(FYI, Michael Singer will be interviewed by Oprah at 11:00AM this Sunday August 5th on the Oprah Winfrey channel OWN! As far as I am aware this is a first because he does not usually speak outside of his center in Florida.)
"What matters is not the isolated entity, but the space between things, the relationship of things. The Bond." (Lynne McTaggart, The Bond, inside of the front cover)
In "The Bond" Lynne McTaggart Lynne cites an abundance of evidence from both the physical and social sciences that we are all connected. She talks about the idea that our true nature is to connect not compete. Survival of the fittest is not an accurate reflection of human nature. Wanting to belong, to give, and being altruistic are our true nature. Lynne provides numerous examples of people putting others first, even if it means putting their own lives at risk (For example, the Air France Airbus plane crash where passing motorists safely pulled out 309 passengers moments before the plane burst into flames). Could it be that we do these things because at our most basic level we are all one? Might this also be why we long for love and acceptance?
This is what Michael Singer and Adyashanti have been saying when they talk about letting go of the individual self. It is only the egoic self that thinks it is separate. It is the need to protect this self-image that interferes with our innate urge to connect with others. The egoic self compares itself to others, judges, worries that it is not enough or that it is not getting enough, competes, feels superior... The egoic self cannot love because it always needs something in return.
Lynne cites studies that show that people are healthier both physically and emotionally when they are connected with others. We need each other. Period. Others are not a threat...but to the ego, they can be. To the ego, some people are shunned because they are different or weird. The ego is all about impressing others not connecting with others. As we have been talking about, we are not our egos. This individual self is something that we created to navigate more comfortably in life yet it keeps us in bondage (Remember Michael Singer's analogy of the comfortable but boarded-up house built in the middle of the beautiful field of light?)
In Truth, we are here to support and love each other. Opening to others is what we are meant to do. Michael Singer says (and I am paraphrasing loosely) that eventually we are going to have to open our hearts to the whole world. Why not start now by recognizing our true nature and letting go of the fears and insecurities of the egoic self? We have tools to do this. Witness and release for one. Another, holding thoughts lightly. I have found judgmental thoughts to be the biggest block to my connecting with others.
A phrase that I heard repeatedly growing up in the Catholic church comes to mind: "We are One Body in Christ." Whether the perspective is physics, biology, psychology, sociology, religion, or New Thought philosophies the same conclusion is being reached: it is the relationship between things that matters, not the individual. Now, let us bring this awareness to our moment-to-moment interactions.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
holding thoughts lightly
It
has been really useful for me to hold my thoughts lightly, and, see the world
through innocent eyes. Sometimes it can be hard to "let go" of
a thought, but when I hold a thought lightly it no longer seems as meaningful or
important and I find that I let it go more easily.
I
realize how much weight I have given to my thoughts. I now know that these thoughts are conditioned
responses based on my past experiences and not necessarily an indicator of how
I need to live my life. Of course we
have to think about things in our lives, but I am seeing that my thoughts and
emotions (which I will focus on in the next blog) do not need to run the
show. I now choose to hold them lightly
and allow a deeper Truth to come forth.
This
reminds me of the Bible phrase “You can’t put new wine into old wineskins” and
the idea from Einstein that you can’t fix a problem with
the same consciousness that created it.
I am ready for a new Consciousness.
I will hold my thoughts lightly, thus making room for Truth to express
in, as, and through me.
Monday, July 16, 2012
beginner's mind
Jesus said "Unless you become like little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Similarly, Adyashanti talks about staying in beginners mind "because in beginner's mind the possibilities are infinite. They're open. Anything can happen. You're open to learn anything you need to learn. If your view of something needs to change, you're open for it to change." (falling into grace, p. 149)
"If you stay in innocence, in the mind that's very light, that never takes its ideas as truth, then there will be a much greater potential for your thoughts, as well as your communications with others, to be naturally inspired." (falling into grace, p. 150)
Despite my strong longing to have my thoughts and interactions inspired naturally, I find that my mind really wants to be in charge. I find Adya's words to be very helpful. I can hold my thoughts lightly because I know that there is a greater wisdom and power available to me than this limited mind.
Similarly, Adyashanti talks about staying in beginners mind "because in beginner's mind the possibilities are infinite. They're open. Anything can happen. You're open to learn anything you need to learn. If your view of something needs to change, you're open for it to change." (falling into grace, p. 149)
"If you stay in innocence, in the mind that's very light, that never takes its ideas as truth, then there will be a much greater potential for your thoughts, as well as your communications with others, to be naturally inspired." (falling into grace, p. 150)
Despite my strong longing to have my thoughts and interactions inspired naturally, I find that my mind really wants to be in charge. I find Adya's words to be very helpful. I can hold my thoughts lightly because I know that there is a greater wisdom and power available to me than this limited mind.
Monday, July 9, 2012
opening to Self
Whatever is happening right now in your life is not who you are. You and I are so much more than we can even imagine. Let us not let whatever worldly event is going on, define us. We are so much more than what we are feeling, thinking, and doing. We are made in the image and likeness of God. We are One with Spirit.
If we want to embody the deeper Truth of who we really are, than we need to let go of the false sense of self that we call our personality or personal identity (AKA, the psyche, ego, persona).
There is a choice in each moment to either cling to and build that personal self or relax our belly, open our heart, and move our awareness to the self as the Observer. This is the doorway to God. Have you heard it said that you must lose yourself in order to find your Self?
It is easy to resist what is happening in the moment especially when I am uncomfortable. One of my favorite ways to do this is to jump right into my head to try to "figure it all out." When I stay grounded in my body and open my heart I am more likely to remember to observe and release.
I set the intention to experience this week with a relaxed belly, an open heart, and an alert mind. My mind is alert to what it is noticing...am I lost in the thoughts of the psyche or am I aware of my Self as the Watcher of my thoughts? With an open heart I am kind and gentle with myself and I see others through soft eyes. I accept what is happening and I let it go, allowing a higher expression of who I am to pour forth.
If we want to embody the deeper Truth of who we really are, than we need to let go of the false sense of self that we call our personality or personal identity (AKA, the psyche, ego, persona).
There is a choice in each moment to either cling to and build that personal self or relax our belly, open our heart, and move our awareness to the self as the Observer. This is the doorway to God. Have you heard it said that you must lose yourself in order to find your Self?
It is easy to resist what is happening in the moment especially when I am uncomfortable. One of my favorite ways to do this is to jump right into my head to try to "figure it all out." When I stay grounded in my body and open my heart I am more likely to remember to observe and release.
I set the intention to experience this week with a relaxed belly, an open heart, and an alert mind. My mind is alert to what it is noticing...am I lost in the thoughts of the psyche or am I aware of my Self as the Watcher of my thoughts? With an open heart I am kind and gentle with myself and I see others through soft eyes. I accept what is happening and I let it go, allowing a higher expression of who I am to pour forth.
Monday, July 2, 2012
meditation
My third spiritual practice is meditation. The following paragraphs are from a comment that someone posted on my blog last year:
Recently I read something from physicsforum.com that seems to agree that Michael Singer's idea that the mind (the "roommate") isn't the one to turn to in meditation:
"In athletics they say it is good to practice. I play racquetball, and it is interesting to see someone reserve a court to do drills, and then watch them spend an hour actually practicing how to hit the ball incorrectly! I know and used to play with people who play several times per week, and who haven't budged an inch in years in terms of their skill level. Me, I got bored never getting better, so I took lessons and moved on. The moral of the story is, if you practice bad habits, then you will just make things worse, so it is important to learn how to practice in ways that lead to constant improvement.
When you say you "find it impossible to clear my mind of all thought and I have yet to attain the blissful, spiritual feeling that is said to come with a quieted mind," and that you want to achieve the "no thought" experience, I believe I know exactly what the problem is. People who teach themselves to meditate, or who are taught by someone who thinks meditation is merely a calming of the mind, often believe something about how their own consciousness works which is inaccurate. This belief determines how they practice, and consequently why they get stuck.
The inaccurate belief is that consciousness is primarily mind. By “mind” I mean, the collage of images, feelings, desires, aversions, beliefs, thoughts, attitudes, biases, etc. that dominate most people’s awake moments. When someone decides they’d like to quiet that, they rely on what they are most familiar with. And guess what that is. Yep, it’s the mind itself. How is an unremittingly moving mind going to quiet itself? It isn’t, which is why so many people give up on meditation. Whatever slight benefit they get from sitting quietly in a room and doing nothing (and that does have a calming effect), along with the fact that one’s practice never goes much deeper, eventually bores one and usually convinces one the benefits of meditation have been exaggerated.
So what’s the solution? There is a huge secret in all this. In my opinion, if you find it, you will progress, and if you don’t then you will never get anywhere. The secret is, mind is not the primary aspect of consciousness. There is a bright, ever-so-subtly pulsating place inside at the foundation of consciousness, which is already perfectly still. Fortunately for us, there are inward-turning techniques that can help consciousness merge with that brilliant tranquility. When we join it, the power of it automatically stills the mind. That’s how inner peace is achieved in meditation practice, and not by trying to stop one’s mind with the mind.
Some "inward-turning" techniques that I find helpful are focusing on the breath and breathing into the heart and out through the 'third eye.' When I am having a really hard time focusing on anything but my noisy mind I find it helpful to do the following: Inhale into my chest filling it with air and holding it there for the count of 10, then slowly exhaling through the third eye. Then inhaling into my belly and holding the air there for the count for 10 and slowly exhaling. Repeat several times alternating between breathing into the chest and the belly. Always exhale through the third eye.
I welcome any meditation techniques that you find helpful and would like to share.
Recently I read something from physicsforum.com that seems to agree that Michael Singer's idea that the mind (the "roommate") isn't the one to turn to in meditation:
"In athletics they say it is good to practice. I play racquetball, and it is interesting to see someone reserve a court to do drills, and then watch them spend an hour actually practicing how to hit the ball incorrectly! I know and used to play with people who play several times per week, and who haven't budged an inch in years in terms of their skill level. Me, I got bored never getting better, so I took lessons and moved on. The moral of the story is, if you practice bad habits, then you will just make things worse, so it is important to learn how to practice in ways that lead to constant improvement.
When you say you "find it impossible to clear my mind of all thought and I have yet to attain the blissful, spiritual feeling that is said to come with a quieted mind," and that you want to achieve the "no thought" experience, I believe I know exactly what the problem is. People who teach themselves to meditate, or who are taught by someone who thinks meditation is merely a calming of the mind, often believe something about how their own consciousness works which is inaccurate. This belief determines how they practice, and consequently why they get stuck.
The inaccurate belief is that consciousness is primarily mind. By “mind” I mean, the collage of images, feelings, desires, aversions, beliefs, thoughts, attitudes, biases, etc. that dominate most people’s awake moments. When someone decides they’d like to quiet that, they rely on what they are most familiar with. And guess what that is. Yep, it’s the mind itself. How is an unremittingly moving mind going to quiet itself? It isn’t, which is why so many people give up on meditation. Whatever slight benefit they get from sitting quietly in a room and doing nothing (and that does have a calming effect), along with the fact that one’s practice never goes much deeper, eventually bores one and usually convinces one the benefits of meditation have been exaggerated.
So what’s the solution? There is a huge secret in all this. In my opinion, if you find it, you will progress, and if you don’t then you will never get anywhere. The secret is, mind is not the primary aspect of consciousness. There is a bright, ever-so-subtly pulsating place inside at the foundation of consciousness, which is already perfectly still. Fortunately for us, there are inward-turning techniques that can help consciousness merge with that brilliant tranquility. When we join it, the power of it automatically stills the mind. That’s how inner peace is achieved in meditation practice, and not by trying to stop one’s mind with the mind.
Some "inward-turning" techniques that I find helpful are focusing on the breath and breathing into the heart and out through the 'third eye.' When I am having a really hard time focusing on anything but my noisy mind I find it helpful to do the following: Inhale into my chest filling it with air and holding it there for the count of 10, then slowly exhaling through the third eye. Then inhaling into my belly and holding the air there for the count for 10 and slowly exhaling. Repeat several times alternating between breathing into the chest and the belly. Always exhale through the third eye.
I welcome any meditation techniques that you find helpful and would like to share.
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