Pranarama

Question(s) D'jour

2011-12-25T20:45:00.002-05:00

Question. Always question. Question everything; and then, do it again.

Don't get me wrong, answers are great. But their greatness is relative to the greatness of the questions that summoned them. The most profound discoveries are made by those who are both fearless, and merciless, in their questioning. Those who are not, and can not be, satisfied by solving others quandaries, but feel a deep and ever present compulsion to understand more about themselves and their world, just for the sake of learning … and, hopefully, understanding.

If you could receive the answers to any seven questions, what would they be?

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-12-21T23:55:00.001-05:00

You can't be who you want to be
until you let go of “who you are”.

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-12-19T19:50:00.001-05:00

Beliefs are incompatible with seeking truth.

Thought for Food

2011-12-19T19:45:00.003-05:00

Time and again, I hear people say that we're all one. The consciousness that views the world through my eyes is the same one that views it through yours. One consciousness shared between all of humanity. And this gives rise to thoughts and actions of kindness, brotherhood and compassion - all very good.

But how incredibly arrogant it is, to think that the one consciousness is segregated only to illuminating humanity. Hello? What consciousness do you think is viewing the world through the eyes of animals? What awareness do you suppose enlivens insects? How do you imagine plants know how to grow?

Yet the mantra rings out, far and wide, “Praise the Lord, and pass the pork!” Meat, flesh, muscle, the bodies of God's other children, our brethren. Hmmm. That's an unpleasant thought. “I'll just ignore and forget that one. It would take entirely too much adjustment to accommodate that into my beliefs and actions.”

Since my earliest memories, I've felt my direct relationship with all of the living world. Somehow, I didn't see the discordance between my feelings and my diet until I was 11. I had been brought up eating animals. It was culturally expected. So I dined on pork and beef and poultry and whatever manner of my kin landed on my plate. Then, like the sun breaking through the clouds, I opened my eyes and mended my ways.

Leaving attire, product testing and environmentally sustainable practices out of the equation, I understand that we have to eat to live. And, that we have to kill to do so. But, what or who are we going to kill? How should their lives be ended? And what kind of life should they be entitled to before we kill them?

People go to the store and find conveniently packaged and pre-cleaned pieces of skillet ready flesh. Quick and easy … and thoughtless. There's no consideration of where it came from, who it was, what it ate or what its life and death were like. And this thoughtless consumerism has invited an industry that breeds our brethren into lives of misery, where they're given chemicals to make them grow unnaturally huge and to counteract the consequences of their lives spent sleeping in their own feces. They're fed processed pseudo food. They can't find a mate and propagate. They don't get to move, because muscular development makes for tough meat. They're considered property, and get less respect and care than the forklifts that move their carcasses into the meat mills.

I'm sorry. I know this is all very unpleasant to consider. But if you eat meat, every time you load your shopping cart, that's exactly what you're supporting. Every time you prepare a meal, that's exactly what you're handling. Every time you sit down at the table, that's exactly what you're looking at. Every time you take fork to plate, that's exactly what you're eating. That anonymous slab of meat used to have a face; one, illuminated by the same spark that animates you and yours.

If you've made it to the end of this piece without tuning out, then there's a chance that you'll continue to chew on these ideas; and just maybe, have a change of heart and amend your choices and/or lifestyle.

All life is sacred. All beings deserve respect. All of us need to be conscious of our decisions, their implications, and the consequences of what we do.

Poised Posture

2011-12-17T08:48:00.002-05:00

People go to yoga classes to “tune up” their posture. They make a point of expressing it well, when a potential mate is passing by. Seeing one's self reflected in mirrors, provides passing reminders to stand tall and open wide. Many things bring momentary recognition and adjustment, but it takes diligence to constantly remind one's self to maintain good posture, all the time. Eventually, it becomes the default way to hold one's self, needing only periodic attention to make it “just so”.

People go to yoga class to “tune up” their state of mind. They make a point of balancing it well, when in front of anyone who “matters”, or someone who can peer through their facade. Seeing one's self reflected in others, provides passing reminders to be clear, kind and open. Many things bring momentary recognition and adjustment, but it takes diligence to constantly remind one's self to maintain a positive state of mind, all the time. Eventually, it becomes the default way to hold one's self, needing only periodic attention to make it “just so”.

People go to yoga class to “tune in” to the present moment. They make a point of being here when the occasion is very precious. Seeing one's self reflected in the organically unfolding world, provides passing reminders to open wide, right now. Many things bring momentary recognition and attunement, but it takes diligence to constantly remind one's self to linger in the present, all the time. Eventually, it becomes the default way to hold one's self, needing only periodic attention to make it “just so”.

Just Thinkin'

2011-12-14T20:27:00.001-05:00

Science is grappling with the mysterious forces of “dark matter” and “dark energy”. These forces act, both, to attract matter, and to propel it. They call them “dark”, because they can't be seen, in the blackness of space. I suspect that “invisible”, “ethereal” or “non-material” forces would be more fitting.

As I pause to imagine what they could be, my initial instinct, is to surmise that they are effects of consciousness. The compulsion to understand, drawing things together, trying to form some sort of tangible, recognizable order. And the yearning of curiosity, perpetually seeking newness, pushing beyond boundaries and into the vast expanses of the unknown.

The yin and yang of minds most basic, primordial drives. Greater influences, by far, than all the matter in the perceivable universe. Condensing and dissipating everything that is, in an eternal dance of creation and dissolution. Perfectly paired opposites, responsible for all movement, and all of existence. Infinite mind, willing the universe's very being.

But that's just me ... thinkin' through my fingers.

You are Cordially Invited to a Party on the Hill

2011-11-24T11:38:00.000-05:00

In the society of nations, America has assumed the role of the power broker - the same persona that is being vilified by the occupy movement. Millions of Americans are proud of this attitude and think that it's vital to the nation's integrity that we have more power, more money, more respect, more influence and more more than anyone else in the global community. If we want to foster an air of fairness and equality within our boarders, we have to adopt a philosophy of global fairness and equality, at the same time. A healthy community is created from communion, not competition. Compassionate and empathetic people will bring rise to national compassion and empathy, which will inspire a nation of compassion and empathy, which will infect the globe with virtuous inspiration.

It's true that the governmental and national operating systems are dysfunctional, but they've been built around an assumption that the underlying goal is to be “the king of the hill”. It's that underlying current that needs to be addressed. This is what those who say, “The occupiers are just an unruly mob with no clear agenda” seem unable to fathom. When the hill is formed into a sharp peak, there's only room for one at the top. Once we've rounded the top off, there will be enough room for a dance party there. The drummers are already jamming to a danceable beat. Yes, there are many structural issues that will need to be corrected along the way, but the primary agenda that needs to be addressed, is the attitudes of the nation, and its citizens. We have to stop climbing on and over others to get to the top, and start to help each other up the hill, to the festival that's awaiting us all.

Growing Pains

2011-11-22T10:59:00.001-05:00

Don't blame the bankers, brokers, corporate leaders and politicians. They're just playing their roles. It's another expression of survival of the fittest. A squirrel is bound to harvest as many nuts as it can. It's not keeping count. It just knows that more is better. Our present society has been evolving into this unjust, unsightly and inhumane manifestation since before its inception. The current faces of our economic, industrial and political systems have been raised to play the parts they've adopted. The name of their game is “more”. More power, more money, more influence, more more. It's no wonder that they haven't developed the compassion of saints. It's not in their job description. They were taught and encouraged to become the greedy little squirrels that they are. If they weren't filling the ranks, someone else would. Our current society demands it. As one occupier's sign read - “The system's not broken, it was built this way”.

Our species is in its uncomfortable adolescence, and we're going through growing pains. Like a snake aching to shed its skin, we're finally feeling a compulsion to shed habituated self serving attitudes that don't actually serve our higher aspirations or best interests. A young child is only concerned with its immediate wants and needs. As it grows, it learns that friends, family and community are important, in and of themselves, as well as, for the individual's well being and happiness. The young child doesn't see that its constant demands take a toll on its mother's health, just as humans have largely been oblivious to how our demands on our mother have been detrimental to her health. And a sick mother can't properly tend to her children's needs. A mature child can see when its mother is failing, feel empathy toward her and act more compassionately – even to the point of becoming the caretaker. Humanity has had voices of conscience pleading to attend its mothers needs for hundreds of years and they've been growing increasingly more insistent over the last half a century. Finally, it's starting to sink into our collective consciousness enough to begin to overwrite the attitudes of childish self obsession. And like a child, who would live solely on candy, oblivious to the warnings and consequences, we have been living for pleasure and immediate gratification to the detriment of our growth and health, too. As a child can't imagine acting in the best interests of it future self, we seem unable to act in the best interests of our future generations. It's time to adopt more intelligent directives and make choices that nurture and serve us over the long run, if we want to be healthy, grow strong and live long as a species. Children are fooled by appearances, and think others can be fooled by the same. So toys are shoved under the bed to give the illusion of cleanliness, vegetables are tucked under a napkin to make it look like they've been eaten and over sized shoes are donned to make it seem as though they're all grown up. But putting on mom's shoes doesn't qualify a kid to drive her car, and we've been behind the wheel without a license for some time. Now we've left the road and are heading toward catastrophe.

Plowing through the ditch has slowed us down a little, but as the eyes of reason and compassion strain to see over the steering wheel the body of society is trying to stand on the feet of power brokers, which is pushing the gas pedal down even more. And there are tall trees directly in front of us. The talking heads keep referring to our getting back to where we were, intimating that it was a healthy intelligent way to be. But the cause of our current dilemma is that we were driving too fast, in the first place. We need to spend more energy on choosing our course and less on increasing our speed. The societal model of consumerism that we've all grown up in was ill conceived from the beginning. It requires exponentially compounding consumerism to work. And that's simply not realistic, for myriad reasons. The priorities that have governed our ambitions are skewed by our presumption that this model is practical, functional and sustainable. We're children with blankets tied around our necks, believing that we can fly. The bankers, brokers and politicians are cheering us on and urging us to jump, but (mostly) we're all complicit in perpetuating the fantasy that's been handed down from previous generations, who'd been blinded by the delusion they were sold. Let's just hope that we out grow the juvenile fantasy before we jump off of the precipice that we're so precariously poised on the edge of.

The transition from childhood to adulthood is rarely easy, seamless or without angst. Now is the time for humanity to grow into a sensible, respectful, mature species, that will intelligently and compassionately tend to the needs of the greater whole, while respecting the needs and rights of all individuals. This is no small order; but, in the same way that a teen or an adult is bound for catastrophe if he doesn't act with maturity, it's well past time for us to “act our age” unless we want to live with the extreme consequences that are bound to come as a result of our negligence.

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-11-11T19:41:00.000-05:00

Wisdom is just common sense,
with a birds eye view.

Teaching the Wind

2011-11-11T19:40:00.001-05:00

There are a few built in problems with being an honest spiritual guide. Spiritual exploration requires delving into an aspect of existence that doesn't conform to the same conditions as the material side of the equation. And peoples minds are conditioned to process everything in terms of material ways of seeing, understanding and learning. We're talking about a realm that is beyond the reach of the thinking mind. So catering to comfortable reasoning is inherently misleading.

No one can know that their understanding is correct with absolute certainty. Belief is the best that one can hope for, which, in and of itself, is self deception. Since no one can actually know, belief is really just assuming that a theory or someone else's story is true. Belief shuts out other possibilities and ignores “the scientific method”. And, although we don't expect scientific provability in such matters, we still know that following the method is the most accurate approach to learning and refining our notions that we can use. But there will always be mystery. So, essentially, one can't claim to be the ultimate authority, without lying. And people don't have confidence in any “expert” who says, “It seems kind of like this to me, but you'll have to check it out for yourself and see what you think”. We wouldn't trust our investments, education, home and auto repairs or anything else in life that we consider important to someone who told us that it was ultimately our job to figure it out.

But that's the thing about spiritual exploration and discovery, it's a personal thing. All of the great teachers throughout the ages have clearly stated this fact. Unfortunately, their teachings were then claimed by others, who turned them into religions that now profess to freely hand out all the answers – the very answers that we're supposed to discover and interpret for ourselves. Where as, all a spiritual guide should really do is provide seekers with the right questions to ask and give appropriate directions for the next leg on their paths of personal inquiry. But this is kind of like trying to sell a do-it-yourself guide without providing a picture or description of the final product. And who would buy something and go through all the steps to make it, without knowing what they were going to wind up with in the end?

So people basically have two choices in seeking spiritual guidance. Go with the masses to the polished palaces that claim to have all the answers and promise eternal glory; or, go to the lone individual who tells them that he/she can't really say what the seeker's truth is, and that they'll have to suss it out for themselves. Being conditioned to functioning in a material world of stable certainty, it seems pretty obvious where the greater tide will be inclined to flow.

Another major factor in the equation, is that people are very attached to their egos, believe that they are their egos and are happy with whatever allows them to carry on, living in this comfortably familiar fantasy. So, knowing that it holds appeal, the church offers ego polish along with its incense. Which isn't to imply that polishing the ego isn't a good thing; but by definition, spirituality is the pursuit of moving beyond the ego. However, it's much easier and more comfortable to just skirt that little issue, and pretend otherwise. The giant electronic sign in front of the church says, “All egos Welcome”, while the cardboard sign propped up in front of the lone teacher says, “Ego Remover – Free Samples – Inquire Within”. Certainly, most by far, will choose the empty promises over the promise of emptiness.

It's a great scenario for the institutions, and a disheartening one for informed teachers. It's clearly the way it is, and must therefore be embraced as such. But it can make it somewhat challenging to sustain the requisite passion and avoid the temptation to make more marketable claims, just to capture an audience. That's the plight of the sage. Wisdom to share, understanding to impart, called to uplift one and all, yet destined to teach the wind.

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-11-10T18:54:00.000-05:00

There's a time to tune in.
It's called now.

Feed Your Flexibility

2011-11-10T18:51:00.001-05:00

People are designed to be flexible, in body, and in mind. There's a popular saying, “Use it, or lose it.” Cumulative time spent within a limited range of motion has a calcifying effect – physically and mentally. Failing to explore range of motion, and practice suppleness, makes for a stiff weak body. Failing to continually learn new things and develop new ways of seeing, makes for a rigid mind with limited functionality.

You don't have to be old for this to happen. As a yoga teacher, I've taught teens who were tighter than mid-lifers who've never exercised. But it's more obvious in many of our elderly. I was walking behind a man the other day who carried his sofa around on his back, like a permanent, invisible shell, mimicking that form fitting indentation he'd worn into it, over the years. It was apparent that the seat was too deep for him, and that he never got around to getting another pillow, to support his back.

Petrification of the mind isn't that much harder to see. Again, perhaps easier to recognize in those elderly folks, who still live in the world that they grew up in, over half a century ago. But it can be seen, in some of our younger citizens, as well. Ideas, set in stone. Dogmas handed down, and taken to heart. Sides chosen, with no willingness to compromise. No effort extended to see the equation from other angles. We need to discard the confining shells of our minds with the same regularity that a snake sheds its skin, so that we can continue to grow beyond their rigid boundaries.

Belief that there is a right posture to hold, a right stance to take or a right way to see things, is contrary to flexibility. Everything is subjective, and contingent on conditions and circumstances. Slouching gets a bad rap, but how could you tie your shoes without doing so? It's not a good place to get stuck, but it's not bad to go there. Beliefs and attitudes aren't bad, but getting stuck within their confines, is limiting in numerous ways, and across multiple time frames. They're best, held loosely, not compressed into a solid immutable mass. We want to be able to sift through them regularly, to take inventory and re-evaluate what's still worth holding onto.

Flexibility may be your birthright, but it's not automatically bestowed. It needs to be developed and maintained. Some bodies are stronger or more easily manipulated. But it doesn't matter what your limits are, or what having more strength or speed might do for you. It's about exploring your full potential, as you are - from your core, to your center of gravity, to the very perimeters of your capacity; and perhaps, just a bit beyond. Similarly, some minds have faster processing speeds or solve problems of a particular nature better. But it's not a head to head competition. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Our task, is to work on the “who” that's present, in each moment, and to strive to be just a little bit better. Not everything needs to be discarded or reconstructed, but we rarely see things for what they are, upon our first encounter - or the twentieth, for that matter. Everything longs to be investigated and retested, and limits yearn to be challenged.

Newness is good. Different is divine. Diversity, our friend. We're well served by exposing ourselves to the unfamiliar, and inviting it to infuse our beings. Stretch your boundaries. Shift your attitudes. Try out new postures. Press beyond your preconceptions. Find a way of being that you've not tried on before, or one that has yet to be examined. Invent a way of holding yourself that's more open, empowered and receptive. Rigid is brittle. Supple is strong. Shed your shells. Soften and stretch. Fill yourself out. Never stop striving. Never stop improving. Feed your flexibility.

Why do I?

2011-11-07T09:31:00.001-05:00

I don't write and teach for personal gain or to prove how clever I can be. My mission is actually very ambitious. Practical or not, I do so for the long term well being of the whole. It's understandable that people might find my motives to be a mystery, because I never tell the end of the story. But that's the way it's supposed to be. I'm not trying to provide the answers; but rather, to give folks the tools, clues, guidance and inspiration that will enable them to find out for themselves. That way, the lessons are engrained more deeply. And some need to penetrate to the core, in order to be properly integrated.

When I encourage others to empty their minds, it's not solely for their personal benefit; but more so, encouraging self improvement for the sake of the whole. It's when we get quiet, that we feel our interconnectedness. Compassion isn't an idea. We can't think our way into a loving and generous nature. And following well intentioned rules of conduct won't turn anyone into a benevolent being. I want people to experience their oneness with everything, so that they begin to embody attitudes and adopt actions that are harmonious with the greater good. Dispelling the fantasy of self isn't about attaining some exalted state of being, because it's a mighty and noble accomplishment. It's about feeling and knowing that the wishes of the self aren't more important than the welfare of the community of all beings, and the loving earth upon which they depend; and then, living in accordance with that awareness.

So, I write and teach … and hope.

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-10-30T09:55:00.000-04:00

The mind is the steering wheel
but the heart is the engine

Beware the Scare - Monsters Abound Everywhere

2011-10-29T21:40:00.000-04:00

Most live their lives trapped inside of never ending horror stories. Their awareness, smothered by the insatiable monster of perpetual thought, desperately pleading for the merest hint of fresh air. Creaking hinges on the doors to forgotten inspiration, whose locks bolted themselves long ago, yet open occasionally, as a pleading reminder, when attention's wandered elsewhere. Rattling chains of worry and fear haunting our ears, but always just out of eye-shot. Floor boards squeaking from the foot falls of invisible habits, long engrained and following as faithfully as shadows. Blood spatters from time killed, trickling down the walls. Vision, obscured by the ever-present fog of comfortable familiarity. Grave yards rippling with the struggles of dreams and aspirations, buried many moons back, still struggling to surface and fulfill their purpose. Apparitions of social expectations that hover hauntingly in the corner of one's eye, yet blend into the background like ghostly chameleons when looked at directly. The clamor of shutters slammed closed by the breeze of uncertainty and diffidence, blocking broader perspectives. Ears, deafened to the sounds of the grand clock that always chimes midnight, as a recurring reminder of our inherent mortality. The heart of who one could have/should have been, hauntingly, rhythmically, beating under foot. Ba-Doom, Ba-Doom, Ba-Doom.

Fortunately, there's an exorcist on call 24/7, as long as you know the secret summons. Don't tell anyone where you heard it, but in case you don't know, here it is. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, clarify your intention, then give your full attention to your next breath, again to the next one, and the next, the one after that, and so on … until all the monsters have been vanquished.

Senses and Sensibilities

2011-10-10T10:01:00.002-04:00

We have only our
senses and sensibilities
to grant us awareness
of our world, and our own
earthly existence.

Let not one obscure the other.

Holding the balance
requires acceptance of
and non-attachment to
both.

This awakens the
quiet mind.

The Conundrum

2011-10-10T09:57:00.001-04:00

How do you explain sight to one who's never seen? This is the conundrum that faces teachers of the Dharma, the Tao, the nature of being, the way of no-self. How to explain that which is inherently without reference points, to the logical, linear, worldly mind?

Salt of the Soul

2011-10-08T22:33:00.003-04:00

Salt, left by evaporated sea water,
dissolves back into its original state,
when immersed in water.

Thought,
bathed in unadorned awareness,
dissolves back into its original mind.

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-10-05T07:42:00.001-04:00

“The Way” is not to,
it's of.

Exit, Stage Right

2011-10-04T22:39:00.005-04:00

People are told from their earliest days that they're such and so, and should do this and be that. They have experiences that imply that they like some things and don't like others. They develop habits and hobbies, assume responsibilities and roles, which they then identify with. These factors, and more, create the basis of, what's frequently referred to as, their character. And a very apt term it is. Circumstances conspire to delude people into believing that they are, or are obligated to be, these “characters” that they hold in mind. So, just like actors on a stage, they do their best to master the roles they've been assigned. Only, they aren't aware that they're just playing a part, on the world stage. Lost in their roles, the dramas that their characters are going through seem extremely important and become all consuming.

When we watch characters that we like, in a movie or a TV show, we get drawn into their dramas. And when something tragic or unjust happens to them, we feel it in our selves. (For you macho guys that claim immunity to such influences, just consider how you feel after your favorite sports team loses a game, due to a last second debacle or a bad call.) Many are able to draw themselves out of the dramas and let go of the angst, anger, discontent or whatever, if they so choose. However, most find it impossible to distance themselves from their own dramas.

This is the root of human stress, upsetment and suffering.

Taking the stories of our selves so seriously is a deeply ingrained habit. One that requires a powerful commitment and diligent dedication to break free from. And skyscrapers have been built upon the fictitious foundation of the importance of our story lines. These exasperate the challenge, as we also need to let go of the multiple layers of beloved thoughts, feelings and beliefs that these towers are constructed of. Still, the main belief that needs to be dismantled, and perhaps the hardest of all, is the one that contends that this character is valid, substantial and true.

Accepting this fact is the first step toward realizing one's true nature; and, breaking the habit of self absorption, opens a doorway, that enables clearer vision and more accurate understanding. It's not the endgame, but it's a significantly profound leg in the journey of spiritual evolution.

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-09-25T21:48:00.000-04:00

Listen to the quiet.
It whispers wisdom.

Crowd Surfing

2011-09-25T21:46:00.000-04:00

It's true that, ultimately, every person stands alone, in this life.
Yet, we all stand with one foot on the shoulders of our fore-bearers;
and the other, on those of our societies.

The Brilliance of Ignorance

2011-09-23T21:05:00.000-04:00

Everybody wants to know, to believe, to have it right. But there is no right, all beliefs are fanciful and all knowledge is flawed. This isn't a bad thing or a cynical view point, it's just the way it is.

Which isn't to say that we don't need to maintain some sort of knowledge base and belief system in order to function. It's more a matter of accepting and embracing the fact that we're wrong - as we act upon our best guesses.

This allows us to continue working on perfecting our ever-imperfect notions, throughout our journeys. Otherwise, we feel obligated to protect our beliefs and defend what we think we know. And all ensuing ideas are built upon these inherently faulty foundations. Where as, accepting that our understandings are inadequate, keeps us looking to discover new ideas and perspectives, in order to continually improve our hypotheses.

Embrace your ignorance. Be empty. You can't make the game winning catch, if your glove's already got a ball in it.

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-09-18T09:03:00.002-04:00

Run and arrive fast.
Walk and arrive full.

Bumper Sticker Spirituality

2011-09-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

Most people are enamored by pithy phrases that sing sweetly, resonate pleasantly in the heart and sport enough sensibility to seduce the intellect. Many do a good job of inspiring kind thoughts, noble actions and enlivened spirits. True, they're not very effective for achieving grand understanding, but most people don't want to or, for whatever reasons, can't commit themselves to the quest to the extent necessary for substantial evolution. As one who's dedicated much of his life to serious personal study and inquiry, my knee jerk reaction is to scoff at the superficial nature of such quippy quotes. But for the vast majority, they're good reminders and motivators, and as close to spiritual exploration as it gets. So I've climbed off of my high horse, kicked my ego to the curb and embraced the genera.

“Just for today, be a Buddha”

Bring it on

2011-09-15T07:53:00.001-04:00

I remember an occasion from my youth that provided me with a profound insight. I was probably 6 or 7, and rarely wore shoes. Running along the sidewalk in front of my house, I stubbed my toe, turning my fresh young flesh into a bloody ragged mess. Sitting under my good friend, the giant maple tree that lived in our front yard, I looked at the dripping disaster, cringing at the unpleasantness of the fact before my eyes. Somehow, perhaps my old friend sharing his wisdom with me, I gained an oversight of my reaction, or inner action, to the situation. I was trying to block the reality from fully entering my awareness because I was afraid of what it would feel like. After all, it was already a vicious, searing, pain. But something about my resisting what was happening, seemed wrong or foolish to me. So I made a conscious decision to cease my attempts to deny the experience. I thought “How bad can it really be? What's the worst that could happen?”. It wasn't an attempt to be wise or altruistic or anything, I just wanted to satisfy my curiosity. Silently, I invited the wound to, “Bring it on”.

Having anticipated an intensifying, I was pleasantly amazed. Instantly, like a wave of reality washing away the illusion, the throbbing, stabbing sensations melted into a warm, tingling, almost pleasant sensation. It was like I'd just discovered magic. The rules of the world had shifted in my favor. I sat for a moment, appreciating my new reality. Grateful for my pulpy digit and the obviously valuable lesson I'd just ingested, I heel walked inside, plundered the stash of bandages and plugged the leak.
Since then I've learned that resisting cold prevents warming. (Technically, it causes muscular tension that constricts blood flow) Resisting a headache makes it worse. (Adding to tension or preventing sinus release) Splinters, cuts and abrasions are only as painful as we make them. And this conscious control goes beyond physical discomfort.

Things happen in life, and then they're gone. But people keep them alive and distort them, in their minds. It may be an accident, a personal mistake, a perceived injustice or a lick of bad luck. Instead of letting if fade into history, the mind rehashes it, adding judgment and coating it with anger, sadness, shame or any other shade of discontent. The longer we hold onto it, the more times we review it and the thicker the coating of displeasure we imbue upon it, the more prevalent and distasteful it becomes for us. Looking reality in the eye, and letting things be what they are, lessens our angst and allows events to more quickly dissipate into our past.

This doesn't mean ignoring the past, and therefore, not learning from it. It means that we can choose how our lives resonate within us.

Our focus shapes our experiences in this life. The quality of our experiences color the quality of our days. The nature of our days determines our level of satisfaction with our lives. The way we feel about our lives is an indicator to our children of what they should expect in their lives. And the way we digest our experiences sets an example of how to be, for all others.

Taking control of your life is less about making the outside different, than it is making your perceptions and interpretations, about it, different. Of course, I want everyone to shape their outer lives to suit their wishes, as much as possible. But the outer isn't, and will never be, completely satisfactory. However, our ability to change how we react internally provides us with the power to reap immediate benefits in how we feel about our selves and our circumstances, in every moment.

Whatever the thing, event or situation, it is what it is, and nothing more. What you make out if it, with your thoughts and feelings, is your choice. What reactions you display, influencing those around you, is also your choice. Choose wisely. Your life will be defined by the decisions you make.

Truth Be Found

2011-09-13T13:08:00.000-04:00

The truth is, truth cannot be told. Even if, a thousand times, my words have resonated well within you, and been proven true by time and experience, don't believe what I say, just because I say it; rather, use my words to inspire an investigation, and, on your behalf, find your own truth.

Don't Take Yourself too Personally

2011-09-06T11:15:00.000-04:00

People fall prey to the idea that they are composed of their beliefs, thoughts and feelings. But these are just things that pass through our field of awareness. They're no more representative of a stable us, than are sights, sounds or anything else that passes through our awareness, via our senses.

“But thoughts come from within.”, one might say. Well, it does seem as though sights (et.al.) come from outside of us. Light reflects off of objects and shines upon our retinas where it's converted into impulses that travel to our brains. We only “see” 3rd hand translations of what's out there, inside of our minds.

One could conjecture, “Feelings recur time and again, and that repetition implies stability of being.” I could listen to the same piece of music several times every day and replay it in my mind, ad nauseam. Does that imply that it represents me?

Another argument might be, “I can generate thoughts or images of whatever I choose.”. We can certainly direct where and how we focus our outer attention; as well as, create tastes, sights, sounds, textures, etc. to turn our attention to.

“Well, thoughts and feelings exist only in my mind and are therefore uniquely mine.” All of our perceptions are shaped by our previous experiences, beliefs and understandings; and so, the world we live in is also unique to each of us. Partly because of what we focus on and partly because of how we interpret it. A tree, for example, might seem like a very consistent thing. But a lumberjack will see it as money, an animal lover as a playground for squirrels and birds, a gardener as extra work in the fall, an arborist will see its species and state of health, someone who's overheated will view it as a source of shade, while, to someone lost in thought or fixated on something else, it will be invisible.

Some might stipulate that we intentionally direct or create our inner lives. I've observed that, for the most part, thoughts, feelings and the like generally just happen to people. In fact, I think it's far easier for most to direct their outward perceptions than their inner goings on.

The one thing that does remain relatively consistent for us, is the awareness that all of these things pass through. However, it's difficult to claim ownership of it; because, when it's distilled down to its raw unadorned essence, there's no sense of individuality to it, at all.

Now, that awareness ingests all of the happenings of our lives through our body/minds. Maybe we're quite simply these sensory organs, the lenses through which awareness witnesses the passing of our time here. Our physicalities do enjoy contiguous existence, but they're constantly rebuilding themselves and never stop changing in make up and functionality. They go from infant, to child, to teen, to adult, to middle aged, to elderly, to on deaths door. They become exhilarated, sleepy, wounded, ill, hungry, stuffed, confused, alert, depressed, elated, sore, ecstatic and so on - all in the course of a single day. And every single cell is replaced, making them completely different ones, over and over, throughout the course of our lifetimes. Clearly, they're not the most stable things to hang our hats of self upon.

We do carry concepts of our selves, which change slowly enough that they may seem constant. But, of course, they're always adapting to keep up with the changes happening to our bodies and minds. The “you” you think of now is not the same as the one you considered to be your self last year, let alone, the one you harbored when you were a child.

It's been posited that we are our actions. Some habits endure; but again, actions change through phases of life, seasons, days of the week and shifting moods. So then: On Sat. morning I'm a shopper, but on Tues night I'm a teacher. When I see my cats playing together I'm a smiler and when I stub my toe I'm foul mouthed. When the weather's nice I'm a gardener, when it's inclement I'm a writer. (ad infinitum) Seems a bit ludicrous, doesn't it?

This leaves us with five, less than ideal, options, as we try to claim self definition. We can consider our selves the data that flows through our minds, the ever morphing receiver that processes the flow, the lingering, yet unstable, idea of our selves, our relatively random actions, or the insubstantial awareness that bears witness to it all. In any case, there really doesn't seem to be much of us to be found here, no matter how we look at it.

This isn't actually a problem, except that we seem compelled to keep everything clearly defined and somewhat orderly in our minds. But the truth is that we live in a fluid world where nothing, including our selves, is stable and consistent. Even our planet never stops changing - in mountainous ways, and stars come and go. We may have difficulty conceiving of it, the same way that a mosquito can't conceive of humans living for decades. But unlike the mosquito, we have the capacity to transcend our personal perspectives and to see the world truthfully. And, to feel the value of whole of the world in all its variety and phases of expression.

All of existence is in a constant state of evolution, and losing our fantasies of “solid and stable me” is the first step toward living honestly, contentedly and harmoniously, as an integral part of the motion of all being.

Or you can cling to the comforting illusion. It's up to you.

My advice? Don't take yourself too personally.

McYoga

2011-09-05T20:36:00.000-04:00

Many have used the term McYoga in reference to the proliferation of chains of yoga studios. I see a more wide spread and disheartening trend that calls for the same moniker.

It seems to me that most classes are led by exercise instructors, not yoga teachers. And that their classes are about as educational as McDonny's food is nutritional. Most people have at least heard that Mcfood isn't proper food. But imagine someone who was brought up knowing and eating nothing but speedily processed pretend food-like fare. He would have no idea what fresh produce was. No clue what real meat or cheese tastes like. Would never guess that potatoes could be other than drowned in grease. And his body would have grown accustomed to sustaining itself on fake food, even though it would be far happier and healthier if it was fueled by real, fresh, well prepared meals.

So we have many millions of people who have never attended a yoga class where they got anything more than run through the paces and dismissed. And without somewhat of an understanding of anatomy, intelligent alignment and the energetic dynamics that enliven and support the postures, people are more apt to experience pain or injure themselves, and the results of their efforts will be greatly curtailed. And there's more general knowledge that's important to learn about how work with our bodies in such a way that they work with us.

Of course, having eaten only at McArnold's gym, they have no idea what they're missing. Some continue onward, not knowing. Others quit because they found it too challenging or got hurt, and assumed that it was yoga's fault; not that of an unskilled, uneducated or unconscientious teacher. And many teachers are in the same boat - unaware of what they don't bring to the table, because their teachers didn't feed them well.

And I'm only addressing the exercise aspect of yoga here. If I were to bring up those who don't understand and teach to the overall intentions of yoga, the numbers would be far far worse. But just focusing on the physical branch, which is all most people are interested in anyway, ignorance abounds, knowledge is discounted and bodies lose out – not to mention the hit that yoga's reputation takes because of the malnutrition served up by all the McTeachers.

Personal Benefits of Selfless Attitudes

2011-09-05T20:31:00.001-04:00

My observation is that, although playing and getting new toys makes one feel good in the moment, it's like a sugar rush that doesn't last. And too much focus on that, sets up a pattern of perpetual focus on the self. Pretty much all of the “bad” feelings we experience are self based. And if our habits keep us attentive only to our own dramas, it's easy to get stuck in the muck.

Doing for others also makes us feel good. The same way that, upon seeing one, a smile sparks the same in the viewer, making another feel good inspires a like response in the benefactor. It may not be as immediately intense as slipping down a giant slide of self gratification, but it lingers longer and nurtures more holistically. And this sets up patterns, as well. The less attached I am to my story, the more connected I feel to others and the big picture. And the more appreciative I am of my life and how awesome this world is.

Looking from a broader vantage point, people appear less like a slew of competing individuals and more like an organism of human-ness; or even larger, all life on earth looks like a planetary being. One might consider if there's something to do that would help these grander beings. (Which most likely would be work on a “cellular” level, for the sake of the whole.) Although there may not be the same kind of individual feedback, this too, will generate positive feelings in one's self.

Just imagine how much more pleasant societies and life in general would be, if such attitudes and actions became prevalent throughout humanity. And wouldn't that make you happy.

Perfectly Purposeless

2011-09-05T20:26:00.000-04:00

Everything just is, and simply happens. There is no divine plan. There's no designated purpose to existence. There's no inherent meaning to life. There's no particular point in doing anything.

Sounds like someone in the throes of deep depression, doesn't it? It's no wonder that people have created all manner of stories to avoid having to come face to face with this reality.

But, in fact, it's far from depressing. It represents ultimate freedom, setting the stage for our free will. How many people want to go to a college where there's no choice in curriculum? Everyone wants to be able to choose their own trajectories. Life is the same.

If you're strongest desire is to be a lemming, then the undesignated nature of existence would be a problem for you. But if you desire to be the master of your own destiny, then you're in luck. The universe is structured perfectly for you. We have the luxury of being able to set our own courses, to create our own agendas, to design our own purposes.

We may have a little karma or genetic predisposition, but as far as our choices are concerned, we're blank slates. Life's a blank slate. And our minds are boxes of a thousand colors of chalk. Write an equation, a story or a song, create some art, embellish something that someone else has scrawled, or just doodle. In short, have fun with it. It's entirely your call.

We're presented with the privilege of picking our own purposes. It's a happy situation. Rejoice! And don't fret the decision making. There's no right or wrong, and no contracts. We can change course, any time we choose.

It's a perfectly purposeless scenario.

Guru Voodoo

2011-08-30T09:42:00.001-04:00

For every one that actually knows what they're talking about, first hand, there are many thousands who know some rhetoric; and, how to spin it, so that it seems appealing and makes them sound as if they actually know what they're pretending to. Some of these mimic others' words so well, that they really believe that they do know what they're talking about. And many speak of the necessity of following a guru (et al.), a tradition or a book to reach the truth.

I strongly disagree. There are so many confusing and conflicting teachings out there that lead to nowhere. Relying on outside directions only leaves people spinning in circles, going nowhere or wondering which way to go, until they've drilled themselves into deep holes. And keep in mind, that the majority of these spiritual tour guides are primarily just trying to sell you a book, a religion, some prayer beads, a weekend retreat or whatever else they can peddle.

The truth is flagrantly simple and it's right in front of our noses, we're bathed in it all the time; and, it can only be uncovered through diligent personal investigation. No doctrines or words, not even from one of the rare few who do know, can get you there.

As I've said before, there's no obligation to realize the true nature of being. If it makes you happy to dabble, to feel like you're on a spiritual path or safely tucked within a community, or to ignore it all together, that's OK. But if you actually want to get to where the paths allegedly lead, it requires a steadfast personal commitment, and a strong compulsion to know for yourself. No one else can take you there.

It's not bad to compare notes, but that particular understanding can't be given, it can only be earned.

I Glasses

2011-08-28T07:37:00.005-04:00

At our cores, once we've cut through all the layers of illusion that we mistake for our selves, we're left with a vacuum. A void, emptiness, a veritable black hole of beingness. And this absence of self is so dazzlingly dark that it burns the retinas of our minds eyes. So we create brightness glasses that filter out the nothingness with shiny somethings that we can identify with, and don them whenever we look inward. This quickly becomes habitual, and we end up wearing them continuously. Then the whole world is viewed through this filter of selfy somethingness, and interpreted and valued accordingly.

When we design our glasses, we fashion them such as to let other people know who we want to be. Thick black rims for those who want to appear intelligent. Little round wire frames for those who want to look artsy. Aviators for those who fancy themselves the adventurous types. Wrap-arounds for the cool crowd, and so on. If you're ever unsure whether or not you've achieved the look you're going for, just gaze into another's glasses. As it so happens, they're all mirrored on the outside, for everyone's convenience.

But with these glasses perpetually pasted to our faces, decisions are made from false assumptions and goals are set based on erroneous reasoning. Societies veer wildly off of their ideal courses, because everyone's views are so drastically distorted by their I glasses. And our shared planet suffers, too - all because people can't abide their naturally nebulous nature.

We, the world and the universe are all full of unknowns and unknowables. The part of our minds, whose job it is to gather everything into nice discernible packages, will never be happy about this. But that aspect isn't destined to occupy the drivers seat, and we're under no obligation to give its wishes undo priority.

Convincing a world full of people to lose the shades that define them and their world (and make them look so cool) may be an insurmountable ambition. But for the rare few who sincerely wish to live a truthful life, it's the only option. And let's face it, it's much better to be cool, than to look cool.

Happily Ever After

2011-08-22T10:04:00.004-04:00

People like to feel good. Go figure.

The idea of crossing the finish line and having everything from there on out flow to us and for us, like milk from mother's nipples, is extremely alluring. So we get far-flung fantasies like a permanent state of blissful enlightenment and eternal leisure in heaven, as a divine reward.

And in every day life, we maintain goals that we believe, once achieved, will grant us that sense of peaceful relief that we so crave. If I can just get that promotion, graduate, pay off these loans, find my perfect mate, finalize this damned divorce, complete the remodeling, get our kids through school, whatever – then I'll be able to coast, contentedly.

Right. How many finish lines have you crossed so far? And yet, somehow, contentment still manages to elude you. But, none the less, the fantasy remains in tact. Whether it's making it to the end of life, or just to the end of the week, “happily ever after” is there, just waiting to give us a big hug.

How is it possible that such a far fetched notion, that's consistently proven false, continues to be so widely embraced? What will it take for people to come to the realization that the only happiness available, is that which we can find right now?

Life is awesome. People are entertaining. Nature is inspiring. Chores are blessings. Just to be aware is amazing, to be able to act and interact, even more so.

As a general rule, what do you focus on? Sitting in traffic, are you pissed off at the traffic light, worried about the clock or the fumes, or are you noticing the wind tickling the trees, the person gleefully singing along with the radio or that one over there, who's laughing with her kids? As you tend to your tasks, at work or home, where does your mind usually roam? What attitudes do you nurture as you stand in line? What do you think of in your idle time?

Our thoughts and our feelings are well within our power to either choose, or let loose. Sometimes the boat steers itself just fine, and life gets stale if we never wander into uncharted waters. But when we see that it's piloting itself toward a rock or a reef, maybe a little guidance would be appropriate. Or when it's hung up on a shallow shoal, perhaps, hop out, put your shoulder into it and set it free.

There's simply no sense in waiting around for circumstances to do what they surely won't. Where do you want your mind to be? How do you want to feel?

For my part, as if I have anything to say about it, I wish you a “happily ever now”.

When Clothes Want to be Naked

2011-08-22T09:49:00.001-04:00

Humans have a bit of a conundrum. We all have egos – beliefs about who and what we are; and, we all want (for lack of a better term) to know the mind of God. The problem is that people think that they are their egos; or perhaps more accurately, egos think that they're people. And, the ego clearly can't know what it's like to be without itself.

But slews of fanciful notions are spun about how we can keep our egos, and still experience full freedom from them. And people buy into these fantasies, flocking to them in sky blotting droves. Any intelligent person, making an honest assessment, could see the fallacy of it, but the allure is so strong that it's glare obscures common sense.

If I were to claim that one could remain dressed and be naked at the same time, no one would entertain the thought for a second. But if my clothes had a strong desire to be naked, they'd line up to listen to lectures and buy self help books and CDs that promised to teach them just how to achieve it.

Funny - until you consider how many people consistently stake their spirituality and spend their savings on snake oil, whose hawkers claim that they'll allow egos to effortlessly slip into selfless awareness.

The End of the Line

2011-08-22T08:36:00.001-04:00

“I'm on a quest for the truth.” “I'm on a path to spiritual enlightenment.” “I'm seeking union with my god.” However it's conceived or phrased, many people feel like their on a great journey to some high and idyllic destination, where they'll find, or be granted, some ultimate reward. But I've got breaking news. Whatever the path is, it leads to where you're standing, right now. As long as it's thought of as a destination or a goal, that very conception keeps pushing it away. It's similar to how water pushes floating fluff away, as you reach for it. But the fluff isn't really the goal, it's just another distraction. What everyone really wants, is to feel their connection to the very water that they're already immersed in. It may take a lot of work to shed all of the preconceptions that obscure the reality, but the end of the line is always, and can only be found, here, now.

Question(s) D'jour

2011-08-22T08:35:00.000-04:00

This is for all of faith. Not just of religious faith; but also, for anyone with any other kind of spiritual belief system. If they're too scary to field, then just ignore them. But if you're willing to test your faith, they're the most crucial questions you could earnestly try to answer.

Understanding that faith, by definition, is belief in the unprovable:

Why do you harbor your beliefs?
and
Why do you believe what you believe?

Chocolatey Goodness

2011-08-16T07:28:00.002-04:00

People have many erroneous notions of who and/or what they are. Discovering our true nature is a mater of peeling away the layers of illusion and delusion to find the very essence of being. Getting to the creamy center – or is it chewy hazelnut, maybe something fruity … ahh, perhaps it's amaretto infused chocolate. That one sounds the best to me; ergo, that must be what's there. Notions of just what the center is, are some of the most insidious obstructions to our honest acceptance of who or what we are.

I often tell my students that the most important thing that they can do is nothing. But that's really not quite sufficient, for the average seeker. It's pretty much impossible to do nothing, long and completely enough, for all of the false ideas to evaporate on their own. The mountain of suppositions and beliefs that we tote around needs to be systematically deconstructed. And this is only possible for someone who has an earnest desire to know the truth, regardless of the consequences.

Unfortunately, most would rather be reassured that their beliefs are accurate. They think they just need one final bit of knowledge to pull it all together. Or they feel that, if they could just get anointed by someone divine enough, their faith would solidify to the point that the heavens would open up and glory would rain down, washing them wholly (or would that be, holy) pure. Perceiving themselves as being on a path toward _____, is enough to make them feel spiritually adequate. Where as, the truth can only be found, here and now.

People are so accustomed to being something and feeling such and so and to aspiring toward whatever, that, to give that up, seems like it would be the end of it all - the final curtain. And, in a sense, I suppose it is. But it's only the last hoorah for a conglomeration of ideas. The ground isn't pulled from under foot, the body doesn't disintegrate, the mind isn't left a lifeless vacuum - life goes on. It's just seen through different eyes, digested in a different manner and acted upon with a different attitude.

So then, “what's at the core?” the mind will query. I could say nothing or emptiness. I could say contentment or understanding. But anything I'd say would just get tossed onto the pile of flotsam and jetsam that needs to be shoveled away in order to uncover the answer.

The easier question to grapple with; in fact, the one that needs to be answered - time and again - is, “what isn't there”. And I'm sorry to have to report, as painful as it may be to hear, that it isn't amaretto infused chocolate.

K v K

2011-08-16T07:28:00.001-04:00

Knowledge is highly useful. It's our catalog of what things are, how they work, how they're related to us and each other, what's most important, which to avoid, and all other accumulated details that make up our world concepts. Many consider this our only truthful and reliable faculty.

We also have a capacity to know things without first learning them and then retrieving them from our file cabinet. I'll refer to these, respectively, as “knowledge” and “knowing”.

Knowing may sound like gobbledygook to many who utilize it all the time. They may know that the car that just pulled onto the street in front of them is going to drive like a 10 year old on a joy drive. That the shorter register line is going to move more slowly than the long one. They may know the root needs behind someone's camouflaging phrasing. Or inexplicably and unexpectedly glean a better way to accomplish a familiar task.

Knowing manifests in a myriad of different ways. Everyday problem solving - summoning a new understanding from a pile of collected tidbits, wouldn't be possible without knowing. Invention and scientific discovery are typically a combination of acquired knowledge coupled with inspirational knowing. Those “Eureka!” moments are knowing incarnate.

It's not magical or super natural. It's just another basic function of any mind. And I'd stress here: not just the human mind. You might call it common sense or intuitive comprehension. It's just as valid as knowledge – perhaps, even more so, as knowledge grows out of knowing. But, no surprise, they work best in tandem. You could consider them the yin and yang of our understanding.

A Human-being Living in a World of Human-doings

2011-08-16T07:26:00.001-04:00

To date myself, most people spin like 45's, some even 78's, while I'm more of the 33 rpm ilk. (For the unenlightened youths, there was a time when the preferred medium for musical storage was vinyl discs. Different types, of which, spun at different speeds.)

When life is driven by aggressive ambition to accomplish and achieve ever more, lists become oppressive and schedules are stretched until the seams split. Living adopts an intensity, not unlike that required in serious sporting endeavors. Life is seen in a different time frame and felt with a harsher intensity. Priorities and motivations get skewed. And, as most can't imagine life as being legitimately interpreted when it's seen from another's window, they feel no need to learn to relate in another's language, or see the world in a different light.

To be honest, I've seen the world as a mad rush to an imaginary finish line, and I really have no desire to shift back into that head-space in order to connect with those caught up in it. More is not necessarily better. Too much, by definition, is worse.

There are inherent, sympathetic rhythms that all of the natural world moves in accordance with. They tick in time to an intergalactic metronome and are expressed in universal and personal, seasonal and timeless, planetary and particulate scales. It requires uncommon (though not unnatural) openness and sensitivity to feel and act in conjunction with these universal tides.

We are well served by syncing up and living in consort with the rest of the orchestra. It brings us peace, helps us to connect with our intuition and allows us to realize our potential in arenas we'd, otherwise, never know were possible. This, in itself, makes the practice worth while. The ease and synchronicity that infuse life, as a result, are convenient bonuses.

But the go-getters and do-morers of the world have largely lost the sense, and remembrance, of what it feels like to be connected in such a way. They carry on at break neck speed with little in their sights besides their fantasies of fulfillment. Thoughts consumed with planning and scheming, listing and dreaming.

Can such an person even comprehend the worth in befriending a bug, listening to leaves or losing one's self in the reflections dancing on the surface of rippling water?

It is, of course, common to find people comfortable with and capable of embracing multiple view points. But the bulk of societies current seems to gravitate into the rapids. And, as much as I like shooting real rapids, on the river of life, I prefer to enjoy the scenery, listen to the birds, sing to the squirrels and graze with the clouds.

Tough Pill to Swallow

2011-08-12T08:01:00.002-04:00

No matter how altruistic our intentions, all of the knowledge that we harvest and all of the beliefs that we rely on are hindrances to our awakening to truth.

Knowing untainted, unfiltered and uninterpreted truth, cannot happen as long as there is a self, an ego, a sense of “I am this”. I have difficulty using the term enlightenment for the same reason that I have trouble using the term God. There are so many different ideas about what it is that to just throw it out there would be saying a million different things, most of which, wouldn't be what I'd intended.

There's a way to hold one's self where there's inner quietude. No chatter, emotional currents or compulsion to change. Things are known or understood, without being recollected, or being translated into words, images or any concrete, tangible or communicable form. The individual is empty. There is awareness, but not presence, in the way it's typically conceived. The presence that is there extends well beyond the boundaries of the body and the individual's life and condition. It's centered, more or less, in the body, but it doesn't seem/feel like it's bound to it.

This state simply can't be realized as long as one clings to their ideas of self – period.

Hard Earned Lessons

2011-08-11T11:22:00.004-04:00

As recently addressed, knowledge is a collection of discernible, presumably factual, tidbits that comprise our world view. But there's another valuable collection we carry with us, that's somewhat less tangible, but equally useful. We've all had experiences that provided us with understanding & perspectives that add greater depth or texture to our existing comprehension.

A teacher once told me that we have to fail in order to learn. I could see that failure would teach us how not to do things; but, at the time, I didn't grasp the more subtle lessons that we receive, only, through enduring hardship.

It's important to know how to deal with the emotions that arise when we encounter unexpected difficulties. How to accept them, weather them and move beyond them. And, as well as being important for our own well rounded development, such experiences are also critical for our ability to relate to others, in their full range of reactions to the human condition.

Until suffering through great loss, one can't truly empathize with someone who's experiencing it. Living with terminal illness or chronic pain is unimaginable to the uninitiated. Making a catastrophically bad decision, hurting someone you care for, being duped, betraying yourself, breaking something precious, … Life offers us endless camouflaged opportunities for growth and personal expansion.

Of course, we can never really accumulate a complete understanding. Even having been a child, someone who's never been a parent can't grasp the feeling of complete and unyielding committal to another's well being that accompanies accepting the role. (Not that all parents get that one.) A person born into and accustomed to living with wealth can't comprehend what it's like to work two or three jobs and still not be able to fully provide for one's family. Likewise, one who works on a factory line has no idea what it's like to be responsible for the lives of hundreds or thousands of families with every day's decision making. And so on.

Compassion and empathy. Meaningless, even foolishness, to those without. But for those who embrace them, they're what draws us out of the safe and sterile world of the mind, enabling us to feel connection. Like we're an integral part of the world and global family of all life, rather than lone competitors, in a free-for-all, on a hostile field, with no time outs.

We're all life long works in progress. Relish your further education, however it's presented to you. My hope is that this understanding will help you to hold a lighter heart, the next time life deals you a dose of adversity.

Keep in Touch

2011-08-09T11:19:00.000-04:00

Inhale deeply, closing your eyes.
Pause briefly, taking inventory of the moment.
Exhale gently and fully, letting everything dissolve.
Linger there, allowing it to settle in.
Resume normal breathing, opening your eyes.

Practice isn't about achieving, as much as, familiarizing. It's not like we move into a better place or state. It's that all the distracting crap that we identify with fades and we find ourselves being what's left. The more we understand this, and the more familiar and comfortable we are with being "not self", the easier it is to touch home base.

A one breath meditation is like pushing the reset button, receiving a comforting embrace of unconditional love, dropping weighty unwanted baggage or taking a step back from whatever the situation (in or out) to gain a clearer perspective.

You could set a timer on your computer or watch to remind yourself every hour, 15 mins, whatever. Transition times between tasks are natural places for a refreshing pause. When you notice that you're feeling out of balance. When someone else needs your full attention. When the answer is eluding you. Anytime is a good time to move closer to feeling in harmony with your Self.

Preformed regularly, this practice has the potential of being more meaningful, practically speaking, than meditation or prayer. Not that it's a replacement for deeper practices, but it greatly helps to integrate the insights gleaned from them into every day life. So ...

Inhale deeply, closing your eyes.
Pause briefly, taking inventory of the moment.
Exhale gently and fully, letting everything dissolve.
Linger there, allowing it to settle in.
Resume normal breathing, opening your eyes.

Repeat as needed.

The Most Important Meal

2011-08-09T11:11:00.001-04:00

The most important meal of the day
is sleep.

If I was Created

2011-08-05T18:05:00.004-04:00

No one ever decided “I think I'll make a Thatcher today”. Nor a people, a planet or a universe. If I was created, it was as a footprint, a yawn, the crumbs of a fallen branch, the sweet putrid odor wafting from compost, the ache of a bruise from a bump, cascading waves sweeping through tall grass, a fossil reproduction of an extinct spider, the billowing mist lifting off of a waterfall, resounding echos of a sharp clap or a broad crater left by a speck of space dust.

There's a faulty assumption that there has to be a creator behind any and all creation. The earth spins, it's hot core colluding with centrifugal force, to push the crust, that shakes the snow burdened mountain top and loosens a rock, which bounces down the mountainside, crushing a waning flower and spreading its seeds before splashing into the river, where it alters the flow, shelters small fish and anchors generations of moss, slowly eroding into grit that the current ushers to the ocean, where it settles on the floor, is drawn back into the molten core, eventually pressed to the surface to cool, becoming stone that will one day rise above the clouds, awaiting the next big shimmy.

Creation without a creator. The spin, the shake, the bounce, the splash, none of it was intentionally manifested. There was no giant hand shaking the earth globe to make it snow, and no divine master who was inspired to bring me into existence.

I am, simply, a bounce - or maybe a splash. I haven't quite figured that one out yet.

A River Runs Through Us

2011-08-05T18:05:00.001-04:00

Wisdom is not held deep within us. It doesn't belong to us, nor could we possibly contain it. It swirls through the stars, and flows through us, the animals and the trees. Even the air, water and rocks are privy to its glory. I can see how it may seem as though it's inside of us, since we need to go deep within, rise above, burrow through, sneak behind or settle below our chaotic selves, in order to connect with it. But the inspiration that we find when we do so is free, timeless and without language or personality. To stake claim of it, is like staking claim of the universe – stabbing the earth with a flag and proclaiming that all within eyeshot, now belongs to the furling colors.

No one has wisdom, we can only channel it.

Just Passing Through

2011-07-30T23:53:00.000-04:00

Imagine an ice cube trying to pass through a strainer. As long as it maintains its form, it can't happen. As soon as it becomes fluid, it happens automatically.

When we intentionally relinquish our form, we naturally assume a more expansive state of being.

People strive to get through the screen, to no avail - sometimes, for their entire lives - when what they should be aspiring toward (if their objective is to get through the screen) is to melt, dissolve, evaporate or dissipate. Then, they would effortlessly pass through the metaphysical membrane and become the wholeness that their convictions had denied them.

The Chorus of Existence

2011-07-30T23:52:00.002-04:00

We all generate and emit a vibrational field, all the time. It's a combination of the tone of the thoughts that we entertain, our physical state of being and the chorus of feelings that make up our emotional state.

Our moods and attitudes affect everyone we come into contact with, and our influences on them carry over to those that they encounter. But that's only the most obvious way that we influence other's vibrational being.

There's only one consciousness, and we all partake of it. We each act like a lens or a prism, changing it as it passes through us. We bend it, blur, clarify or refract it. And when it emanates from us, spreading across our shared existence, it has a different quality than it did before it touched us. As we attune ourselves we help to shift or evolve the collective consciousness toward, and into, a more harmonious way of being.

In that light, doing the mundane with an enlightened attitude can be more meaningful than doing great works for personal gratification. It makes the world a better place if: you give real attention to the cashier, feed a stray dog, help out the little old lady that lives down the block, save a worm from the searing street and put him in the soil, sing a song to some birds, give emotional support to someone in need, pick up another's litter, laugh with young children, …

Whether we choose consciously, or by default, how we vibrate, in each passing moment, is our continuing contribution to the chord of the chorus of all of existence.

Ooooommm...

Intention - The Key to Be Free

2011-07-30T23:52:00.001-04:00

I often speak of the need to surrender in order to fully inhabit the present moment and attain freedom from habitual self obsessed thinking. But there's a lot of preparatory work to do before that's possible. Unfortunately, people usually have difficulty figuring out where to focus their energy.

Some dedicate themselves to ritual. Going to church, temple, mosque, class, retreat, etc. Or, spending extended periods sitting in meditation, praying, studying texts, practicing yogasana, etc. Imagining that doing the right things will yield the ultimate reward.

Many get immersed in trying to understand the greater scheme of being, philosophically. Reading, debating, listening to one who's wiser or more educated, contemplating, journaling, etc. Imagining that ultimate understanding is just a puzzle piece away.

Not that any of these aren't helpful in making one more well rounded and articulate. But none of these directly address the key issue that prevents our being present. The most important preparatory task is refining, strengthening and clarifying one's intentions. People are geared to strive, achieve, gain and become - applying their force of will to attain an end. Being in the moment isn't fixed, substantial or permanent, it's more like holding our breath or focusing our gaze on one spot. It's a temporary/transient way of being, not a destination or attainment.

It takes clear, substantial and deep rooted motivation to keep old habits from derailing us, as soon as we encounter the unfamiliar. The incentive has to be, to become open, not to be superior. To know the truth, whatever it may be, not to be wise or all knowing. To give of one's self, not receive for one's self. To be free of all notions and beliefs, so that “what is” can flow to us and through us, without deflection or distortion.

When every cell of our being is in agreement, possibilities expand exponentially. Now, this does require applying some of the afore mentioned tactics - except, with the specific aim of improving, ingraining and integrating one's deepest intentions.

Speaking to Stones

2011-07-30T22:23:00.002-04:00

People tend to use their preconceived notions to define their worldly experiences; far more than using what the world presents to them, to inform their conceptual notions.

I feel an emotional connection to the rocks as well as the lichen, the fire as well as the seedling, the soil as well as the worms, the air as well as pollen, the water as well as the tadpoles, the planet as well as the people and the stars as well as our own life giving sun. I can perceive, sense and comprehend the consciousness that is shared between all living things. That I'm less assured that consciousness, or more subtle awareness, is being shared with the elements, celestial bodies and even the void of space, is evidence of my short comings, not theirs.

Many great masters have confirmed what I feel in my bones, as I walk upon rock, formed from the bones of species, now extinct. That everyone and everything - past, present and future - are all part of one grand unfolding. That we, as individuals, and as a species, are but toppling dominoes, in the string of causality.

I have a little more difficulty embodying a full understanding that all of existence is wholly insubstantial and is perpetually manifested, only, by the blessing of consciousness. Again, mea culpa. But the roots of understanding continue to burrow ever deeper the more time I spend steeping in silence – and speaking to stones.

The Never Ending Story

2011-07-30T22:22:00.000-04:00

It's a disservice to all who aspire toward “spiritual” self improvement, that the idea of enlightenment has been distorted into an all encompassing finale. A stable condition, where the quest is complete, and every mystery of the universe - and beyond - is comfortably held in the palm of one hand.

I can see how that could be an appealing fantasy. Essentially, to become God, while still inhabiting a human form. Appeal has created many a believer, but it does nothing to sway reality.

Enlightenment: Darkness illuminated; or, ignorance informed.

Ordinary people can't help but to be enlightened, repeatedly. It happens all the time. It can shatter world views or it can be barely noticeable. Enlightenment can be glorious to unpleasant, concise or sweepingly broad, permanent or passing, superficial to the marrow, personally relevant or worthy of shouting from the roof tops.

Our personal evolution is the culmination of a lifetime of enlightenments. The Buddha's awakening was the result of a valuable one that most of the world has yet to grasp. Some have, and frequently try to help others to its realization. But it wasn't an end game – no ultimate understanding. It was a brilliant comprehension of the various aspects of mind, and how they relate to each other and to our greater awareness. This gave him insight into the very nature of existence, but he still had to inhabit his body, to contend with seasons and symptoms, and to make multiple decisions, every day. And, there was still infinite knowledge that he could have absorbed, relative to worldly affairs.

Hopefully, this essay will bestow enlightenment to anyone still enamored by the fantasy of permanently attainable perfection.

Hands Out of the Cookie Jar!

2011-07-19T17:02:00.001-04:00

Most people know the challenge a chimpanzee faces when trying to pull cookie or a piece of fruit out of a small mouthed vessel. We encounter a similar conundrum when we seek to shift from our normal mindsets into non personal awareness. When we try to pull out of our self imposed containers, we're so inflated by our self conceptions that we can't escape them. So we first need to release what we've spent our whole lives fabricating, justifying and protecting. Once we do, it becomes clear that what we were holding onto, was the urn itself. Our empty palms, clenched into fists, keeping us captive. In fact, there's no need to move at all, to escape our stoneware cells. As we let go, our jars fall away and we're left inhabiting a boundless sense of being.

And that's far more satisfying than any cookie could ever be.

Assignment d'jour:

2011-07-15T20:23:00.003-04:00

Initially, this one may sound silly or pointless.
But as simple as it is, the more you practice it,
the more meaningful it will become.

Act as though your thoughts (mental processes)
are being broadcast, for all to receive.

The Best Recipe

2011-07-14T21:19:00.000-04:00

Recipes are great. They invite us to try new techniques, ingredients and combinations. They nearly guarantee success as we venture beyond the familiar. And sticking with them gives us confidence that it'll turn out right, every time.

That is, if the same, every time, is right.

It seems to me (and my tongue) that variety makes for much more enjoyable experiences. And that experimentation makes working much more entertaining. I also welcome the bonus of discovering and sharing new things. After all, the most alluring recipes are the result of another's playing with their food. And, I find it far more rewarding to invent something new, than to make something old, yet again.

Granted, to be an adventurer, one needs to be willing to fail occasionally. That's the nature of any explorations into the unknown. Fortunately, practice makes better, and success rates rise as intuition is honed. And let's be honest, if our predecessors hadn't been adventurous, we'd still be eating nuts, berries and unflavored raw meat, that we'd clubbed to death with sticks and stones.

Obviously, this is analogous for any and all endeavors in life. And I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with playing it safe. But there's definitely something right, with taking chances.

For my money, the best recipe, is no recipe.

Go West Young Man

2011-07-14T18:31:00.000-04:00

We begin our journeys, frequently on the advice and directions of others, with only a vague inkling of what we want and where we're going. For some, distractions come and the quest ends as a forgotten memory, merely days or weeks of a walk away. Then unintended roots cling to the bedrock, denying any dreams of unknown western wonders. Others find themselves face to rock face, stretching miles high, blotting their ambitions and stymying their trek. Fighting against the unforgiving wall, betrayed by the directions they unyieldingly trusted, frustrated by the futility of their efforts, surrender arrives quickly and settles in for the long haul. Some hold the westward mantra so close to their eyes that it obscures all else, until they've run out of land and find breath hard to come by, while they continue their stroll, deep into the ocean. Lost souls, seeking comfort from empty eyed fish and voiceless clams.

Our compasses are here to let us know where we're going, not to tell us where to go. As we travel through the unknown and encounter the unexpected, we must seek to make modifications to our itineraries. Sometimes, to get west, we must first trod north or south. As we head to our promised paradise, we may find greater treasures, more potent purposes or unrivaled relations. These offer other paths, give us new goals or beg us to stay. As we ingest each new landscape, the horizons in our minds broaden and our appreciation for the journey, itself, blossoms. We learn as we travel, collecting wisdom while we walk. Our aspirations evolve, as we learn and mature. And the boundaries between ourselves, others and the land, steadily erode.

The means and ends that propelled us forth, from those earliest dreams and days, are replaced by new visions of just what we want, as we meander more meaningful ways.

And the Winner is …

2011-07-14T18:30:00.000-04:00

People make slews of promises to motivate others onto a path of self discovery or spiritual exploration - always, of personal gain. For when the little self holds the reigns, there's nothing else that inspires. To be better, to have more, to be seen as a victor or a saint. But the worth of these prizes evaporates when bathed in the bright light of awakening.

When we arrive at that point where the vault doors finally swing wide, we no longer care to fill our pockets. You see, the vault doors don't actually hold treasures within. Instead, they serve to provide us with a false sense of security, by keeping us locked in an illusory feeling of stability. The reward is stepping out into the larger world and realizing that we are here to bask in it. To enjoy it, to participate in it and to learn from it. We victoriously enter sainthood, becoming more than we ever dreamed, when we shatter our pseudo-safe shells and cooperatively merge into the vast expanses of the living world. You see, it's not here to serve us, as much as, we're here to serve it.

Life only works because the parts support the well-being of the whole. Ecosystems only survive because individuals act in harmony with the masses. Planetary sustainability is only possible when the big picture is seen in the long view. This doesn't need to be captured and considered cognitively. We instinctively know it on a cellular level, as does all life. But we can feel it, only when we're freed from our self imposed vaults.

Yes, we receive numerous bonuses as a result of our personal evolution, but the real winner, is the whole.

A Suggestion of Divine Intervention

2011-07-13T11:35:00.000-04:00

When I was a teen, I loved running through the woods. Dodging trees, ducking under branches, leaping over logs, skipping over streams, up and down, round and round – often, trying to keep up with my dog. During that same time, I infrequently wore shoes. My feet were tough enough for me to walk on hot blacktop and run across sharp gravel; and, fly through the woods.

One day, I was doing some high speed bushwhacking, and when my tank ran dry, I stopped and rested my hands on my knees to catch my breath. As I panted, I spotted a small branch with a huge thorn laying right between my feet. Then another, inches away; and more … Looking around, I saw that I was standing amid a grove of terrifying trees and ankle deep in a sea of three inch thorns.

It took me a few minutes to tip toe my way out of the danger zone. Longer to properly thank my lucky stars. Had I landed on just one spike, I would likely have buckled and rolled through them, ending up like an inverted porcupine, with my quills pointing inward.

I've never been inclined to believe in divine intervention; but as fanciful as it seems, it certainly would make some things easier to “rationalize”. Of course, to be fair, if I were to give credit for all the good in life, I'd also have to assign blame for all the bad. And then my imagination would run amok down a path that would invariably end in my discounting free will, all together.

Whatever the reasons, I've been spared injury and/or death more times than I can remember. And for that, I'm divinely grateful.

Peripheral Shadows

2011-07-13T11:34:00.001-04:00

I have to begin this one by asking you to do a little exercise. Find a section of light colored wall with something dark on it. Spend a minute or so staring at a blank spot on the wall, such that the dark object is visible in your periphery. Afterward, as you look elsewhere, you'll see a “shadow image” in the same part of your peripheral vision that held the actual object. Observe what happens as you try to focus on the shadow.

The eyes are trained to lock onto specific things to identify and differentiate all of the apparent components. As you try to look at the shadow, it darts away from your attempts to zone in on it. If you want to observe it, you need to look and focus in a different way.

Spending time with/as your silent self is a similar experience. The mind is trained to lock onto specific things in order to identify and differentiate them. But the formless self can't be pinned down, spelled out or contained, and is impervious to any such attempts.

If you want to be at one with yourself, you need to learn to focus, acknowledge and accept in a different way.

Parade Day

2011-06-22T21:24:00.001-04:00

There's a perpetual parade passing along the main street in my mind. It's made of all manner of characters. Some are in drag, some are on stilts, some on floats and some floating along, grounded by tethers and guided by others wearing white face. As I pass among them, I'm dizzied by the deluge of sights and sounds, characters and costumes. They all seem to ooze enticement, promise treasures or have interesting tales to tell. And I'm often caught up in the current and stride along with of one them taking in his story. Although the tides tug and characters hug, I've learned that being amid the parade doesn't really give me the most effective perspective.

Fortunately, I have an all access pass to a balcony that provides me with an overview of the continuing cavalcade. From there I can see which work together and which bump into each other. Which meander and which are steadily fixed on target. Which are happy and fun and which are just plain silly. I see which ones are loners and which are bound together in a string of “follow the leader”. And I see the tandem juggling acts, with multiple balls bouncing back and forth - feelings inspiring thoughts that strengthen their seed feelings, and thoughts inspiring feelings that provide proof the idea's significance.

Most importantly, I see the parade, as what it is. A non stop festival of frivolity that isn't as all encompassing or defining, as it seems. It's useful for my living, but not necessary for my being. It's of me, yet I'm not of it. It's a good thing, just better when viewed from above. So now I can live with it, rather than for it.

Stock up on sparklers. Clean out your kazoos. Unfurl your flags. And bounce on up to a balcony. Your procession is well underway. Breath it in, and enjoy the show.

Potentially So

2011-06-19T21:16:00.000-04:00

We see ourselves as our habits; however, our habits are just one possibility of who we may be.

I have never killed anyone, but the possibility is there. I have never literally sacrificed my life for another, but I could. So am I a murderer or a martyr? No. I've held back because of fear, and risked my life on a whim. Am I a coward and a fool? No. I've been impatient, helpful, lazy, dismissive and playful. Does that make me any of the above? Of course not.

Actions and attitudes are temporary conditions of our existence. There seems to be some mechanism that lures us back to familiar grounds, but there's nothing that mandates it. We aren't carved of stone, created as such and destined to be just that. We are potential incarnate. We can be as we choose.

Deprogramming old habits isn't easy, but it's much easier when armed with the realization that our tendencies are not given traits. This allows us to shift our focus from what we've done to how we want to be. To move from expectation to inspiration.

So, how do you want to be today?

A Losing Aspiration

2011-06-18T20:15:00.002-04:00

We all maintain a journal that attempts to recount our personal life stories, helping to explain and justify who we are. We each keep a running tally of our totalities, including our likes and dislikes, our strengths and weaknesses, our responsibilities and hobbies, our regrets and dreams, our friends and foes, and everything else that defines us. This, in and of itself, is not a problem. Our troubles arise when we mistake our stories for our Selves. Once convinced that the tale is the truth, we contort what we experience to support our illusions. Which also isn't really an issue, unless we wish to live honestly.

It's easier to see that we're separate from the houses, clothes and cars that define us, because we can step out of them. If only we could step outside of our selves … Oh, wait – we can!

If we wish to find our Selves, we must first lose our selves.

Shutter Speed

2011-06-18T08:22:00.000-04:00

In a way, our brains are kind of like photographic film. If we want to record a clear and detailed image, we need to allow for sufficient exposure/attention time. Some things or events are dull, to begin with, and need more time than the norm. Others are dramatic and radiate exceptional brightness, thus requiring less. And, by nature, different cameras take in varying spectrums better.

We can tell, in the moment, if it's done yet, or if it's taking at all~. So, regardless of circumstances and distractions, if we think/feel that something important to record, we need to be mindful and give it adequate attention.

Of course, it helps to take the lens cap off.

Let it Flow. Let it Flow. Let it Flow.

2011-06-17T05:59:00.004-04:00

Whether it's the cars behind us, the air above us or the flowers beneath our feet, people often ignore the world trying to happen around them. In doing so, they often become impediments to the flow of existence that's just trying to get along, everywhere, all the time.

We're like individual cells in a vast being. Cells all have their own lives and objectives, but their greater purpose is to facilitate the well being of the whole. We call cells that conflict with that entirety, cancer.

We're under no obligation to be considerate, and many take full advantage of this. But how does it make you feel when others ignore and interfere with your ambitions? How would the world be if absolutely everyone was completely self absorbed? How would it be if everyone consciously accommodated others' activities? Nobody likes a clog in the drain. Why would anyone want to be one? “Do unto others ...”

For the sake of contributing to creating a more harmonious world, and setting a laudable example for others to emulate, shouldn't we pay attention to the rest, and try to stay out of the way – or even be helpful?

Just a thought, flowing from the big brain, through mine.

Our Most Challenging Blessing

2011-06-16T20:17:00.000-04:00

Our lives present us with many challenges. They can be arduous, painful, confounding, unjust and spirit testing. All help to make us wiser, stronger and more adaptable, in their aftermath. But there's one that we just can't shake – choosing.

Free will, which far too many neglect to utilize, is both a blessing and a curse. Frequently, our choosing comes from the default selection center, “Just like before please” or “I'll have what they're having”. We can't help but to rely on habits, to some extent. If we had to stop and consider every single thing we do, we'd get very little done. But when relying on habits, becomes a habit itself, we become little more than automatons.

We can make educated guesses, but we can't prognosticate. None of us one can. So, time and again, we're left with the option of following the rut or leaping into the abyss. If we stay to the well worn pathways, we can delude ourselves into thinking that our errors are the fault of those who came before. If we take a leap and land with a crash, we may feel foolish or be called even worse. So our grade school worries steer us to follow the pack, to believe the commercials, to trust twisted logic and to hand the rudder over to the tides.

It takes a wise man to play the fool. Life's not a contest, or any kind of test. It's an adventure into the unknown, a grand experiment in what if, a chance to leave the first footprints and an opportunity to laugh and learn from falling on our faces.

Me? I choose choice, whenever possible. Eyes wide open, the unknown eager to be embraced, traditions be damned, knowledge and understanding dangle like luscious fruits from life's over burdened tree, feet freed from firmament, my Tiffany ego plummets toward rocks or clouds, curious to see what happens next.

Do Be Do Be Do

2011-06-15T06:53:00.003-04:00

Admittedly, not the most inspired or creatively phrased lines of scat, but perhaps old blue eyes was trying to convey a little wisdom, subliminally.

While conscious, we have two options – doing and being. “Doing” includes acting, communicating, and thinking. “Being” is remaining attentive and engaged, without doing.

Of the two, being is typically the most challenging for us; or at least, the less familiar. But it's while we're being that we're the most sensitive and receptive. There are cues and clues presenting themselves to us, all the time, which we aren't able to pick up on while we're engaged in doing.

But these smoke signals are pointless, if we only be. They're here to guide us in our doing. The vast majority are mired in their doing, but to become entrenched in either side of the equation is debilitating.

The trick is to consciously balance in the middle, and freely float back and forth between the two. Inspiration and acting. Connection and communicating. Insight and thinking. 'Tis best to let the partners dance together.

And here's their song now – Do be do be do, do do be do be, do be do be do, ...

Horsin' Around

2011-06-10T20:43:00.000-04:00

You can lead a man to knowledge, but you can't make him think.

What it is?

2011-06-08T22:56:00.003-04:00

It's a rare person who maintains an honestly scientific eye for the truth – even in scientific circles. Most seek to prove that existing theories or beliefs are correct. They feel obliged to defend the notions that they've learned, hatched or had handed down to them. They tend to see only those things that fit into their preconceptions; or, to forcibly interpret things that conflict with their notions until they mesh, acceptably. Although this may be more comfortable, it's not exactly realistic, practical or wise.

I was talking with a substantially overweight lady the other day who was explaining to me that she didn't consider herself fat; rather, called herself “healthy”. No doubt, it made her feel better. No doubt, it's about as contrary to the truth as possible. Being overly over weight stresses backs, hips, knees and ankles. It greatly increases the risks of diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer and organ failure. And it limits potential by making everything from breathing to climbing stairs more strenuous and taxing.

She's hardly alone in her delusion. I was a teen the first time I heard that particular substitution of terminology. Some might say that she's better off living with the illusion, so that she feels better about her self. I think that condoning any embrace of lying to oneself sets a horrible precedent. Once it's presumed an acceptable practice, the pattern will begin to pop up any and every where. It may be cute when tykes think that closing their eyes shrouds them in a shield of invisibility, but we hardly want our children to grow up planning their lives around such notions.

We learn and evolve much better, and direct our actions far more intelligently, when we see things as they are; and then, adjust our views and beliefs to accommodate any new evidence. It may sound like a no brainer, and I suspect that a large percentage of folks assume that they do just that, but reality would disagree with most.

Religious fundamentalists and scientists can be two peas in a pod here. Feel good fantasies become die hard beliefs that no amount of evidence can dislodge. And, if it's not proven by committee, repeatable and measurable, it's obviously not real. Both close ones eyes to possibilities and close ones mind to new ways of conceiving. Previous generations, whose understandings would be laughable today, were confident in their unquestionable grasp on things. The same will surely be said of us in the future. Truth, as a concept, has to expand and evolve to accommodate our ever clearer understandings, as we crawl toward seeing an ultimate truth.

Where ever the tendency comes from, how ever it manifests, and when ever it became engrained, it can be undone. But reprogramming takes a long time, a lot of work and powerful dedication. The desire to see and know the untainted truth, as it reveals itself, has to be systematically absorbed and integrated ever deeper and more holistically. You have to want to be bathed in, and filled with, welcoming silence more than you want to entertain whatever floats through your field of awareness. You must wish to know the truth more than you wish to feel that what you think, know or believe is accurate. The roots of these yearnings need to reach as deeply as your most primal motivations.

If you haven't been there, you can't conceive it. If you've only heard tales of it, your conception is a far poorer representation than the others abbreviated phrasings of their fractured memories of their partial viewing of it. You need to go there to begin to know it, and there are places that you can't know how to get to. Creativity, intuition, invention, revelation, insight, compassion, ... none of these can be born from a logical progression of thoughts.

There's a whole world and an infinite universe out there, and to be self limited to the boundaries of a particular neighborhood is silly. How can one ever expect to make new discoveries when unwilling to go beyond the familiar? How can people ever expect to know themselves when they're obscured by junkyard sculpture representations of who and/or what they are? How can anyone not want to know the truth, on its own terms? And, how can anyone imagine that they actually know just what it is?

Anticipation

2011-06-05T16:30:00.004-04:00

Being present is really much more active than it sounds. It's not like we finally arrive at a lounge where comfort abounds, servants attend our every need, weather conforms to our moods and there's never any decisions to make. It's not a place or a state that we settle into, at all.

Being attuned with the flowing moment demands as much involvement as balancing on one foot does. With practice, it feels more natural and becomes more stable, but without dedicated attention, balance wanes. Even if it was possible to become perfectly still in absolute balance, the world happens. Water falls and flows, wind stops and blows, and the earth moves beneath our feet. Internally, our past calls out to us, fears and fantasies paint imaginary scenarios that we call our future, and every bit of fluff floating down the stream of thought beckons to be held.

Stillness coexists with chaos. This truth is undeniable. So, focus can't be on finding or maintaining an illusory ideal; rather, it has to hover in anticipation, reaching out with all senses and sensibilities to detect the very next thing, the instant it arises.

We learn to trust that the body is capable of balancing itself. In fact, our efforts to achieve and/or sustain balance with our minds is counter productive. So we willfully establish our intentions and consciously observe, but the balancing, itself, happens from elsewhere.

Similarly, we can't think our way into the silence that accompanies our being present; and, thoughts simply can't keep pace with the now. To be present, we have to set our intentions, (initially) place ourselves in an accommodating environment with some dedicated time, and allow the quietude to manifest within and around us, as we simply observe while steadily maintaining clear intent to see purely.

The thinking/reasoning mind has a rather high opinion of itself. And in truth, the guy's got game. But if/when it tries to intercede in the act of balancing, listing and swaying will surely follow. Our bodies know what to do and will skillfully tend to themselves, if we just get our dreams and doubts out of the way.

As consciousness is freed from the confines of the assumed and expected, a torrent of awareness, understanding and questions can begin to flow. The thinker then feels an urgent need to label, analyze, judge, decipher, categorize and prioritize these experiences, in an attempt to integrate them into the “known”. Assimilation is much more honest, complete and detailed when not slowed down by or filtered through thought, which, by its very nature, only deals with the past or future. Our beings know what to do and will skillfully tend to themselves, if we just get our dreams and doubts out of the way.

Do you feel it? The present has its knuckles curled and is swinging them toward your door, right now.

What's Your Wake?

2011-05-29T23:19:00.003-04:00

A wave crossing the ocean isn't a physical thing in motion. It's an energetic pulse in conveyance through the medium of water molecules. We are more complex than waves, but are as much manifestations of a greater unfolding than our immediate being suggests.

Our bodies rely on a constant inflow of energy. It may come delivered via molecules (which are made of atoms that are largely incorporeal) but in the big picture, it's energetic transference.

Our food comes from the energy of the sun. Previous generations have contributed their skins to enrich the soil that combines with molecules from the air and the rays of the sun to complete the energy that propels this generations plants that feed us, our livestock or the soil. The oxygen we inhale combines with nutrients, fats and sugars metabolizing as the energy that creates and sustains our material forms.

Our consciousness is energy that manifests in our physical minds, which resonates through our bodies and into the world. And it continues on and on through the matrix of existence, whether we're aware of it, or not.

If you were to be impatient and judgmental toward another and share negative energy with them by speaking harshly, that would soak into your victim, who would infect others with it, and on.

If you were to be appreciative and loving toward another and share that positive energy through laughter, a smile or a soothing touch, your energy will become a cascade of upliftment and joy.

Not that physical action is required for our energy to spread beyond our conceived borders. Its effects can even be felt without shared physical presence.

The wave itself doesn't go on forever, but its influence changes the trajectory of everything that it touches. And it never stops. We're living on the surface of a pond being pelted by rain. And, we can't help but to transmute the energy as it passes through us. But, if we're conscious and strengthen our intentions, we can choose our energetic legacies.

The wakes we leave behind us sprout into living embodiments, from flowers and fruits, to poisonous briar patches.

So, what's your wake?

The Problem with Pedestals

2011-05-27T08:00:00.004-04:00

When people uncover anything that they think is of high importance, they want to remember it; and often, to share it with others. So memories are tweaked and tales embellished to insure that it rings of paramount relevance. Then, to insure that it's admired by all and remains up front in ones' mind, it's buffed up and propped up on a high pedestal for the whole world to see. At this point, the thing becomes a mere reminder – a representation of what was so noteworthy to begin with. Then, as others flock to the sight, they only have the totem to view; and so, build their feelings and ideas around the image, rather than the substance it represents. As the plaque says it's highly important, those pilgrims take two dimensional photos to share, or do their best to describe it verbally. This, of course, further dilutes the meaning. Then we add generations playing the phone game and it gets more distorted each time it's passed down the line. So we're left with a misrepresentation of a shadow of an echo of a remembrance of an image of something that was truly profound.

Now, people, being as they are, would much rather be told what's what, than to have to do the work of ascertaining it for themselves. So people who make grand claims and promise the undeliverable gain droves of fans; while those who guide others to make their own discoveries seem to go largely unheard.

I know that people are only able to absorb the next logical piece of the puzzle, but when the notion of what the puzzle is and how it relates to us is merely an image sitting upon a pedestal … well, it's no wonder that so many are trying to gain sustenance from a smeared sketch on a crumpled napkin.

In our quick fix society where people want reality to conform to their beliefs and lifestyles, and expect all cures to come in a bottle, it's not surprising that people expect knowledge and wisdom to be injected into their brains. But the universal laws of physics and metaphysics don't yield to desires. It doesn't matter who the teacher is or what tome is referenced, there's no substitute for first hand realization.

So the next time you unearth a gem, instead of hanging it from the sky, cover it back up and draw a treasure map to share.

Buddhism Revisited

2011-05-24T23:05:00.002-04:00

We've been taught that the Buddha's first tenant was “life is suffering”. So all this lengthy reasoning and heavy emotional stuff has been built up to support the weighty notion of suffering. I think this is an exaggeration of his intended message. You may feel differently, but I don't experience all that much actual suffering in my life. I would surmise that, were he here today, he would say something more like, “Life is stressful” or “Life is arduous”. Perhaps it's just me, but I think that feels so much more down to earth, accurate and approachable.

He then posited, “Suffering is caused by our attachments and aversions.” and “Cessation of suffering is possible” New translations: “We create our own stress by what we focus on and how we interpret it.” And “We can reduce our stress by changing the ways we look and think.”

It's really basic psychology. Reordering the way we see our selves and adjusting how we relate with the various aspects of our totality and with the world around us. Many think that Buddhism belongs in the same category as religions, but not all. I belong to the latter camp. It's really just about seeing from a non-personalized perspective, accepting what is, and acting in harmony with the greater unfolding.

Actions, attitudes, ambitions, work, lifestyles, and such need to be brought into alignment with the new or desired inner order. This was the purpose of the Buddha's presenting the 8 fold path. To give guidelines in what we need to monitor and manage as we work to maintain balance or stay the middle way.

It may seem like it deals with other worldly affairs, but that's only when one refuses to see the thinking mind in a holistic perspective. The Buddha never spoke of God, claimed to be no one extraordinary, and professed no ultimate universal understanding. That people have deified him and made his story and messages so overly fantastical has only served to make his teachings less accessible.

The Buddha didn't create Buddhism, the disciples left after his passing and their students did. He was very clear in affirming his own common humanity and indicating that it would be an error to deify him. His teaching was that everyone else is just as capable of awakening. The same was true with Jesus a few centuries later. And, just like with Jesus, many have disregarded his teachings and made him an object of worship, anyway.

Does Buddhism fit the same template as the worlds other religions? Well, Buddhists typically refer to themselves as practitioners, not followers, believers, devotes or worshipers. And the tenants aren't based on belief of the intangible, but on honest, systematic investigation. Unlike with the other primary religions of our times, there are no deities *, no imposed moralities, no segregating charter, no threats of cosmic punishment, no claims of being the one and only true way, no obligation to believe, no need to look to an outside authority for truth and no inherent conflicts with others who hold differing beliefs.

At one point I had formulated a concept of god that seemed to mesh with the words I'd heard about it and didn't clash with my own sensibilities and discoveries. But it really wasn't the same god as the majority's notion of a supreme creator and governor of all that is. So, although I do use the term on rare occasion, I no longer try to see eye to eye with those who's beliefs are built on fairy tales and archaic dogma. Similarly, I don't feel obligated to make Buddhism fit nicely into the same category as other religions, just because it's fashionable.

I'd love to be able to bring the Buddha's teachings back down to earth, somehow. Well, I actually do; but, I'd like people to understand that his teachings were as accessible as mine – presumably more so. I see how/why it all got so blown out of proportion, but that's a topic worthy of its own article. (Look for The Problem with Pedestals)

* Buddhism does have “deities”, but this, too, is a poor translation. They aren't other worldly beings with power and influence over our lowly mortal existence. They're teaching tools meant to represent various aspects or qualities of an awakened mind.

Hug a Yogi

2011-05-19T22:55:00.007-04:00

Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Taoism, Judaism and Christianity have all tried to stake claim to lands, long inhabited by yogis. They've harvested the yogis perspectives, insights and wisdom, and claimed them to be of their own making. Their practitioners have been given labels like Sufis or Mystics, implying that the yogic ways were off shoots of their religions, rather than the initial inspiration for their very creation.

Looking at a calendar is all that's required to refute such notions.

Once their understandings were confined to texts and churches, they were converted from the ethereal eternal wonder, that inspires grand quests and noble questions, to hollow hypothetical promises and mundane man-made regulations, that demand adherence to rules and motivate through fear. So the treasures of the yogis have largely been buried under mountains of rites, rituals, fairy tales, tenants, laws and an implied sense of separation from others who see contrasting interpretations, use unfamiliar words and follow different customs.

No longer do we find teachers guiding folks to find their way; but, preachers telling flocks what to believe, and how to think and act. Fostering the notion that adhering to religiously sanctioned actions is more important than purifying core intentions and acting in harmony with one's higher truth. Sacrificing a personal relationship with the unknowable for a scheduled appointment to listen to someone else talk about such a relationship. Trading moral sensibilities for a list of rules.

The trappings are traps. Communities of spiritual seekers are good, but the constructs that define such groups often become distractions that obscure the deeper meanings that manifested the group, in the first place. There are, of course, many exceptions of churches and religious leaders who emphasize nurturing a personal relationship with a greater awareness. And the trend toward losing the bigger picture for the details is pervasively reflected in many facets of thought, action and culture.

Nonetheless, it's unfortunate that the worth of the yogis, both past and present, has been systematically swept under the rug. And I think that they deserve a long belated standing ovation for their contributions to the maturation of humanity.

Or better yet, just as a thank you, give a yogi
a big lovey hug.

Musical Flares

2011-05-06T07:14:00.000-04:00

A yogi who only practices
to perfect the postures
is like a musician who only
practices scales

The main objective is to be
ever more so
aware of
engaged with and
caring toward
our bodies

We can allow the prescribed alignments
to help refine our sense of orientation
without swearing fidelity to them
We can bend the notes, sweet and sour
improvise our own chords and
sing our own songs

Let your postures come to life
Let there be music

Scary Monsters

2011-04-11T08:08:00.001-04:00

People fear their gods
because of the way that they themselves
treat insects.

Yoga Evolution

2011-04-10T20:43:00.000-04:00

I stepped into a "yoga" class
and found my self standing
in a small circular room.

Pointing, the instructor said
“There's a hallway.
Stand straight and walk to the end of it
See what you find there
If it's comfortable
you can lean into the wall that you encounter
Over time, as you learn to push with finesse
you'll find that it's not as rigid or affixed
as it may initially seem.”
After a few breaths
I was summoned back to the room.
“There, another hallway.
Go. Push.”
For a few breaths.
And so on ...

I explored many hallways
and learn when and how to push
and when not to.

But it became evident
that the hallways were really
just fabrications
nothing more than lines
taped on the floor.

I saw that I was actually in the middle of a vast room
encircled within a wavy, wiggly, wandering wall.
As I moved one part of the boarder
it made neighboring sections easier to reorient.
As I explored the “in-betweens”
I began to feel the interconnections
of all movements
of all being

So much is left unexplored
when excursions are confined to the spokes
of designated hallways

I left most of the tape lines down
and still investigate their halls
here and there
I adjusted a few
Added some new
And stick them down for others, too

As well thought out as they may be
the prescribed postures are still
essentially arbitrary

No longer, am I bound
to adhere to others' instructions
No longer, do I feel obligated
to follow the pathways
defined by illusory walls

My body knows
My mind receives
My being fills
My spirit soars

Immersed in Yoga

Disclaimer:

I invite others into this full exploration, as well.
But it requires a very different attitude, than the norm
in order to develop the necessary receptivity
and to insure a safe, healthy practice
Patience, acceptance and compassion
must be prioritized above ambition
Curiosity and playfulness
over aggression

Words Apart

2011-04-06T08:50:00.000-04:00

There is asana practice
as exercise.

And

There is asana practice
as a means of enhancing the communion
of body, breath and being.

We all know:

Words are a poor substitute
for what they represent.

In the same way:

Practicing prescribed postures, alone
fails to bestow
the vitality and depth
that is present
while in the full embrace
of Yoga.

The Greatest Talent

2011-04-03T11:43:00.003-04:00

The greatest talent one can aspire to, is to sooth, teach, inspire and empower simply through one's very presence.

To be at peace with one's self, the current course of worldly affairs and whatever condition, or state of development, others are in. To hold the largest point of view in mind while feeling compassion for the smallest of things. To maintain the curiosity of a child and the patience of a scholar. To embrace the habits of listening with full attention, reflecting others in their best light (especially when that's not how they feel), and speaking and acting for the benefit of a greater good. To have the capacity to empathize deeply while not becoming infected by unwanted emotional energies. To be eagerly engaged in a constantly fluid state of personal growth and evolution. To joyfully embody the spirit of the infinite through individual expression.

To actually be present.

On Meditation

2011-03-13T21:49:00.000-04:00

We need to put our tools down so that we can (re)learn that they aren't actually parts of us.

On Meditation

2011-03-13T10:56:00.003-04:00

Our mental habits all feel extremely important and immediately pressing – crucial to continuing existence, as we know it. And most live as though this is simply the way it is, and has to be.

Not surprisingly, junkies feel very much the same, about their next fix.

On Asana

2011-03-13T10:56:00.001-04:00

People usually enter the practice of yogasana with a feeling of superiority over their bodies, and lofty ambitions of “mastering” them. As practice matures, one realizes that the most effective way to “master the body” is to be its devoted servant.

Tooling Through Toon Town

2011-03-13T09:38:00.000-04:00

Imagine a cartoon depiction of a psychedelic trip. A point of view journey through a twisted landscape that continually morphs, sprouts new objects and larger than life characters and leaps chaotically from perspective to perspective, as colors dance across the scenery like the skin of a schizophrenic chameleon. Time slows down, speeds up and spins backward. The sound track is disjointed and abrasive, making sure that stability and security fail to root, for even a blink.

This isn't as far fetched an experience as one might think. We perceive our world in the present moment from only one singular perspective. Our past helps to guide what in our experience we focus on and our vision is further skewed by expectations and preconceptions. Others ply us to agree with their perceptions and assessments, and we have a penchant for seeing what we want to see, rather than what is.

Our slanted observations are then subject to relatively random interpretations. Again, steered by outer pressures, inner habits and personal desires. Our sight and our interpretations of what we see are both entirely subjective and, looking from a longer perspective, largely arbitrary.

So the worlds that only exist inside of our heads are built on quicksand, constructed of fluff and subject to drastic and uncoordinated make-overs, without prior notice. But we bend the lens we view through enough to convince ourselves that our inner representation of the whole is actually uniform and consistent. We do so because it's a more comfortable notion to live with.

This, of course, doesn't change the fact that our mindscapes really aren't much more stable than the landscapes in that imaginary cartoon.

Observe your reactions to this notion.

It will be natural for many to see this as a bad or undesirable truth – therefore an ignorable or deniable one. But it's simply the way it is. It's how we're engineered. We evolved within a fluid system and are made to be compatible with, and adaptable to, life's ever changing “rules” and circumstances.

Think of it like the weather. We always need to monitor and forecast it so that we can intelligently plan our activities around what it's doing. It may frustrate us at times, but we can clearly see that its nature is to be erratic, and so we adjust our thinking accordingly. Seeing, accepting and understanding that the mindscape is creation in action empowers us to embody a purer state of being and way of seeing. One that accepts knowing from a wiser source than our reasoning, and is eager to, unabashedly, see all of our foibles.

No longer caught in a tug of war between numerous random thoughts, feelings and images, with the strongest ones getting to have their way with us. Free to explore or ignore notions as seems right from a comfortably removed, relatively dispassionate perspective. Content with our perpetually inaccurate and incomplete understanding.

The problem isn't the trippy toon like way of our inner world, but the fact that we see them as solid, take them as gospel and discount other possibilities.

Th-th-th-that's all, folks!

On Asana

2011-02-14T20:43:00.001-05:00

It's not about getting the body into the postures
in the right way.

It's about being in a right way,
while helping the body to learn the postures.

On Asana

2011-02-07T22:45:00.001-05:00

Better to divine what to do, and how to do it, than to decide what and how.

The truth is …

2011-02-07T22:44:00.001-05:00

The truth is aesthetically alluring.
It's beautiful, ingenious, elegant, eloquent, organic and graceful.

The truth is unsympathetic.
It cares nothing of our attempts to interpret and explain it, or of substantiating our beliefs, desires and illusions.

The truth is compassionate.
It's understanding, patient, nurturing and fully accepting of our perennial misunderstandings.

The truth is elusive.
It flirts coyly, remaining amorphous and non-committal, occasionally contradicting itself to keep our interest peeked.

The truth is generous.
It freely, and repeatedly, offers a greater and clearer understanding for us to infuse into our being.

The truth is easily distorted.
It seems to contort under the weight of our wishes and expectations, when we try to pin it down in our minds.

The truth is freeing.
It perpetually encourages and assists us, to refresh and renew ourselves and our views.

The truth is transcendent.
It's a regular at meetings of the local “unknowables” support group, along with consciousness, eternity and infinity.

The truth speaks in silence.
It uses a language, never composed or taught, yet understood by all who foster the care to listen.

The truth is the ultimate prey for a lifelong quest.
It's breadth and depth continually expand to exceed our capacity for knowledge and understanding, like robotic rabbits tirelessly tempting greyhounds to strive with complete commitment.

The truth strikes like lightening.
It rewrites the terrain like a tidal wave, plasters over existing presumptions like a pyroclastic flow and displaces what was before with a meteoric splash.

The truth is, what it is.
It both defines, and is defined by, the endless unfolding of the infinite cosmos and the ethereal tidal forces that spawn suns and black holes, inspire life and evolution, and push the pollen particles and planetary pebbles about.

The truth is …

Drifting Together

2011-01-14T09:38:00.000-05:00

Looking at snowflakes under magnification,
they all appear different.
Watching them fall from the sky,
they all seem the same.
Seeing them on the ground,
they're all one.

I guess we're all a little flaky.

A New World

2011-01-12T10:40:00.002-05:00

I seek to understand another world beyond what I can experience. I'm a dolphin wishing to know of mountain goats, dust storms and forest fires. I don't want to build on my understanding, but want it to be erased and replaced with another template, in a new context. I long for this notion of what is, this fantasy that I've been cobbling together for a half of a century, to be shredded and scattered and forgotten. I want to trade in my five senses for six new ones, to exchange my clumsy thinking for clear knowing. There's so very much that I can't perceive and that won't fit into my simple story. I intuit that it's there and yearn to embrace it, but here I am, left to frolic beneath the waves, merely dreaming of dragonflies and tumble weeds.

Faithfully Yours

2011-01-11T22:47:00.000-05:00

People are always crediting God for getting them through tough times, when it's really their faith that did it. They chose to believe that some benevolent deity would look after them and theirs, but that needn't be a part of the equation, at all. Faith, in and of itself is the source of the spirit of perseverance, and the strength to overcome trials and triumph, despite any echoing voices of doubt. Faith that things are OK and will work out for the best, that one will survive, prosper or be a force for good. Faith that no matter what happens, adversity will be overcome and one will become better as a result.

God doesn't do anything, faith does.

Certain Freedoms

2011-01-11T22:15:00.001-05:00

Philosophers, spiritual aspirants and scientists have certain freedoms, not permitted in the halls of religion and politics. They're able to hold multiple contradictory theories at once, without feeling conflicted. They comfortably embrace a quest for the honest truth, at whatever cost to their history and suppositions. They're strengthened by knowing that unquestioning commitment is fool hearty and disempowering. They see being proven wrong or shown another way, as welcomed progress. They understand that faith can, and does, thrive in the absence of fixed belief. And they're allowed, in fact, expected to think and judge for themselves.

The Mother Universe Theory

2011-01-06T08:16:00.001-05:00

Just as a ray of sunlight cast upon a wall is merely a glimmer of the suns radiance, so to our essences are but a glistening of the universal consciousness. The universe itself is engaged in a search for knowing and in its quest has fragmented itself, investing its consciousness into everything that is and all that is between. We are, in essence, a small part of the universe’s quest to understand itself.

On Meditation:

2011-01-04T15:20:00.001-05:00

We don't meditate to gain something.
We meditate to free ourselves of all of the things
that obscure our ability to open to that which we have,
yet don't, and can't, possess.

Question(s) d'jour:

2011-01-04T15:11:00.001-05:00

How do you want to feel?
Knowing that your presence affects how others feel,
how do you want to make others to feel?
Are the two compatible?

The Truth is Bigger than Us

2011-01-04T13:35:00.000-05:00

Denial is pervasive in all areas of life and across all segments of society. Sometimes it's very benign, sometimes it threatens the entire planet. Research has shown that people are less likely to believe truthful realities when they contradict beliefs, lifestyles and cultural attitudes. If someone's mom passed deep fried lard off as good eats, then it'll likely take a coronary to convince him to take it off the menu. For a 4th generation coal miner, acid rain and global warming will sound like deceptive hoaxes. A culture built around consumerism isn't going to be easily steered toward a conservational lifestyle.

Too many people are getting by, if not rich, in the current system and will provide their own “facts” to prove that there's no need for change. And people are comfortably ensconced in their ways of living and thinking, and will be more eager to believe that all is well, as it is.

Masses have been shouting warnings of the potentially dire consequences of abusing our environment for millennia. No doubt there were those on Easter Island who cried for a dose of sanity. They were probably burned along with the last tree – right before the remaining residents all died off or were forced to flee.

Our presidents (presumably reflecting on what had become of the natural environment in Europe) have been preserving specific regions and articles of nature's splendor since the mid 1800's. The industrial revolution has upped the ante, and the volume of many of the activists. Yet, by and large, momentum and money continue to win out over the world that nurtures our very existence.

There are millions of people who live their entire lives without ever leaving the major metropolis of their birth. I've heard people react to the notion escaping society and immersing themselves in the wilderness as though it was akin to drinking used motor oil.

There's plenty of factual evidence to sway societies course, but that's not sufficient. Emotions have to join rationale for change to occur. Watching nature on TV can be helpful. (Which, unfortunately, millions never do.) Ideally it inspires people to go out and experience the real thing for themselves. That is where the heart gets the message.

The truth is that our hearts aren't all that intelligent. They trust the thinking mind to know what our main priorities are, and react to how life is conforming to them. When people live in cities and televisions and computers and phones, they lose their heart connection with the greater world. Their personal lives are front and center and determine their values and judgments.

While there are many that are too afraid of change to change, most people will naturally begin to feel their smallness and the glory of the larger world when steeped in it for even a short time. This is of great value for the individual, as well as the planet. When seen in terms of global and universal perspectives, our personal struggles and obstacles seem trivial and inconsequential. We can learn to feel content, just being. The more we embrace nature, the deeper and longer lasting the contentment we receive from it.

And it doesn't have to be sweeping vistas. A single insect can have the same affect, if one chooses to see life “in its shoes”, instead of ending its life under his/her shoes.

Beyond Asana

2010-12-19T08:11:00.000-05:00

When practicing asana, many try to pack as much activity into their sadhanas as possible. This makes them feel that they've received the maximum value for their time invested. And logically, it seems like more work should produce superior results.

Similarly, many musicians try to impress themselves and/or others by packing as many notes as possible into their solos. And those who judge music intellectually might be impressed by this. However, those who are lured by music's aesthetic qualities will naturally glean that the truly talented artists play the silence as much as the notes.

Likewise, a skillful yogi understands that intuition, stillness and ease are as important as alignment, movement and dynamic expression.

Although, to many, this may sound counter intuitive, some will instinctively sense the truth in these words. The truth that the wisdom of the body, and that wafting through the air, are as valuable as anything that the mind can grasp or contain. Even for those who accept this, it can take years to move from accepting the concept to fully employing it.

It's just one in an endless string of lessons along the way. But it's a profound one that opens the door to an otherwise inaccessible field of potential insights.

There can be no yoga (union of body, mind and spirit) as long as the ego insists on maintaining its dominance. As long as practice is solely about going through the steps, about following given guidelines to a predetermined goal. It's ironic that once the ego relinquishes rigid control, its wishes are granted more quickly and comfortably - with unexpected bonuses. But that's how it is.

Sure, one can improve his/her performance of the postures with diligent practice. But practicing asana is not practicing yoga. Asana practice makes for a healthy body. Yoga practice makes for a healthy mind. Together, they make for a fuller being, greater connection to living and a more gratifying life.

Lessons of Life

2010-12-19T08:10:00.000-05:00

The world is our teacher.
We learn much more
when we embrace the belief
that we don't already know.
Shhh ... Listen.
The silence is speaking.

Humanity

2010-12-12T20:42:00.000-05:00

Originally, humanity wasn't a term that identified our species. It signified an ideology of how we're “supposed” to feel, think and act. It symbolized the epitome of our best nature and highest aspirations.

We can rationalize our morals. We can act in accordance with rules, designed to guide us toward behaving humanely. But the nature of thoughts and emotions is sporadic, erratic and easily distorted. It's simply not practical to rely on them to steadily lead us into embodying our humanity.

Hence, my heavy focus on connecting to, and living in connection with, our silent selves. And, in using that to set our bearings. Our individual selves only exist inside of our thoughts. When we release our attachment to them, we naturally sense our interconnectedness with all of existence.

If we can learn to regard our individual perspective as just one of many, and let our eternal and universal awareness be our guiding light, we will genuinely inherit and exemplify our true humanity.

Ahhh

2010-12-11T10:18:00.001-05:00

The thinking mind isn't comfortable with the empty nature of our unadorned awareness. So it gathers anything it can find, in order to cobble an avatar together, to act as a stand in for our most basic and enduring being. But, as most quickly learn to prioritize their cognitive capacities over all else, the stand in typically winds up getting credit for being the lead. This is, of course, based on the premise that there is consciousness that exists independent of the body/brain.

However, the onus isn't all on the individual. Being born into a culture that's already succumbed to this delusion, we're taught to accept the falsehood from the onset. Many would look at you as if you were whacked out of your gourd were you to tell them the truth. In fact, they likely wouldn't be able to fathom what you were talking about, because it runs so contrary to the foundations of their self and world views.

We need to have our identities, if we are to act with purpose and direction. Scientists would never make brilliant discoveries after years of research, if they didn't adopt the quest for knowledge as a part of their purpose. Artists wouldn't hone their skills without a sense that expressing the unspeakable was integral to their being. Suffering is curtailed because some embody their charitable nature. And societies are built around the components of people assuming roles.

But our identities aren't nearly as consistent as most assume they are, and shouldn't be guarded or taken too seriously .

Thoughts, feelings, beliefs, aspirations, etc. are constantly changing. Yet most cling to the illusion that their mental activities represent their continuous and stable beings. If this were the case, then, over the course of your life, there have been a great many “yous” inhabiting your body. (Which is also in a constant state of change.) If you review your life, without a fog bias, you'll likely recognize that only the "watcher" has remained relatively unchanged. But most are lost in their mindscapes and go through their lives on auto pilot, essentially sleep walking, as the engrained patterns of their minds repeat themselves, ad nauseum.

It doesn't take any magical powers to step back from our mental activity and rest in that quiet space. It just takes the sincere intention and a bit of practice. And through practicing that, we learn to not take the mental happenings personally.

It may appear and/or feel scary, initially. But it's kind of like looking at the bubbling water in a hot tub and assuming that it's boiling. Once you climb in and get acclimated, it's really quite pleasant. Ahhh.

Kick the Habit

2010-12-11T10:02:00.000-05:00

(For ease of reading and writing, in this article “thoughts” encompasses all mental activities – thoughts, emotions, images, intentions, desires, etc.)

Thoughts occur in the present, and it's possible to observe them happening in the moment. But 99.999% of the time, people are swept up in their thoughts and lose that larger perspective. In all fairness, it's a pretty advanced practice to not do so. We have to begin by learning to greet them at their source, see how they arise and how they enforce and sustain each other. Then we learn to witness their birth and let them go, as they form. This nurtures a feeling of dispassion toward them, which is a precursor to being able to follow them without being engulfed by them.

There is, of course, no need to break out of those old habits, unless one wants to be unconditionally content and in actual control of his/her thoughts and actions.

When living inside of thoughts, we're drawn along by their currents and easily bumped off course by any other errant thoughts that may collide with us. It's like being the ball in a pinball machine instead of standing outside of it and controlling the flippers. And thoughts are never satiated. If we wait for thoughts to complete themselves, in order to feel satisfied, it will never happen. If we wait for the world to fall in line with our thoughts, satisfaction will arise only in fleeting moments, at the very best.

Habits can be hard to change, but they're just habits. And these habits of mental conduct don't define us any more than habits of smoking or overeating do. And they're no more a given way of being, beyond our control.

Sure, pretty much everyone else does it that way. The same could have been said of smoking 70 years ago. With luck, in another 70 years, the majority will have adopted the healthier habit of rising above, and maintaining perspective of, their thoughts.

I wonder - how can we get the surgeon general to put a warning label on the side of our thought boxes?

Illusory Grains in an Ethereal Desert

2010-12-05T19:12:00.000-05:00

Some say that we're nothing more than our bodies. Many profess that we are eternal souls, temporarily inhabiting a physical realm. I suspect that we, as individuals, are more like unique ripples, echoes or reflections of an undetectable and unfathomable impetus. A momentum that's not of this realm, yet interacts with it, and has been doing so since long before our species arose.

Our being is evidence of its being, much the way that excessively bending light waves from distant galaxies are evidence of the existence of dark matter. Or the way we know that electrons are there, because of their affects, even though we can't see or pinpoint them.

It's comforting to imagine that there's something enduring, that is specifically and uniquely us, as individual beings. There are many stories and promises of continuing life after our physical death. Some claim recollection of past lives, and express it as though they were entirely personal experiences.

In the world around us, we can clearly see that events happen, and things come and go, as a natural matter of course. Everything being inter-dependent with everything else, and the cosmos represents a grander example of this same causal process. In theory, the greater world is as much a reflection of a non-physical unfolding as we are. So it makes sense that, from a larger perspective, the individual players are only fleeting wisps of smoke, dwarfed by the scale of space and time. And that our notions of remaining whole and consistent for all of eternity are unrealistic and childishly fanciful.

I, of course, know no more or less than anyone else about such things. From our vantage point, we simply can't see. And since it's so easy for us to be misled or to misinterpret things, we shouldn't assume certainty, even if we could.

Speculation can be a fun and inspiring endeavor. But in the end, if we're truthful, we have no choice but to let the mystery be.

Assignment d'jour:

2010-12-05T19:05:00.000-05:00

Rekindle a lost or fading relationship.

Passing the Baton

2010-12-05T19:03:00.000-05:00

BANG! And the race begins. Not a race to a finish line somewhere, but to one sometime. It's not a race that anyone wants to finish in a hurry. No running is required - just persevering. There are no victors - only survivors. But the scenery is unbelievably glorious, the companionship is deeply nourishing and the potential for growth is immeasurable.

Whether we realize it or not, we carry a baton with us from end to end in this odyssey. One that, by natural law, we'll pass on at the end of our race - just as it was handed to us in our pre-infancy. Of course, we don't actually own our batons any more than water molecules own the waves that pass through them.

As we roll along, our batons absorb the essence of both, the lessons we learn, and those we ignore. They record all of our relations, aspirations and interpretations. Our moods and thoughts are etched into their flesh. Through this process, the quality that they had when we received them changes continuously throughout the race. And our cumulative affects on them determine how they will resonate when we hand them off, as we break the tape.

The batons we carry greatly influence who and how we are. As they will the next, in this eternal relay. We may not be able to change how our batons are, immediately, but we are responsible for how we influence them. And we can choose how they mature and how weighty they are when we pass them along.

Of course, this takes more than proclaiming a desire to do so. Continually refining one's intention is the means of directing its development. And the results are commensurate with the diligence, attention and effort applied, over the course of a lifetime.

There's no obligation. Evolution happens on its own. But we are uniquely capable of deliberately re-forming our own batons. And for some, it's uplifting to respectfully consider the future recipients of this life's actions and attitudes.