Lately I have been working with surrender and letting go, witnessing, Truth, and Love. There is a way of being in life that allows one to express Love...Absolute Love, unbounded Love...regardless of conditions. The practice is to feel through whatever one is experiencing in a surrendered and open way. It is to allow oneself to be witness to thoughts, feelings and experiences as they arise without attaching to them. And simultaneously seeking or allowing oneself to connect with the Source of Love, to emanate from this place of Love even in the midst of pain, anger, fear, conflict, disappointment... Sometimes I rest as the neutral witness and observe my inner and outer world. Other times I feel through an experience, whether it be one of love or some negative state, and open to a deeper awareness of Self as Love.
I have been reading a delicious and profound book called "Finding God through Sex" by David Deida which describes this process. David talks about using relationships as spiritual practice...engaging in intimate relationships in a way that allows you to move through blockages (emotional, sexual and spiritual) and surrender into Love...unbounded, Divine Love experienced as the Truth of your Being.
"With practice, we relax as an openness that is not dependent on conditions. As beginners, it is easier to relax as openness under certain conditions- such as during meditation, in beautiful natural surroundings, feeling the unconditional love of our children, or during fantastic sex with an adoring lover-but these are only portals into a depth that is always here, that is our true nature regardless of conditions. We might realize this depth and enjoy its bliss in moments of grace or when conditions are just right, but then we can practice realizing this depth over and over, when things are good or bad. The story of Jesus says that his heart was wide open in love even while being crucified. Tibetan monks in prison and Jews in concentration camps have reported deep compassion and spiritual openness while enduring the most excruciating tortures. One measure of your depth of spiritual practice is this: Throughout what range of conditions do you remain aware of and relaxed as the openness of your deepest being?" (Finding God Through Sex, p. 119-120)
Relax into each moment knowing that the experience of the egoic self is not Absolute Truth. Lean into the experience anyway. Relax and open to your deepest being. Allow yourself to open so far that you fall into the Abyss of Divine Love that is waiting for you. With practice you will lose your (limited) self, but you will find your deepest Self in all of its divinity and glory.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
the secret of the ascent
The quote in my last post talked about the spiritual path as one of letting go of the blockages to our True Essence or the Presence of God within us. I was having difficulty letting go of a situation this week and I decided to re-read chapter 8 of The Untethered Soul "Let go now or fall." This chapter talks about how our blockages are all linked to fear.
We cling to how we want life to be or think life should be because of fear. "You try to create a world that doesn't stimulate your fears." (The Untethered Soul, p. 71)
"Life creates situations that push you to your edges, all with the effect of removing what is blocked inside of you." (TUS, p. 73)
"The purpose of spiritual evolution is to remove the blockages that cause you fear." (TUS, p. 73)
"Life is surrounding you with people and situations that stimulate growth...You only have to be willing to open your heart in the face of anything and everything, and permit the purification process to take place." (TUS, p. 74)
It is possible to live without fear. All problems would disappear if we had no fear.
To let go "First you must be aware that there is something within you that needs to be released. You must then be aware that you, the one who notices the stuff coming up, are distinct from what you're experiencing." (TUS, p. 75) Let go from the seat of the witness.
I have been practicing this...feeling into discomfort, setting the intention to let go of what needs to be released, putting my awareness on the observer/witness self, relaxing my body and allowing the blockage or stored energy to be released. In one of the situations as I was feeling the fear and relaxing, the fear informed me that I need to make a change in a situation that I was involved with. I had taken on something at work that was not mine to do and the fear informed me that I needed to say "no."
In other situations the feelings moved through me as I moved my awareness to the observer self and set the intention to let them go. And in some other situations it was much harder to let go.
I am doing a year-long intensive with the Evolutionary Collective (Patricia Albere) and this work focuses on letting go completely into the unknown...trusting Divinity to guide, support, and catch us when we let go. I have set the intention to let go and fall into the abyss of Divine Love so that Spirit can use me for God's will, not my own. This can be a challenge as my blockages arise and cause me discomfort. It requires moment by moment dedication to letting go of the personal will and accepting divine will...it is a process that is well worth the effort.
"If you let go, and permit the purification process to take place inside, that blocked energy will be released. When it's released and allowed to flow up, it becomes purified and merges back into your center of consciousness. This energy then strengthens instead of weakening you. You begin to go up and up, higher and higher, and you learn the secret of the ascent. The secret of the ascent is to never look down-always look up...No matter what goes on below, open your heart and let it go." (TUS, p. 78)
We cling to how we want life to be or think life should be because of fear. "You try to create a world that doesn't stimulate your fears." (The Untethered Soul, p. 71)
"Life creates situations that push you to your edges, all with the effect of removing what is blocked inside of you." (TUS, p. 73)
"The purpose of spiritual evolution is to remove the blockages that cause you fear." (TUS, p. 73)
"Life is surrounding you with people and situations that stimulate growth...You only have to be willing to open your heart in the face of anything and everything, and permit the purification process to take place." (TUS, p. 74)
It is possible to live without fear. All problems would disappear if we had no fear.
To let go "First you must be aware that there is something within you that needs to be released. You must then be aware that you, the one who notices the stuff coming up, are distinct from what you're experiencing." (TUS, p. 75) Let go from the seat of the witness.
I have been practicing this...feeling into discomfort, setting the intention to let go of what needs to be released, putting my awareness on the observer/witness self, relaxing my body and allowing the blockage or stored energy to be released. In one of the situations as I was feeling the fear and relaxing, the fear informed me that I need to make a change in a situation that I was involved with. I had taken on something at work that was not mine to do and the fear informed me that I needed to say "no."
In other situations the feelings moved through me as I moved my awareness to the observer self and set the intention to let them go. And in some other situations it was much harder to let go.
I am doing a year-long intensive with the Evolutionary Collective (Patricia Albere) and this work focuses on letting go completely into the unknown...trusting Divinity to guide, support, and catch us when we let go. I have set the intention to let go and fall into the abyss of Divine Love so that Spirit can use me for God's will, not my own. This can be a challenge as my blockages arise and cause me discomfort. It requires moment by moment dedication to letting go of the personal will and accepting divine will...it is a process that is well worth the effort.
"If you let go, and permit the purification process to take place inside, that blocked energy will be released. When it's released and allowed to flow up, it becomes purified and merges back into your center of consciousness. This energy then strengthens instead of weakening you. You begin to go up and up, higher and higher, and you learn the secret of the ascent. The secret of the ascent is to never look down-always look up...No matter what goes on below, open your heart and let it go." (TUS, p. 78)
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
The Presence within is to be welcomed and loved
"Realization of the Self is neither a gain nor an acquisition. It is the Realization that unfolds of its own when the obstructions are surrendered or removed...As the clouds in the sky fade away, the sun shines forth on its own. The Presence within is to be welcomed, loved, and not feared for it is ultimately benign and reveals the transformative power of Love." (Trsanscending Levels of Consciousness, p. 367)
I love this passage because it reminds me that there is nothing to fear in surrendering to God. I can trust that I will be taken care of and supported. When I find myself clinging to certain desires, expectations, and outcomes I remind myself that I have nothing to gain nor lose...that my Self is already blessed with all that I need. I remind myself that there is a benign Presence that knows my needs even better than I know my needs.
As I put my awareness on this Truth, I feel uplifted and the pull to attach to egoic thoughts and perceptions slips away. There is a Light calling to us...wanting to be known intimately by each of us. Will you welcome this Light or will you shut it out by clinging to what the self thinks it needs?
I love this passage because it reminds me that there is nothing to fear in surrendering to God. I can trust that I will be taken care of and supported. When I find myself clinging to certain desires, expectations, and outcomes I remind myself that I have nothing to gain nor lose...that my Self is already blessed with all that I need. I remind myself that there is a benign Presence that knows my needs even better than I know my needs.
As I put my awareness on this Truth, I feel uplifted and the pull to attach to egoic thoughts and perceptions slips away. There is a Light calling to us...wanting to be known intimately by each of us. Will you welcome this Light or will you shut it out by clinging to what the self thinks it needs?
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Spiritual Evolution and Surrender
"Spiritual evolution is the automatic consequence of watching the mind and its proclivities as an 'it' from the general viewpoint of the paradigm of context rather than content. Instead of trying to force change, it is merely necessary to allow Divinity to do so by deeply surrendering all control, resistance, and illusions of gain or loss, It is not necessary to destroy or attack illusions but merely to allow them to fall away. It is not necessary or fruitful to use force by such mechanisms as guilt nor is it necessary to try to pursue or propel spiritual evolution because it automatically evolves of its own accord when the obstacles and resistance of illusions are surrendered." (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 356)
I have been especially focused on letting go of illusions of gain or loss. This idea of loss or gain for the personal self seems to be tied to everything. It is as if every idea must be processed through the ego's filter (i.e., will this be a good thing or a bad thing for me?) before I come to some kind of conclusion or judgment. Unless one is aware of this propensity, preserving the limited, egoic self seems to be of primary concern. Truly an addiction.
The 12-Step program comes to mind with regard to letting go of the illusions of gain or loss, especially the first 3 steps:
1. I am powerless over my personal self, my life has become unmanageable
2. I became willing to accept that there is a power greater than me that can restore me to sanity.
3. I became willing to turn my will and my life over to this power.
There is great relief in this kind of surrender, and at the same time there can be discomfort...the discomfort of feeling uncertain about the future (if I am not controlling things then who will?), doubt, fear of loss...
Trusting God to be there as one let's go is what the 12-Step program, as well as the mystical and metaphysical paths are all about.
Most of us have had personal experiences where we have connected with the Divine. We have developed Faith in this 'Power which is greater than us' and we can use this Trust and Faith to
set ourselves free to an even greater extent. Each time the illusion of loss or gain arises let it go and watch as Divinity takes over.
I have been especially focused on letting go of illusions of gain or loss. This idea of loss or gain for the personal self seems to be tied to everything. It is as if every idea must be processed through the ego's filter (i.e., will this be a good thing or a bad thing for me?) before I come to some kind of conclusion or judgment. Unless one is aware of this propensity, preserving the limited, egoic self seems to be of primary concern. Truly an addiction.
The 12-Step program comes to mind with regard to letting go of the illusions of gain or loss, especially the first 3 steps:
1. I am powerless over my personal self, my life has become unmanageable
2. I became willing to accept that there is a power greater than me that can restore me to sanity.
3. I became willing to turn my will and my life over to this power.
There is great relief in this kind of surrender, and at the same time there can be discomfort...the discomfort of feeling uncertain about the future (if I am not controlling things then who will?), doubt, fear of loss...
Trusting God to be there as one let's go is what the 12-Step program, as well as the mystical and metaphysical paths are all about.
Most of us have had personal experiences where we have connected with the Divine. We have developed Faith in this 'Power which is greater than us' and we can use this Trust and Faith to
set ourselves free to an even greater extent. Each time the illusion of loss or gain arises let it go and watch as Divinity takes over.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Make one's life a living prayer
David Hawkins lists 10 tools for living, one of which is: "Make one's life a living prayer by intention, alignment, humility, and surrender. True spiritual reality is actually a way of being in the world." (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 336)
When I am experiencing a challenge, reminding myself of my spiritual intention helps me to stay centered and gives me the resolve to respond from my highest Self. Aligning with Truth and surrendering to God's Will in every situation brings forth a much better outcome than if I were to rely on the thinking mind...the consciousness which created a problem can not be expected to fix the problem. And finally, having the humility to know that "It is not I but the Father within me that doeth the work" keeps me from attaching to my egoic self.
I love this idea of making my life a living prayer. In each and every moment I have the opportunity to open myself to a higher consciousness and this shift in my energy has a positive effect on the consciousness of our world. Thank you God.
When I am experiencing a challenge, reminding myself of my spiritual intention helps me to stay centered and gives me the resolve to respond from my highest Self. Aligning with Truth and surrendering to God's Will in every situation brings forth a much better outcome than if I were to rely on the thinking mind...the consciousness which created a problem can not be expected to fix the problem. And finally, having the humility to know that "It is not I but the Father within me that doeth the work" keeps me from attaching to my egoic self.
I love this idea of making my life a living prayer. In each and every moment I have the opportunity to open myself to a higher consciousness and this shift in my energy has a positive effect on the consciousness of our world. Thank you God.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
David Hawkin's quotes and last call for Friday's group
"The progression of the evolution of consciousness is accelerated by the combination of intention plus attention...As demonstrated by the Map of Consciousness (see last weeks post), the calibrated power (of each state) increases logarithmically; thus, spiritual evolution is progressively facilitated by the higher levels of spiritual advancement as compared to the consciousness of the scientific observer... The influence of spiritual intention can therefore be over one thousand times stronger than ordinary intellectual effort." (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 311)
I am looking to add a couple of more people to the Friday group. This quote speaks to the purpose of the group which is to set one's spiritual intention, not in some future capacity but instead to identify the deepest spiritual intention to bring to each moment. We will then focus on ways to bring this intention to the forefront on one's attention throughout the week. I will provide teachings from a Spiritual Master each week (e.g., Adyashanti, David Hawkins, Richard Rohr, Michael Singer etc.) and we will engage in conversation and spiritual practices to support the unfolding of one's spiritual intention.
David Hawkins so beautifully lays out several "techniques" for evolving one's consciousness which will be woven into the group experience:
"Surrender every moment to God, including all attractions, aversions, or desires for control or gain.
Choose to be unconditionally compassionate and forgiving to all of life in all its expressions.
Choose to see the beauty, perfection, and sacredness of all life." (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 323)
If this speaks to you, please let me know as soon as possible that you are interested in joining the group.
I am looking to add a couple of more people to the Friday group. This quote speaks to the purpose of the group which is to set one's spiritual intention, not in some future capacity but instead to identify the deepest spiritual intention to bring to each moment. We will then focus on ways to bring this intention to the forefront on one's attention throughout the week. I will provide teachings from a Spiritual Master each week (e.g., Adyashanti, David Hawkins, Richard Rohr, Michael Singer etc.) and we will engage in conversation and spiritual practices to support the unfolding of one's spiritual intention.
David Hawkins so beautifully lays out several "techniques" for evolving one's consciousness which will be woven into the group experience:
"Surrender every moment to God, including all attractions, aversions, or desires for control or gain.
Choose to be unconditionally compassionate and forgiving to all of life in all its expressions.
Choose to see the beauty, perfection, and sacredness of all life." (Transcending Levels of Consciousness, p. 323)
If this speaks to you, please let me know as soon as possible that you are interested in joining the group.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
the Void
David Hawkins has a map of consciousness that consists of lower "egoic" states of consciousness (e.g., shame, fear, desire, anger, pride...) and higher states of consciousness (e.g., courage, acceptance, reason, love, unconditional love, peace, Self-Realization...)
In the following quote David is talking about transcending "higher" levels of consciousness although I think this can be applied to transcending all levels of consciousness:
"The surrender of identification with each state releases it, including letting go of any attachment to its familiarity." Transcending the Levels of Consciousness, p. 293
At times I am thrilled to surrender identification with the egoic states of consciousness. Letting go of this very familiar albeit flawed self allows me to experience a sense of Joy, Love and freedom without limits. Alternatively, there are times when I cling to this illusory self that I have created like someone who is drowning clings to a life preserver. Letting go can seem like falling into a void of nothingness. And in a sense this seems to be what happens...as it has been said by those who have moved into the higher states of consciousness "I am nothing and I am everything."
As a serious student of spiritual transformation I think it is important to stay attuned to my process and to always choose to surrender. Even when the fear of 'what will come next if I let go of the familiar?' arises, I choose to let go. The alternative is to stay small. This would be like never leaving your hometown because of the fear of what is beyond it. I trust God and I trust the process of life to carry me as I let go of my limiting thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perceptions, including the desire to have it all figured out. I do not know what lies ahead beyond the confines of this self...it is a mystery and I choose to dive into this void.
In the following quote David is talking about transcending "higher" levels of consciousness although I think this can be applied to transcending all levels of consciousness:
"The surrender of identification with each state releases it, including letting go of any attachment to its familiarity." Transcending the Levels of Consciousness, p. 293
At times I am thrilled to surrender identification with the egoic states of consciousness. Letting go of this very familiar albeit flawed self allows me to experience a sense of Joy, Love and freedom without limits. Alternatively, there are times when I cling to this illusory self that I have created like someone who is drowning clings to a life preserver. Letting go can seem like falling into a void of nothingness. And in a sense this seems to be what happens...as it has been said by those who have moved into the higher states of consciousness "I am nothing and I am everything."
As a serious student of spiritual transformation I think it is important to stay attuned to my process and to always choose to surrender. Even when the fear of 'what will come next if I let go of the familiar?' arises, I choose to let go. The alternative is to stay small. This would be like never leaving your hometown because of the fear of what is beyond it. I trust God and I trust the process of life to carry me as I let go of my limiting thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and perceptions, including the desire to have it all figured out. I do not know what lies ahead beyond the confines of this self...it is a mystery and I choose to dive into this void.
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