It is a busy week and I may not get to writing much on the blog. But for now, here is a quote that I really like from one of Michael Singer's CDs:
"If how you are causes a disturbance inside of me, that is my problem. If I didn't have the psycho-mumbo-jumbo going on inside of me (e.g., I need you to be a certain way for me to be okay) than I would be feeling the joy that I am and that would permit you to be what you are."
We are 'okay' because we are one with God...not because of how others are being or what they are doing around us.
May we let go of our attachment to how we think others should be and step into the Joy that is our True Nature!
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Unconditional Follow-Through
Adya's second foundation is: Unconditional Follow-Through which has to do with "what you are willing to do or let go of doing...it requires you to be fully present, sincere, and committed now, with absolute honesty and a willingness to uncover and let go of any illusion that comes between you and the realization of Reality." (The Way of Liberation, p. 4).
Notice what Adya emphasizes - it is about being present and committed now...not striving for some future state of awakening. I find this powerful and humbling. How silly it seems to long for some awakened state in the future when there are many times when I am not even present to this moment...at times unwilling to even deal with what I am thinking/feeling/perceiving in this moment (i.e., a fear, a resentment, a judgment...).
Adya also emphasizes the willingness to let go of all illusions...that includes the illusion that I am separate from others, or any illusion that my judgments and opinions reflect Reality. As I go through the ups and downs of my day and notice how my heart becomes so invested in what is happening in my world, it is easy to forget that most of my experiences are based on illusions.
My focus is to stay present in the moment, noticing if my heart is open, accepting what is showing up in my life without clinging and without pushing it away. There is more to life than what my limited perceptions are showing me. I do not know what this Reality is that my illusions block me from seeing. So I will wait. I will watch my experiences, I will let them move through me and I will "wait upon the Lord" to show me Truth.
Notice what Adya emphasizes - it is about being present and committed now...not striving for some future state of awakening. I find this powerful and humbling. How silly it seems to long for some awakened state in the future when there are many times when I am not even present to this moment...at times unwilling to even deal with what I am thinking/feeling/perceiving in this moment (i.e., a fear, a resentment, a judgment...).
Adya also emphasizes the willingness to let go of all illusions...that includes the illusion that I am separate from others, or any illusion that my judgments and opinions reflect Reality. As I go through the ups and downs of my day and notice how my heart becomes so invested in what is happening in my world, it is easy to forget that most of my experiences are based on illusions.
My focus is to stay present in the moment, noticing if my heart is open, accepting what is showing up in my life without clinging and without pushing it away. There is more to life than what my limited perceptions are showing me. I do not know what this Reality is that my illusions block me from seeing. So I will wait. I will watch my experiences, I will let them move through me and I will "wait upon the Lord" to show me Truth.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Clarify Your Aspirations
Adya talks about 5 foundations on which his teachings rest and the first of these is to "Clarify Your Aspirations." This means:
"knowing exactly what it is that your spiritual life aspires to, not as a future goal but in each moment. In other words what do you value most in your life-not in the sense of moral values, but in the sense of what is most important to you." (The Way of Liberation, p. 3)
He suggests that we contemplate and meditate upon this question until we are perfectly clear about what we aspire to.
What I might aspire to in the big picture is to help the world to heal, but taking this question down to a moment by moment experience changes my response somewhat, making my goals more specific. The goal that I aspire to at this point is to live each moment with an open heart thus allowing myself to stay connected with my authentic experience (i.e., noticing when I close in fear and choosing to relax my heart) and with the energy of Spirit.
"The importance of this first Foundation cannot be over-emphasized, because life unfolds along the lines of what you value most...Generally most people have competing and conflicting values, which manifest as both internal and external conflict. So just because you think something is your deepest value it does not mean that it actually is. By deeply contemplating and clarifying what you value and aspire to, you become more unified, clear, and certain of your direction." (The Way of Liberation, p. 3)
I have experienced some of this (internal) conflict this week...despite my aspiration I found myself at times feeling defensive and closed. Staying aware of what I aspire too in each moment has reminded me to stay open.
If you would like to share your thoughts, I would greatly appreciate hearing about your aspirations (either by posting on the blog or sending my an email).
"knowing exactly what it is that your spiritual life aspires to, not as a future goal but in each moment. In other words what do you value most in your life-not in the sense of moral values, but in the sense of what is most important to you." (The Way of Liberation, p. 3)
He suggests that we contemplate and meditate upon this question until we are perfectly clear about what we aspire to.
What I might aspire to in the big picture is to help the world to heal, but taking this question down to a moment by moment experience changes my response somewhat, making my goals more specific. The goal that I aspire to at this point is to live each moment with an open heart thus allowing myself to stay connected with my authentic experience (i.e., noticing when I close in fear and choosing to relax my heart) and with the energy of Spirit.
"The importance of this first Foundation cannot be over-emphasized, because life unfolds along the lines of what you value most...Generally most people have competing and conflicting values, which manifest as both internal and external conflict. So just because you think something is your deepest value it does not mean that it actually is. By deeply contemplating and clarifying what you value and aspire to, you become more unified, clear, and certain of your direction." (The Way of Liberation, p. 3)
I have experienced some of this (internal) conflict this week...despite my aspiration I found myself at times feeling defensive and closed. Staying aware of what I aspire too in each moment has reminded me to stay open.
If you would like to share your thoughts, I would greatly appreciate hearing about your aspirations (either by posting on the blog or sending my an email).
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Wake up or perish
I see the pull that the world has on my awareness. The pull is for the ego to get something...whether it be to get recognition, love, friendship, respect, security, peace of mind...or to get something materialistic...or to get more time... The list of wants and needs that my ego has is insatiable.
I can stop feeding the ego by letting go of the believe that I need any of these things in order to be okay or to be happy.
Letting go of my attachment to this egoic self has increased my desire to know and embody who I really am.
I will be using Adyashanti's book, The Way of Liberation, to wake up to a deeper experience of Self. (It is a short paperback book and can be purchased for $10).
Here is what Adya has to say about this point in time: "Awakening to Reality is no longer a possibility; it is an imperative. We have sailed the ship of delusion about as far as she can carry us. We have run her ashore and now find ourselves shipwrecked on an increasingly desolate land. Our options have imploded. 'Wake up or perish' is the spiritual call of our times. Did we ever need more motivation than this? And yet all is eternally well, and more well than can be imagined." (The Way of Liberation, Introduction xiii)
If you want a different experience of your life...if you want to experience that everything is eternally well, please join me in choosing the way of Liberation. This is not an easy path. It involves letting go of the known and trusting God to take care of everything. It involves letting go of the self, the identity that we use to navigate through life. It means letting go of judgments and expectations and desires. It is a tall order but as Adya says, did we ever need more motivation than what we have now?
I can stop feeding the ego by letting go of the believe that I need any of these things in order to be okay or to be happy.
Letting go of my attachment to this egoic self has increased my desire to know and embody who I really am.
I will be using Adyashanti's book, The Way of Liberation, to wake up to a deeper experience of Self. (It is a short paperback book and can be purchased for $10).
Here is what Adya has to say about this point in time: "Awakening to Reality is no longer a possibility; it is an imperative. We have sailed the ship of delusion about as far as she can carry us. We have run her ashore and now find ourselves shipwrecked on an increasingly desolate land. Our options have imploded. 'Wake up or perish' is the spiritual call of our times. Did we ever need more motivation than this? And yet all is eternally well, and more well than can be imagined." (The Way of Liberation, Introduction xiii)
If you want a different experience of your life...if you want to experience that everything is eternally well, please join me in choosing the way of Liberation. This is not an easy path. It involves letting go of the known and trusting God to take care of everything. It involves letting go of the self, the identity that we use to navigate through life. It means letting go of judgments and expectations and desires. It is a tall order but as Adya says, did we ever need more motivation than what we have now?
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