allow as a result of your emotions.
..by not trying to stop anything. Get angry. Be as angry as you like. If you try to stop it you will give it more power.
When you attempt to stop something you give it more power by validating it's existence.
What you do need to do though is to watch your self getting angry. (Become the witness of yourself as Ken Wilber would say). After a while, you will start to see the anger happening as a separate thing from you. You will not be identified with it. You will watch it as though you are watching TV.
Over time, the anger will settle down and disappear. You will not have any need for anger because it is not giving you a false sense of power any more. You have separated it from you and do not derive a false sense of life from it.
This is classic self observation in practice. It is what most call a type of prayer, but it is a non-verbal praying. It is learning to be in the silence, just witnessing, watching, observing all that arises within, including and especially the anger. Just
don't try to make something happen. The simple act of self observation takes the sting out of anger or any other strong emotion
.
Learn to let it be what it is. Of course, this is not to say that you should allow anger to manifest itself in negative or destructive ways. You are still responsible for whatever actions you allow as a result of your emotions.
Monday, August 16, 2004
On being....
I had the revelation once (understanding, insight) about the waves of the ocean being a metaphor for our utter oneness, union with the all, the universe, God.
I later read the same concept in a book by Ken Wilbur. Hear is the gist of the idea:
The traditional analogy is the ocean and its waves. The wetness of the water is the Spirit. All waves are equally wet.
One wave isn't wetter than another. And thus, if I discover the wetness of any wave, I have discovered the wetness of all. When I directly recognize Emptiness or Spirit or the wetness of my own being, right here, right now, then I have discovered the ultimate truth of all other waves as well.
Spirit is not a Really Big Wave set apart from little waves, but is the wetness equally present in all waves, high or low, big or small, sacred or profane-which is why Spirit cannot be used to prefer one wave over another.
Enlightenment is thus not catching a really big wave, but noticing the already present wetness of whatever wave I'm on. Moreover, I am then radically liberated from the narrow identification with this little wave called 'me'.
I am literally 'One Taste' with the entire ocean and all its waves. And that taste is wetness, suchness, Emptiness, the Spirit, the utter transparency of the Great Perfection".
This is great stuff! Well, to expand and continue this line of thought
here's another metaphor for human life I thought was also poignant and tied in with the wave thing.
The question is: What does a raindrop feel when it falls into the ocean?
I could imagine the ocean and lakes manifesting itself in a new way in the form of evaporation sending it's essence into the atmosphere to collect in the sky to make great clouds full of potential raindrops.
Those raindrops have quite an exciting ride on the way to becoming something other than the Ocean from whence they came. On that journey they pick up lots of dust and debris from the atmosphere sometimes getting a bit dirty. Kind of like some of us humans, no?
Then they get to hang around with lots of other moist, heavy air and become all sorts of clouds with beautiful shapes and even colors. Eventually they get so heavy with themselves they can’t hang in the sky anymore and have to let go and fall back to the earth, most back to the oceans of origin, something they had so completely forgotten that it came as a complete surprise when they suddenly found themselves perfectly reunited with that which they always were. Back to the essence of being.
I have long since lost the fear of death, and this thought makes it so much clearer for me as I hope it will some of you who read this. Not only the fear of death but the fear of life as well is utterly shattered when you know, really know, who you really are.
Now all we have to do is be that!
I later read the same concept in a book by Ken Wilbur. Hear is the gist of the idea:
The traditional analogy is the ocean and its waves. The wetness of the water is the Spirit. All waves are equally wet.
One wave isn't wetter than another. And thus, if I discover the wetness of any wave, I have discovered the wetness of all. When I directly recognize Emptiness or Spirit or the wetness of my own being, right here, right now, then I have discovered the ultimate truth of all other waves as well.
Spirit is not a Really Big Wave set apart from little waves, but is the wetness equally present in all waves, high or low, big or small, sacred or profane-which is why Spirit cannot be used to prefer one wave over another.
Enlightenment is thus not catching a really big wave, but noticing the already present wetness of whatever wave I'm on. Moreover, I am then radically liberated from the narrow identification with this little wave called 'me'.
I am literally 'One Taste' with the entire ocean and all its waves. And that taste is wetness, suchness, Emptiness, the Spirit, the utter transparency of the Great Perfection".
This is great stuff! Well, to expand and continue this line of thought
here's another metaphor for human life I thought was also poignant and tied in with the wave thing.
The question is: What does a raindrop feel when it falls into the ocean?
I could imagine the ocean and lakes manifesting itself in a new way in the form of evaporation sending it's essence into the atmosphere to collect in the sky to make great clouds full of potential raindrops.
Those raindrops have quite an exciting ride on the way to becoming something other than the Ocean from whence they came. On that journey they pick up lots of dust and debris from the atmosphere sometimes getting a bit dirty. Kind of like some of us humans, no?
Then they get to hang around with lots of other moist, heavy air and become all sorts of clouds with beautiful shapes and even colors. Eventually they get so heavy with themselves they can’t hang in the sky anymore and have to let go and fall back to the earth, most back to the oceans of origin, something they had so completely forgotten that it came as a complete surprise when they suddenly found themselves perfectly reunited with that which they always were. Back to the essence of being.
I have long since lost the fear of death, and this thought makes it so much clearer for me as I hope it will some of you who read this. Not only the fear of death but the fear of life as well is utterly shattered when you know, really know, who you really are.
Now all we have to do is be that!
Sunday, August 15, 2004
On Finding Peace....
You do not have to find peace. It is already there, deep within you,
like a vast tranquil lake engulfing your very being.
What you do need to do is, remove all of the useless clutter which you
have placed on top of the presence of your natural state.
You ARE peace. But you have lost memory of it beneath the daily
yearning and churning which goes on all day in that weary mind.
Be peace. You are a human being, not a human doing.
like a vast tranquil lake engulfing your very being.
What you do need to do is, remove all of the useless clutter which you
have placed on top of the presence of your natural state.
You ARE peace. But you have lost memory of it beneath the daily
yearning and churning which goes on all day in that weary mind.
Be peace. You are a human being, not a human doing.
Friday, August 13, 2004
Fear As Illusion....
Many teachers say that fear is an illusion simply because it is. But do
not fall into the trap of saying that if fear is an illusion that you
can master it because you cannot.
Illusions are not real, and anytime you try to master fear you are
making it real, simply by putting your faith in it. The only thing you can
do to stop fear is to stop thinking or doing whatever is causing the
fear. Your thinking process is the chief cause of all fear.
The root of all fear comes from the belief that you are separate from
God.
See God in everything you do. See God in everyone and everything you
see. Most of all live in the present moment. This is where you will be
sheltered in the presence of Gods Love. This will eliminate fear and
guilt from your life forever.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
A quote....
A great piece of work from Marianne Williamson.
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkeness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God!
Your playing small does not serve the world,
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking, so that other people wont feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest, the Glory of God that is within us.
Its not just in some of us; its in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine we unconciously give others permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkeness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God!
Your playing small does not serve the world,
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking, so that other people wont feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest, the Glory of God that is within us.
Its not just in some of us; its in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine we unconciously give others permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Detachment....
A lot of spiritual teachers talk about detachment.
What exactly is it?
Detachment is a state of being where you no longer cling to objects or people.
You are totally free of them. These things may be a large part of your life but you are not emotionally affected by them. They can come and go, and you have no emotional investment in them. Another way to look at detachment is, you are no longer emotionally invested in outcomes of certain situations. What happens, happens.
And you are okay with that. You are no longer on the emotional roller coaster ride.
In other words, detachment is a state of being where you are in the world, but not ruled by it.
You are now truly free.
from; the Daily Guru
What exactly is it?
Detachment is a state of being where you no longer cling to objects or people.
You are totally free of them. These things may be a large part of your life but you are not emotionally affected by them. They can come and go, and you have no emotional investment in them. Another way to look at detachment is, you are no longer emotionally invested in outcomes of certain situations. What happens, happens.
And you are okay with that. You are no longer on the emotional roller coaster ride.
In other words, detachment is a state of being where you are in the world, but not ruled by it.
You are now truly free.
from; the Daily Guru
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Enlightenment?....
Meditate on this one:
The very thing that you seek,
you already are.
Coments? Thoughts?
(More on this later)
The very thing that you seek,
you already are.
Coments? Thoughts?
In response....
....to the question from Thad; "What the hell does that mean?" ( :
I know this sentence is a little obscure but to put it simply it means that whatever you seek, either to know something or to become something, the answer is already within you. Do you seek to be a better person? You already are that, waiting to be recognized, made manifest in your life. Maybe the better person you wish to be is only in seed form, but it is still the real you, only needing a little nurturing to come to full fruition.
And the answers to all our questions likewise are already within us because that which is within us is the source of all wisdom and truth just waiting for the sincere seeker to call upon the great answer giver, the Holy Spirit,
the Christ within. Even then, it may take a while for the answers to be made manifest to our minds. It may come from reading, studying, listening, prayer, meditation, talking with others. Ultimately, the questions that come from within the depths of one's heart will be answered from the depths of one's heart.
I know this sentence is a little obscure but to put it simply it means that whatever you seek, either to know something or to become something, the answer is already within you. Do you seek to be a better person? You already are that, waiting to be recognized, made manifest in your life. Maybe the better person you wish to be is only in seed form, but it is still the real you, only needing a little nurturing to come to full fruition.
And the answers to all our questions likewise are already within us because that which is within us is the source of all wisdom and truth just waiting for the sincere seeker to call upon the great answer giver, the Holy Spirit,
the Christ within. Even then, it may take a while for the answers to be made manifest to our minds. It may come from reading, studying, listening, prayer, meditation, talking with others. Ultimately, the questions that come from within the depths of one's heart will be answered from the depths of one's heart.
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