Many of the great Master teachers suggest that we focus on the question "Who Am I?" The suggestion is to sit with this question and let the answer reveal itself to us, not in an intellectual way but as embodied awareness.
As I proceed on my Spiritual path I am becoming more interested in this question. It is becoming clearer to me who I am not. I am not this limited self that narrows it's awareness down to such minor experiences such as the conversation that I just had, what I am going to do this weekend, or how my hair looks... Not that these things should be neglected. But when I attach to these type of concerns and allow them to define me or dictate my mood, then I am limiting myself unnecessarily. I am blocking myself from experiencing myself as an expansive Being with unlimited potential.
Who I really am is not yet within my grasp. That is okay. I will continue to let go of what I am not, making room for Truth to reveal itself to me and as me.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
embracing life, embracing God
Whenever I have an experience where I embody or deeply realize my connection with God, my drive/longing to know God in this intimate way becomes stronger. It is an experience like none other. These experiences help me to recognize that this Oneness with God is my true nature. The pull to surrender my life and open my heart to God becomes stronger.
Sitting in the silence is one part of my spiritual practice that opens me to this kind of connecting with God.
The other is living my life. Life always shows me what I need to let go of and what I need to embrace more of...such as finding my voice in situations where I feel uncomfortable speaking up. Adya talks about bringing our "whole self" to each moment. This helps me to deal with what is happening in my life in a centered and grounded way. I bring my feelings, thoughts, and intuition into the situation instead of just reacting from my head or from past conditioning. When I do not speak from my gut nor listen to my gut I find that my life gives me consequences that I would rather not experience!
A quote that inspires me to stay present, grounded, and open:
"Embrace the full measure of your life at any cost. Bare your heart to the Unknown and never look back." (from one of Adya's teaching brochures)
Sitting in the silence is one part of my spiritual practice that opens me to this kind of connecting with God.
The other is living my life. Life always shows me what I need to let go of and what I need to embrace more of...such as finding my voice in situations where I feel uncomfortable speaking up. Adya talks about bringing our "whole self" to each moment. This helps me to deal with what is happening in my life in a centered and grounded way. I bring my feelings, thoughts, and intuition into the situation instead of just reacting from my head or from past conditioning. When I do not speak from my gut nor listen to my gut I find that my life gives me consequences that I would rather not experience!
A quote that inspires me to stay present, grounded, and open:
"Embrace the full measure of your life at any cost. Bare your heart to the Unknown and never look back." (from one of Adya's teaching brochures)
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
from ego to being
The retreat with Adyashanti was a beautiful, amazing experience.
One of the realization that I had was a deeper awareness that this identity that I call Donna (and all of the characteristics that I attribute to my identity) are not real. Life is God expressing itself as me, you, the birds, the trash along the side of the road etc. It is all just God being. This self called Donna is an empty vessel that God is pouring Itself through. There is nothing about me that belongs to me nor comes from me. The love that I feel and express to others is not my love...it is God's love that comes forth through me.
In The Way of Liberation, Adya suggests contemplating the following statements:
"To look within and not find yourself as a self is the beginning of finding yourself as a presence (being)." p. 33
"There is only being living itself through you, as you, and as all that exists." p. 34
"Beyond ego is universal being; beyond being is the Infinite*." p. 35
(*Adya defines the Infinite as pure formless potential. p. 35)
When we connect to our being-ness on deep level (i.e., realize the presence of God within) nothing else matters. All of the concerns of the ego fall away. The truth of our being, the truth of God is all that really matters.
One of the realization that I had was a deeper awareness that this identity that I call Donna (and all of the characteristics that I attribute to my identity) are not real. Life is God expressing itself as me, you, the birds, the trash along the side of the road etc. It is all just God being. This self called Donna is an empty vessel that God is pouring Itself through. There is nothing about me that belongs to me nor comes from me. The love that I feel and express to others is not my love...it is God's love that comes forth through me.
In The Way of Liberation, Adya suggests contemplating the following statements:
"To look within and not find yourself as a self is the beginning of finding yourself as a presence (being)." p. 33
"There is only being living itself through you, as you, and as all that exists." p. 34
"Beyond ego is universal being; beyond being is the Infinite*." p. 35
(*Adya defines the Infinite as pure formless potential. p. 35)
When we connect to our being-ness on deep level (i.e., realize the presence of God within) nothing else matters. All of the concerns of the ego fall away. The truth of our being, the truth of God is all that really matters.
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