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near death
October 2009 
A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE!
Posted on Feb 7th, 2009
by 
Gien
Gien
GRATITUDE FOR LIFE - A short book/poem
This morning I awoke before my love Anna did
I lay there watching her
as the blankets covering her moved up and down
following her breath
and I thought to myself:
She isn’t breathing
she is breathed
we aren't thinking
we are thought
we aren't living
we are lived
I began reflecting about life
as I often do while lying in bed
This time, because my colleague and I
could easily have lost our lives
on a highway accident the day before
----------------------------------------
A HIGHWAY TALE
I was driving with my colleague Mike
He and I are pursuing a dream, a vision
both on our way to a meeting
to see if we could get financing to fulfill our dreams
(a meeting which we found out upon arrival was cancelled....what delicious irony!)
I had just picked Mike up
his car was in the shop for repairs
We just left downtown and pulled onto the freeway
and we happened to follow a large tow truck ahead of us
It was towing a bus that earlier had been completely engulfed in flames
I thought to myself: "Ah....this is the work of an arsonist that my wife and stepson were talking about earlier"
It was an orange bus
but the fire had transformed the insides into a rust brown
The roof was gone and it wasn't covered with a tarp or anything
It seemed a surreal sight
thousands of metal shards were waving in the air
like grass in the wind
No sooner had I finished this thought
when suddenly, a large chunk of debris seemed to magically lift itself off the bus
and became suspended above it like a cloud in the sky
Mike and I both stared transfixed at this roughly 8 ft. x 4 ft. piece of debris
as it flew high up into the sky above us
It was coming directly our way!
We didn't really know what it was
I remember my mind thinking: "My oh my, it looks like a large piece of paper!"
Time seemed to slow right down
It was definitely one of those slow motion moments for me
and the debris hung suspended in the sky above us like a cloud
changing it's shape as it danced in the wind
I could see it getting larger and larger
and I knew it was going to hit us
I reacted instinctively to try to avoid it
swerving to the right without even looking
I quickly glanced into the rear view mirror as I was swerving
and saw a black car swerve as well to avoid me
then I heard this sound
WHAM!
It struck the front of the car
and immediately, half of it went under
The other half was visible on the front grill
The car began dragging it and making this loud screeching sound of metal on pavement
A second later, Mike yelled "Stop the car! Stop the car!"
I didn't brake immediately, thank god
or it would have caused a multi-car pile up on the freeway
I decelerated slowly and came to a stop
Mike jumped out of the car to look at the damage
"Back up" he yelled and I did
I applied the handbrakes and steppped outside the car
and saw this piece of sheetmetal folded in half from being dragged by the car
We removed the piece of metal from the road
and placed the debris on the side of the freeway out of harm's way
I was mildly surprised that there was no damage to the vehicle
Except for a few scratches on the bumper
there was no sign that anything had happened
Cars that didn't know what just happened began honking
Mike said: "People are so impatient in this town, they don't think"
We hopped back into the car
and drove off to our meeting
----------------------------------------
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THIS LIFE
I thought later
life is so precious
and so transitory!
We get into a car to go to work
such an ordinary event
Yet, that mundane ordinary event
could be our last moment alive
We never think how our life will end
It could come as a surprise
and since most of our lives
are filled with ordinary, mundane things
the chances of it happening during such a moment
are quite good, aren't they?
It is therefore so important
to leave all beings with good thoughts, wishes and aspirations
no matter who they are
friends, enemies or strangers
All beings are the same
all want happiness
and all want not to suffer
all will see their last moment of life
as a monumental event
I think of Feica, Anna's teacher's wife
whom we've visited before
and who was just diagnosed with terminal cancer
and who is in her last days
I think of Vera
who just died recently
then I think of my step son
who doesn't even considere death except as a cartoon character he shoots
in a video game
whose mind is concerned
with keeping itself occupied
to whom a vacuum is to be abhored
Such concepts enters his mindstream
and leaves just as quickly
The young are often like this
they are just beginning their journey
going through the classical display of teenage bravado
and haven't had enough experiences in life to appreciate events that occur
at the end of their life
Time is one of our greatest teachers as he will learn
when Anna dies, his father dies, I die or other he knows dies
when someone he REALLY knows dies
only then will death not be an abstraction
Wise is the person who will consider death
when it is still far off
Most, however, push it away, out of fear
and only deal with it when it is absolutely necessary
i.e. when it dawns as a near or dawning reality
I thought about how I say "I love you" to my wife Anna every morning
including this morning
(and evening and throughout the day!)
and how important it is to show people
how much you care for them
The expiry date on our life is unknown
it can come at any moment
Never take life for granted
the great teachers always say this
Seize the opportunity
this human life is precious
It is a gift bestowed upon every single living being
and it mustn't be wasted
in negativity, anger, violence of body, speech or mind
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THE DIVINITY WITHIN
There is a greater consciousness continually moving through us
always there
since the moment we were born
telling us
reminding us
of our greatness
of our natural communion with all beings and things
We are part of a greater being
an appendage
a vehicle to manifest its potential
and every seemingly mundane action, thought or feeling
is an expression of its divine nature
A forever, unnameable quality
which is not separate from us
but at our very core
Call it what you like
or don't call it anything at all
don't get caught up in semantics!
just realize that all names refer to this natural, innate intelligence
Regardless of it's name
this infinite wisdom is there
expressing itself in us at all time
whether we are happy, angry or sad
we are but expressions, paintstrokes of that great artist
expressing itself in all that we perceive around us
every second, every microsecond, every nanosecond
at all points of time and space and beyond
in every single thought, every single peception,
every moment of pain
or every moment of joy
through all the order and structure and pattern
that is the mosaic of our life
And we human beings
like all our cousins
our cousin tree, cousin bird, cousin stone, cousin mountain, cousin sky, cousin water
cousin cell phone, cousin movie, cousin computer, cousin buildings, cousin airplanes
are simply actualizing machines
we are simply actualizing and expressing its infinite potential at every moment
Or, you can think of it
as the greatest artist of all
painting infinite patterns all around us, including
the pattern of ourselves!
We only become aware of it
when it stops functioning within us
... when our body is no longer warm
... when these brains can no longer think
... when our kidneys stop filtering poisons
... when our stomach stops working
... when our thoughts become confused
... when our lungs stop breathing
... when our heart stops pumping blood
Sadly, it is often only then
when we begin to realize
what this life is about
and what it's not about
and that the way we've been living
is mostly what life is not about
Our smaller consciousness may think as it likes
but ultimately, it has little control over this life
What little power it does hold
gives it the desperately grasped illusion of permanence
so that it can masquerade it's fear of death
of falling into an abyss of unknown
Through this great unstoppable force
whose power is like a raging river after the winter melt
We have been brought into the theatre of life
Our lives are lived so that it can experience itself
through joy and pain
and finally, the greatest lesson
we are brought out of life
-----------------------------------
THE LESSONS OF LIFE (AND DEATH)
All beings drift into our lives to teach us lessons
lessons about ourselves
My grandmother, who I loved and cared for
for almost 3 decades
taught me about love
but her greatest lesson
was in her death
which taught me about letting go
My wife Anna
teaches me about love as well
about sharing, giving and taking
about taking the journey of life together
Her son Neville
teaches me about patience
and seeing from a different point of view
and many others
all are my teachers
Of all teachers though
our "enemies" and obstacles
are our greatest teachers
They are
because these situations
are situations we naturally avoid
that we push away
If we are pushing away situations though
that means we can never learn important lessons about ourselves
contained in those situations
There are some people
who can accept and live harmoniously
with many types of people
while there are others
who can only live with specific types of people
and must control circumstances
to push those who bring discomfort out of their lives
Looking at our friends and our enemies
reveal a great deal
about our awareness and our ignorance
We don't want others teaching us about our faults
because our smaller self feels it is being criticized
but if we can look at these things ourselves
then we can gain insightful knowledge about ourselves
without mixing up and confusing good intentions with bad
Why is this important to face our obstacles?
Why is it important to learn these lessons?
It is our obstacles that make us stronger, wiser and more aware
Good athletes play against those as good as them
great athletes play against those who are better than them
Our greater consciousness
is like a strong ocean current from which there is no escape
pulling us ever closer towards our mortality
It is of the greatest importance to our spirit
to be aware of what and who we really are
All that we do
must be seen from the point of view of our life and death
because as human beings
as living beings
it is our basic reality
A living being
is a dying being
To embrace life
but hide from death
is only living to half our potential
and dying with that kind of mystery
is dying with the anxiety of that mystery
It is only by living in the light of truth and openness
that our own spirit can find solace and wisdom at our last moment
Death can come at any moment
As many great teachers have said
at the moment of our death
our entire life will appear
as if it were last nights dream
What can you remember from last nights dream?
It is so vivid when we are right in the midst of it
but when it's recalled as a memory
it is very vague, conceptual and sketchy
Look at your life right now
Your entire life
up to now
is like last night's dream
isn't it?
Sketchy, a vague memory
while the present
is full of vitality, dimensionality, vibrancy, color
it's so alive
So one day
on your own deathbed
your entire life will appear
as a momentary and vague, sketchy memory
What will you do
at that very last moment?
We ignore this question now
at the risk of living in that uncertainty at the last moment
-----------------------------------------
GRATITUDE FOR LIFE
Just as I say "I love you" to my wife Anna each morning
I just wanted to say
I am thankful each and every being
who has entered into my life
We all start as strangers
and the faces become more and more familiar
others become less familiar
yet fundamentally
we are all cast from the same stone
from the greater consciousness
You have each entered my life
through front door, back door or side door
and sometimes
even dropping in through the roof!
Each of you have been my teachers
opening up my awareness
teaching me something about myself
on my journey of my life
May you all find your bliss
may you each recognize the opportunity you now have before you
discover the greater consciousness within you
and grow to your greatest potential of love and kindness
I may be far from many of you
but you are all close to me in my heart
Many Blessings
This morning I awoke before my love Anna did
I lay there watching her
as the blankets covering her moved up and down
following her breath
and I thought to myself:
She isn’t breathing
she is breathed
we aren't thinking
we are thought
we aren't living
we are lived
I began reflecting about life
as I often do while lying in bed
This time, because my colleague and I
could easily have lost our lives
on a highway accident the day before
----------------------------------------
A HIGHWAY TALE
I was driving with my colleague Mike
He and I are pursuing a dream, a vision
both on our way to a meeting
to see if we could get financing to fulfill our dreams
(a meeting which we found out upon arrival was cancelled....what delicious irony!)
I had just picked Mike up
his car was in the shop for repairs
We just left downtown and pulled onto the freeway
and we happened to follow a large tow truck ahead of us
It was towing a bus that earlier had been completely engulfed in flames
I thought to myself: "Ah....this is the work of an arsonist that my wife and stepson were talking about earlier"
It was an orange bus
but the fire had transformed the insides into a rust brown
The roof was gone and it wasn't covered with a tarp or anything
It seemed a surreal sight
thousands of metal shards were waving in the air
like grass in the wind
No sooner had I finished this thought
when suddenly, a large chunk of debris seemed to magically lift itself off the bus
and became suspended above it like a cloud in the sky
Mike and I both stared transfixed at this roughly 8 ft. x 4 ft. piece of debris
as it flew high up into the sky above us
It was coming directly our way!
We didn't really know what it was
I remember my mind thinking: "My oh my, it looks like a large piece of paper!"
Time seemed to slow right down
It was definitely one of those slow motion moments for me
and the debris hung suspended in the sky above us like a cloud
changing it's shape as it danced in the wind
I could see it getting larger and larger
and I knew it was going to hit us
I reacted instinctively to try to avoid it
swerving to the right without even looking
I quickly glanced into the rear view mirror as I was swerving
and saw a black car swerve as well to avoid me
then I heard this sound
WHAM!
It struck the front of the car
and immediately, half of it went under
The other half was visible on the front grill
The car began dragging it and making this loud screeching sound of metal on pavement
A second later, Mike yelled "Stop the car! Stop the car!"
I didn't brake immediately, thank god
or it would have caused a multi-car pile up on the freeway
I decelerated slowly and came to a stop
Mike jumped out of the car to look at the damage
"Back up" he yelled and I did
I applied the handbrakes and steppped outside the car
and saw this piece of sheetmetal folded in half from being dragged by the car
We removed the piece of metal from the road
and placed the debris on the side of the freeway out of harm's way
I was mildly surprised that there was no damage to the vehicle
Except for a few scratches on the bumper
there was no sign that anything had happened
Cars that didn't know what just happened began honking
Mike said: "People are so impatient in this town, they don't think"
We hopped back into the car
and drove off to our meeting
----------------------------------------
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THIS LIFE
I thought later
life is so precious
and so transitory!
We get into a car to go to work
such an ordinary event
Yet, that mundane ordinary event
could be our last moment alive
We never think how our life will end
It could come as a surprise
and since most of our lives
are filled with ordinary, mundane things
the chances of it happening during such a moment
are quite good, aren't they?
It is therefore so important
to leave all beings with good thoughts, wishes and aspirations
no matter who they are
friends, enemies or strangers
All beings are the same
all want happiness
and all want not to suffer
all will see their last moment of life
as a monumental event
I think of Feica, Anna's teacher's wife
whom we've visited before
and who was just diagnosed with terminal cancer
and who is in her last days
I think of Vera
who just died recently
then I think of my step son
who doesn't even considere death except as a cartoon character he shoots
in a video game
whose mind is concerned
with keeping itself occupied
to whom a vacuum is to be abhored
Such concepts enters his mindstream
and leaves just as quickly
The young are often like this
they are just beginning their journey
going through the classical display of teenage bravado
and haven't had enough experiences in life to appreciate events that occur
at the end of their life
Time is one of our greatest teachers as he will learn
when Anna dies, his father dies, I die or other he knows dies
when someone he REALLY knows dies
only then will death not be an abstraction
Wise is the person who will consider death
when it is still far off
Most, however, push it away, out of fear
and only deal with it when it is absolutely necessary
i.e. when it dawns as a near or dawning reality
I thought about how I say "I love you" to my wife Anna every morning
including this morning
(and evening and throughout the day!)
and how important it is to show people
how much you care for them
The expiry date on our life is unknown
it can come at any moment
Never take life for granted
the great teachers always say this
Seize the opportunity
this human life is precious
It is a gift bestowed upon every single living being
and it mustn't be wasted
in negativity, anger, violence of body, speech or mind
-----------------------------------------------------------------
THE DIVINITY WITHIN
There is a greater consciousness continually moving through us
always there
since the moment we were born
telling us
reminding us
of our greatness
of our natural communion with all beings and things
We are part of a greater being
an appendage
a vehicle to manifest its potential
and every seemingly mundane action, thought or feeling
is an expression of its divine nature
A forever, unnameable quality
which is not separate from us
but at our very core
Call it what you like
or don't call it anything at all
don't get caught up in semantics!
just realize that all names refer to this natural, innate intelligence
Regardless of it's name
this infinite wisdom is there
expressing itself in us at all time
whether we are happy, angry or sad
we are but expressions, paintstrokes of that great artist
expressing itself in all that we perceive around us
every second, every microsecond, every nanosecond
at all points of time and space and beyond
in every single thought, every single peception,
every moment of pain
or every moment of joy
through all the order and structure and pattern
that is the mosaic of our life
And we human beings
like all our cousins
our cousin tree, cousin bird, cousin stone, cousin mountain, cousin sky, cousin water
cousin cell phone, cousin movie, cousin computer, cousin buildings, cousin airplanes
are simply actualizing machines
we are simply actualizing and expressing its infinite potential at every moment
Or, you can think of it
as the greatest artist of all
painting infinite patterns all around us, including
the pattern of ourselves!
We only become aware of it
when it stops functioning within us
... when our body is no longer warm
... when these brains can no longer think
... when our kidneys stop filtering poisons
... when our stomach stops working
... when our thoughts become confused
... when our lungs stop breathing
... when our heart stops pumping blood
Sadly, it is often only then
when we begin to realize
what this life is about
and what it's not about
and that the way we've been living
is mostly what life is not about
Our smaller consciousness may think as it likes
but ultimately, it has little control over this life
What little power it does hold
gives it the desperately grasped illusion of permanence
so that it can masquerade it's fear of death
of falling into an abyss of unknown
Through this great unstoppable force
whose power is like a raging river after the winter melt
We have been brought into the theatre of life
Our lives are lived so that it can experience itself
through joy and pain
and finally, the greatest lesson
we are brought out of life
-----------------------------------
THE LESSONS OF LIFE (AND DEATH)
All beings drift into our lives to teach us lessons
lessons about ourselves
My grandmother, who I loved and cared for
for almost 3 decades
taught me about love
but her greatest lesson
was in her death
which taught me about letting go
My wife Anna
teaches me about love as well
about sharing, giving and taking
about taking the journey of life together
Her son Neville
teaches me about patience
and seeing from a different point of view
and many others
all are my teachers
Of all teachers though
our "enemies" and obstacles
are our greatest teachers
They are
because these situations
are situations we naturally avoid
that we push away
If we are pushing away situations though
that means we can never learn important lessons about ourselves
contained in those situations
There are some people
who can accept and live harmoniously
with many types of people
while there are others
who can only live with specific types of people
and must control circumstances
to push those who bring discomfort out of their lives
Looking at our friends and our enemies
reveal a great deal
about our awareness and our ignorance
We don't want others teaching us about our faults
because our smaller self feels it is being criticized
but if we can look at these things ourselves
then we can gain insightful knowledge about ourselves
without mixing up and confusing good intentions with bad
Why is this important to face our obstacles?
Why is it important to learn these lessons?
It is our obstacles that make us stronger, wiser and more aware
Good athletes play against those as good as them
great athletes play against those who are better than them
Our greater consciousness
is like a strong ocean current from which there is no escape
pulling us ever closer towards our mortality
It is of the greatest importance to our spirit
to be aware of what and who we really are
All that we do
must be seen from the point of view of our life and death
because as human beings
as living beings
it is our basic reality
A living being
is a dying being
To embrace life
but hide from death
is only living to half our potential
and dying with that kind of mystery
is dying with the anxiety of that mystery
It is only by living in the light of truth and openness
that our own spirit can find solace and wisdom at our last moment
Death can come at any moment
As many great teachers have said
at the moment of our death
our entire life will appear
as if it were last nights dream
What can you remember from last nights dream?
It is so vivid when we are right in the midst of it
but when it's recalled as a memory
it is very vague, conceptual and sketchy
Look at your life right now
Your entire life
up to now
is like last night's dream
isn't it?
Sketchy, a vague memory
while the present
is full of vitality, dimensionality, vibrancy, color
it's so alive
So one day
on your own deathbed
your entire life will appear
as a momentary and vague, sketchy memory
What will you do
at that very last moment?
We ignore this question now
at the risk of living in that uncertainty at the last moment
-----------------------------------------
GRATITUDE FOR LIFE
Just as I say "I love you" to my wife Anna each morning
I just wanted to say
I am thankful each and every being
who has entered into my life
We all start as strangers
and the faces become more and more familiar
others become less familiar
yet fundamentally
we are all cast from the same stone
from the greater consciousness
You have each entered my life
through front door, back door or side door
and sometimes
even dropping in through the roof!
Each of you have been my teachers
opening up my awareness
teaching me something about myself
on my journey of my life
May you all find your bliss
may you each recognize the opportunity you now have before you
discover the greater consciousness within you
and grow to your greatest potential of love and kindness
I may be far from many of you
but you are all close to me in my heart
Many Blessings
Access: PublicTagged with: near death
I loved this and lved thro every word of yours, especially that incident of near death. I agree with the statement of death. I am already prepared for it. You are great. why not give a link to this in FB.
Sanmugan, I have just posted this link to my profile in Facebook
- isn’t it precious
I was thinking how we say ‘I love you’ every morning on waking.
Then one of us goes out into the world to do something. And may not return for we never know when out time has come. If the other does not return, we will know we said ‘I love you’ that morning. This means so much to us while we are here. This knowing that love is here. Should one of us not return this reality will be a thing of the past. It would mean that while we had the opportunity, we loved in every moment. It will also mean a page has turned and the being we could say those words to is no longer here to receive them. The other will be on a new journey. And so will the one who is ‘left behind’.
Everything comes and goes. This is the only thing of which we can be certain. May we develop the wisdom and awareness which will liberate us from suffering which grows out of the pain of loss.
We walk our path together - for this I am so grateful. The path to oneness. May all beings be liberated from suffering.
I love you, Genie
As I was taken by his writing, I have forgotten you entirely. Excuse me for that lapse. These writings are also one of the reason, I ambeing attracted to Gaia.
Thank you Sanmugan
Gaia seems to be my goto place for reflections
that and my journal or book-to-be
Thank you Anna
Hummingbird
Mother
Daughter
Writer
Artist
Poet
Teacher
Student
Stern when necessary
couragous
soft and vulnerable
my spiritual and everything-else partner in life
May all beings penetrate their fear, anger, jealousy, sadness, indifference, attachment
and find the deeper essence which it masquerades
What an experience, GIen. Thank you so much for sending the link to this, otherwise I would have missed out on it. It really does make you think deeply about life, when death came so close.
I already think a LOT about death, Nicole! hehe
but when it comes that close and visceral
it helps to accelerate one’s awareness and appreciation
Makes you stop and ask
what the heck are we all doing, folks!
Why be so petty in life
why so much anger, hatred and selfishness
when it is so, so precious
Should we not be learning, helping and sharing?
When I think of all the things we do to each other
in our personal lives
and in the world at large
it makes me terribly sad
energy that can go towards making life beautiful for ourselves
instead is wasted on sustaining feelings of insecurity, fear, separation and confusion
May compassion penetrate our hearts
and allow our higher consciousness to recognize itself
Your wife has manifested into several Avatars. Good.
thanks for sharing the link with me gien. this is beautiful!
oh how i can relate when i almost died scuba diving,
caught in an undercurrent…
love, light, and many blessings to you
Life itself is Eternal, but it is our life experiences in this realm that are indeed transitory and cyclical. We really live on borrowed times. The transient phase can ‘seem’ so long, but when you look at the true nature of things, it changes moment to moment, in an instant, nothing stays. Isn’t it so? You’re so blessed, Gien in ways you will never truly comprehend.
O, Gien! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Bela, dear friend,
we learn so much about each other when we share, don’t we?
we are each like floating icebergs
What we know about others
is often less than what we don’t
and we form our views on others based on our limited knowledge
Of course, you and I have shared some deep things
but this I did not know
and only makes me appreciate you more
Death is our intimate companion
accompanying us at each step of our life
These words you say, LIza
are the same as the words
of the greatest yogis and yoginis
We are oh-so-blind to the beauty of the mundane
and always seek that which we think lies beyond the mundane
yet
everything
mundane and novel
is painted by the same universal artist
whose broad, infinite strokes
cover the entire canvas of eternity
Bedazzled by some displays and not others
we attract to some and push away others
creating the illusion of good and bad
within what is fundamentally and universally pure
We are actually all appendages of the great universal being
even though on a relative level
you and I
may think we are different
Within our own selves
we must work so hard
to penetrate these words
which we are so familiar with
and make them come to life
The most profound things
are also the most obvious
Change is just so universal
that it’s profundity eludes almost all
up to that last moment
Cheyenne, thank you for allowing it to flow into you.
We are all teachers and students
at different times of our lives
We are empty, like water
and can take on the shape
of whatever vessel we are poured into
by sharing
we help bring each other
closer to the divine
Deep, deep, deep. Your words make me think. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with all of us…… “By sharing we help bring each other closer to the divine…”
Amy,
we are all teachers and students
we all learn from each other
and pass on our experiences and insights
on this journey towards bliss
Many blessings
thank you for sharing this with us!
I’m sad to share that I’m leaving gaia within the next few days …
I’ve posted a goodbye blog.
I hope you catch it. I will still be on Facebook, so we can stay connected there dear Gien and Anna
I am moved by this Near Death contemplation as it surely provides some potent points of wisdom, especially its invitation to remain “in love” with all the “Guests” (Kibran), teachers, and/or manifestations of Ourself who enter our life moment by moment.
I would also like to offer a reflection that occurred upon reading the above, including Liza’s comments.
As I read words speaking to “death” and the notion that “our life experiences in this realm that are indeed transitory and cyclical”, I wonder if in our speaking in this fashion that we actually further our sense of separation from who/what we REALLY are and what this life is REALLY about.
I have a sense that we can’t be “half-pregnant” with this notion, or understanding on the part of some, that we ARE that very Isness that we have named in many ways - i.e., that “we” are “It” expressing itself via its myriad multi-personality, multi-dimensional nature.
In this understanding, I have a sense that there is no death and that our life experiences are hardly “transitory.” How could that be so as a collective Consciousness that is in its wholeness omni-present, omni-potent and all-knowing - i.e., everything that ever was, is and ever shall be?
I have thus come to believe at an increasingly visceral level that how I view and experience my Self - beyond an belief system, ritual, philosophy, theology, etc. - is paramount to what my experience will be in this life. And this very thought reminds me of what Don Miguel Ruez suggests in “The Four Agreements” - namely that “When we come here we are domesticated no less than dogs or cats by our belief systems, rituals and habits which include our notions of ‘aging’ ‘disease’ and ‘dying’!”
In this understanding, as long as I “language” these concepts (e.g., “aging” and “death”) if I accept the notion that my thoughts held in emotion become “law in the Universe”, then what indeed am I manifesting moment by moment via the thought, emotion, and energy dynamic that results in our experience of life in matter?
I recognize that this it is a challenge to embrace the possibility (reality) that these are simply a matter of mind shaping matter - and certainly something that can hardly be achieved via the mind. Yet more and more as I let into my “body” that very possibility, and “embrace” as a living Essence, I am beginning to feel from the inside out the “more” that there is to “Me” and Life.
Namaste my friends
PERIDOT!
changes
bringing beings together
and taking beings apart
hello and goodbye are said
at the same timeless and infinite moment of now
off you go
into the rest of your life!
you were never born
so you can never die!
I am your greater mind reflecting yourself back to you
you, my greater mind reflecting myself back to me
Many Blessings on a gaia-free life!
KEOLANI,
Thank you for your great insights
nothing like the subject of our mortality
to bring them out!
Life is so strange and wonderous, isn’t it?
We describe it using words
words which are inextricably bound to thoughts
all of which are inextricably bound to our development as human beings
and which are in their fundamental nature
part of the very fabric it attempts to describe!
As adults
we find ourselves in a puzzling situation
We have such amazing control of symbols
able to intrepret them and conjure them up in realtime
yet this amazing control
so necessary to operate as a normal social being
is also our curse
for this interpretative mind
conditioned to be lightning fast
from decades of education
cannot so easily be turned off
and colors our entire world
applying a filter to it
and disconnecting us from its pure nature
We have forever lost the path which brought us here
thinking and language
hopelessly entangles us in endless loops
that ensnare each other
like the mythical ouroboros
which consumes it’s own tail
It’s one thing to talk as we do here
and it’s another thing
to be in the moment without words or thoughts
As a tool for our spiritual growth
langauge will always be mired in insurmountable dificulties
Like anything in this world
though it is birthed from the infinite
it nonetheless possesses finite qualities
As any finite tool
we can only use it for a limited range of uses
Taking it outside its defined range of application
will make it useless
A hammer cannot be used to saw with
neither can a saw be used to hammer with
Everything possesses this simultaneous quality
of both the infinite and the finite
and that’s where we feel the contradiction
The universal artist
the master creator of all
including itself
creates the illusion of finite
out of a working material
that has infinite potential
A hammer has a defined shape, weight, form, texture
and many other qualities which make it a hammer
Yet
if you break it down infinitely, it consists of
nothing!
If you break anything down
it all breaks down to the same thing
nothing
or energy, another word
which is just a mathematical term, a symbol
for something which we have no direct perception of
We have grown comfortable with symbols
and somewhere in our conditioning
through repeated use and social acceptability
we have come to personally accept symbols
as a substitute for a direct perception
weird!
Something finite
comes from something formless and of infinite potential
This simultaneous quality of finite and infinite
reflects the coexistence
of relative and absolute truth
samsara is nirvana
they are one and the same
The greater mind
splits itself in half
the two halves of our “subjective” or inner reality
which we feel is beneath the skin
and the “objective” or external reality
…everything else appearing outside of our skin
How could the mind
assumed to be on the inside
recognize a flower
assumed to be on the outside?
if the 2 did not share something fundamentally in common?
When we close our eyes
does the flower momentarily disappear from sight?
yes, it does
does it disappear from existence?
yes or no?
If we say no
we then assume that things exist independent of our ability to perceive them
this is the normal assumption of relative reality
an independently existing universe
If we say yes
then we are saying that the flower only exists when we see it
something which seems odd and contradictory to common sense
Our normal operating perspective as living beings
as of an independently existing universe
When we blink our eye
we do not think objects are brought out of existence during that time
and then reconstructed back into existence when we open them
We rather apply the principle of “continuity”
and ASSUME that objects exist while we do not perceive them
This seems supported by the fact that what we saw before
is usually still there when we open our eye
although it may have changed slightly
This is also supported by the stories of other human beings
who tell us what they have been doing
in the time that we did not directly perceive them
It is also supported by our different modalities of perceptions
When we perceive an event
we can perceive it through one of 5 different senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch
When one of our senses is blocked, others may still be functioning
An event may be associated with more than one sense modality and direct perception of one may continue while another is broken
For instance, I could hold your hand, listen to you talk and watch your face
If I close my eyes, I still feel your hands the same way and your voice could still be heard in a continuous manner
All our stories, our continuation of consistent experience of other sense modalities and the continuation of the event in a logical manner after we return to direct perception all support an independent existence of objects
Hundreds of stories of different human beings experiencing a common event
all seem to support each other perfectly
to create a coherent total story of an event
even though we have not directly experienced it
This is why independent existence of objects
seems such a compelling reality
Yet
what is it
that keeps objects on a certain trajectory or path
even when we do not have direct perception of them?
What keeps them persisting in this world
in the way that things appear to persist
when we are not directly perceiving them?
When we are not directly perceiving objects
we really can’t say anything about their state
it’s really unknown
However, we can make assumptions
so that when we do perceive them again
there is a logical explanation
Can you imagine if everytime we blinked our eyes
before us was a completely different reality?
with different people, different situations, different physical properties
different places?
That would be too discontinuous, wouldn’t it?
and this is not our experience of life
Rather, we fill in the gap when we lack direct experience
and it always seems to work
to assume the independent existence of objects in the gap
There is one place, however, where we do experience just such a discontinuity
Do you know where?
….in our dreams!
TO BE CONTINUED ?….I am tired now and must sleep and dream….go into that other reality where discontinuity is natural!
WOW gein..you are a genious …thanx for being who you are !!..hehe
hugs
Hi Sawinder
thank you for those hugs!..they were very nice!
embracing the entire universe with your heart!
Thank you for the flattering comment
but I’m really more a questioner than an answerer!
Besides, flattery will get you nowhere
on a site that deals with the illusion of ego! hehe
I’m on this journey with you and everyone else alive
this neverending journey
with no beginning and no real end
In school, I used to be shy
I would want to ask a question
but was too shy to raise my hand to ask
The one who raises their hand
always ask the same question that is on the minds of many others
I’m just making up for lost time!
There is so much more to learn!
I have but taken the first step
towards the infinite
At least it’s in the right direction though!
….towards openness
We are “closed” beings
trying to experience our primordial openness
finite beings
trying to experience our infinite potential
Not only is the universe made it teeny weeny little bits
so are we!
and in the end
there’s also nothing to be found
we should be humbled
when we finally really look at the obvious
that though we can claim to do things like
drive a car, write words, things like that
this little mind doesn’t really don’t do the more complicated things
like breath or coordinate the muscles that pump the heart
or even think
those things come from our greater mind
that binds us to the rest of the universe
many blessings!
This is incredible, Gien, and so full of love and sweetness and warmth. Thank you for the reminder that you are, and for all you bring here. I love the poetry of your expression.
And keolalani… Namaste to you as well. :)
bliss is an amazing thing – if we fail to find it then it will come looking for us.
People out work will find themselves in better situations wondering how did
I get here… I was unhappy in that other job and now I’m happy…
Here’s to bliss – may we find it before it comes looking for us :-)
Namaste
i didnt read all but the first worsd about breathing .. is known . i love it
Hi SIONA,
That’s it isn’t it?
Our whole life is a reminder of our own sacredness
Change
ordinary, mundane change
the life/death of each moment
is the defining quality of the universal artist
With change
the pure and total presence
the vast expanse without center or border
continually reaffirms its own infinite potential
with an unceasing self display
There is only one moment
in which the universal artist expesses itself
in infinite variety of ways
infinite variety of change
changing seasons, changing thoughts, changing sounds
changing feelings, changing colors, changing people
There is only one moment
Though through the illusion of time
there seems to be many
yet the many moments of time
are irreconcilable with our direct experience of reality
This contradiction itself
effortlessly dissolves into the moment of nondual / nonthought
language is funny
it can speak of its own inherent limitations
even while it cannot transcend them
NIGHTPHOENIX,
Bliss is our inner child
waiting to be set free
waiting for permission to come out to play
I read something today by an author Isaac Shapiro
from the book of the teachings of
Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi and Sri H.W.L. Poonja
which your comment made me think of
We search for bliss
we make effort
“If you are making any effort this will take you out of now and reinforce the sense of I. It will take you somewhere else. It will make a subtle game of different experiences and the evaluation of these experiences. When you are ready to end all of this, you come to NOW, to this instant.”
“When you say you are going to meditate for 1/2 hour, you have already tied your mind outside meditation before you have started because you are actually saying AFTER 1/2 HOUR, I’M NOT GOING TO MEDITATE ANYMORE. To be in this instant is meditation. You are always here. Simply be with the direct experience of who you are which is for 24 hours a day and is always NOW. You cannot be who you are for only 1/2 HOUR!”
Circumstances change
jobs change, as you say
but the potential bliss within us
can be stable throughout
Joy that is conditional
is a joy that is still dependent
on the 3 divisions of friends, enemies and strangers
Seeing equanimity from the direct experience of emptiness
one’s bliss will be equally equanimous
SEA-SH-ELLE,
We are breathed
We are lived
We are the pure and total presence
the vast expanse without center or border
As Longchempa said:
We are this majestic awareness,
freely transforming itself,
displaying the
integrated structure
centered around the inner reality of form
Everything
that exists and appears
displays itself in the space of unborn reality
In this inner reality there is nothing to accept or reject
All that exists is displayed by me,
the supreme ordering principle
Many Blessings
to the vast expanse
without border or center
Dear Glen
Thank you for your so eloquent response yet alas filled like I with so many thoughts and words.
A great teacher with whom I spent some time once asked, “Tell me one thing that is not a thought!” He then said, “Breathing?” That is a thought!”
Point being that all of this - everything we “see” and don’t see is ultimately a “thought” … and I find no limitation in that, rather eternity.
I am privy in some respects to the machinations of the mind, yet also find that if I am able to step outside the duality of looking at my Self, your Self, etc. as a mere “personality Self” … I open to the magic of everything being Infinite Mind, Consciousness, and that for which there is ultimately no words to describe.
Indeed, of late, I’ve even begun to experience that which we consider “inanimate” … this desk, chair, computer, lamp, etc. … everything which comes before my eyes, including the space between my eyes and any “object” - all as a living, vibrating Essence which at it’s core is ultimately simply a “thought.”
This is not a mere intelletutalization. I feel it viscerally in my body so deeply that when I let my consciousness rest in that place, I am truly moved to tears from the love I feel for everything that I see.
THIS is life to me. This is meeting Divinity face-to-face. For how could it be any less? If that Isness is “everything that ever was, is and ever shall be” … then pray what is having a conversation with itself right now? What indeed is having the next “thought” right now? Is there nothing else BUT that Essence … and when we get that … nothing else but loving everything we see seems to apply, for we are IT loving the reflection of ourself?
Yes, at some point, there is a place between the words and without the words. Yet holding to that as the only reality is, I think, “not it” either.
What is simply is … all of it … the thoughts, the words, the limitations, the silence, the space, the fullness … it simply all is … that which we love and know in our hearts and soul simply as G.O.D. - i.e, the Great Omnipotent Divinity.
And when I can tap into this, as I pick up a dish to wash it, or touch my lamp, or engage with another from a place of seeing “them” with the same loving eyes … all I can do is love what I see. No need for grand teachers, philosophies, theologies, rituals, etc. Simply loving everything that comes into this space, for It IS my Beloved.
Blessings
Keolalani
KEOLALANI,
so precious!
I can feel your/my/vast expanse without center or border energy coming through your words
all the great masters live right through us
as soon as we can have the direct experience
pointed to by the words
All the great teachings reveal themselves
all at once
once we can live in this precious, indescribable moment
Words and thoughts are the clarity aspect of this infinite potential
and along with every single appearance
like the lawn mower sound coming through the door
or the light filling my space
or the infinite myriad patterns now surrounding me
no inside or outside
all is perfect as it is
E ma Ho
Ah yes, Glen. And as those very words were said, I “heard” a thought say, “And aren’t words mere thoughts that are ultimately “vibrations” coming out of somewhere in the vast seemingly intangible (yet perhaps not) Isness?
Also just had an interesting brief “thought” upon looking into the mirror after an hour of “tuning in” (taking this consciousness into this body). As I stood there, it occurred to “me” with a microsecond nod of visceral consent that on some extraordinary level this body and being are ultimately a “lie.” I know this may sound strange, but in that brief moment, there seemed a flash of realization at a felt level that “I” am not this … not this body or even this personal self having (receiving?) that thought.
And then something seemed to say, “I am all of it dreaming and having this experience.”
I know these very words seemed to drive all that into a mental experience, yet it was hardly that.
Aloha
Keolalani
KEO,
row, row, row your boat
gently down the stream
merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
life is but a dream
some wise sage wrote this song!
All our lives
we think that other minds exist
and that language mediates communications
between these separately existing minds
Yet
we have only ever directly experienced
our “own” mind
Here we are
from a conventional point of view
“you” and “I” are having a dialogue
yet my only experience of your mind
are “external” signs and symbols
and not an “internal” state
such as the experience I have
of my own thoughts, feelings, etc…
Isn’t this a strange manifestation of nature?
Why should it be like this?
Why should there be
this seemingly inherent limitation of human existence?
Why are we forever doomed
to have a brickwall separating the subjective experiences
of “I” and others?
….to experience only the mind of “I”?
To dissolve duality
to dissolve “I” as myself
and others as outside myself
to dissolve this, what essentially amounts to be
a habitual assumption
and see from a unified view
where “I” and “others”
are directly experienced from a more global encompassing view
is an experience so profound
that it will shake the foundation of our worldview
To me
it is still intellectual, relative, dualistic
with some smattering of emptiness of self and emptiness of other
To transform that into a full direct experience
will be the achievement of a lifetime (or many lifetimes!)
ultimately, more thinking and intellectualization can go on forever
but it leads one into the same thinking mind
and the thinking mind cannot solve itself
More thinking is more tension
when the key is to relax the thinking mind
really see it’s limitations with respect to its ultimate quest
and develop the confidence
that the answer will come on its own accord
once we let go completely
It’s ok to talk
as long as it’s not all we do
As long as it leads us to get off our fanny
and look at reality with greater clarity
to relax our mind
to go into the now
without any framework at all
these words and thoughts arise directly
from within the vast expanse without center or border as well
and it is neither to be attached to or rejected
no greater or lesser than any other appearance
it’s arising is magikal and wonderful as well
As the Dzogchenpa’s say
nothing to be gained, nothing to be thrown away
everything is perfect as it is
So wonderful to talk to you
to talk to my greater self
to remind mySELF
of who “I” REALLY am!
Human BEing
not Human DOing.
this blog, and its responses, make me feel lucid. thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Ah Glen. Quite wonderful there. Yes, dissolving the duality. Likely the end of this existence as we know it beyond perhaps merely shaking our worldview.
Sometimes I wonder if Conscious could/would maintain what is here once it evolves Itself as humanity into a nondual state. Sri Aurobindo was quite firm in his saying that ‘this life is not about being born, growing up, having a career, family, growing older, getting enlightened and going off to nirvana. He said it was about whole consciousness (what he termed the “supramental”) inserting itself into this body, and that this had to be a long arduous process involving error and falsehood since it is through the error and falsehood that we expand to take in more consciousness. He then said, “obviously that force could insert itself into this body in a heartbeat, however, it would crack the vase so-to-speak.”
Contemplating that leaves me with some felt sense of what is real in the larger realm on the other side of the veil. Must admit, I long to extract myself from this side (i.e., this dream), much as one eventually extracts oneself from an early morning dream to finally get up and get out of bed.
Synchronistically enough, I receive daily messages from an inspiration website called The Universe (www.tut.com. This morning’s is “One of my favorite things about time and space, Larry, is that absolutely NOTHING can ever happen there that can’t be seen as a blessing in some wonderful way.”
Perspective rules,
The Universe
DAVID,
thank you!
Inner thoughts (my own)
outer thoughts ( yours)
when they come together in harmony
there is a smile, a sigh, an Aaaaah!
Resonance
is a beautiful thing
When one human being can resonate with another
at that moment
two merges into one
A smile is when the universe recognizes itself
in another human being
KEOLALANI,
ISNESS
having a conversation with ISself
ISNESS
creates the illusion of you
ISNESS
creates the illusion of me
so that ISNESS can play with ISself
Our lives
the totality of changes
is the universal play of ISNESS
In the space of thoughts
the ego is befuddled
Try as it might
it is befuddled
Up to the same old tricks
still befuddled!
In the space of no-thought
there is no riddle, no puzzle, no problem to solve
aah…relax!
Ego is unrelenting
it has so much energy
thinking that “if only I can make this final effort….this final thought
it will resolve itself!”
If only!
The great problem solving mind
cannot solve it’s own being
but it hangs on tenaciously
thinking it can
In mathematics
there is a class of theorems called “Existence theorems”
These theorems conjecture that “So and So exists”
Existence theorems are important in mathematics
because if you disprove that something exists
(i.e. all prime numbers are factorable)
then you won’t waste your time in search of something
that doesn’t exist
Similiarly, if you can prove to yourself
that ego’s search for an answer is futile
only then will you stop the unrelenting search
Ego-centric means
to be centered around the ego
The ego is always doing
it is restless and never still
it is always grasping
To fundamentally hold this ego-centric view
then means the mind that is always grasping
Vast, boundless space-centric
is to have no center, no reference system at all
We simply rest
there is nowhere to go
because there is not even
a here or there
As Nagarjuna says
there is neither here
nor there
nor here and there
nor neither here and there
The ego is an expression of the vast boundless space
not the other way around!
From the vast boundless space
emerges the ego
and from that
emerges the view of incompleteness, doing and grasping
Paradoxically
the limited ego-centric view
is a direct product
of the limitless vast spaciousness-centric point of view!
Out of limitless potential
arises bounded and limited ego-centric view!
How this infinite potential
likes to play games with itself!
The world is perfect as it is
without a single thing to change
all is created in perfection
We dont do a single thing
and perfection appears
over and over
what is this thinking anyways?
contradiction in our mind is perfect as it is
unresolved problems are perfect as they are
there is nothing to do in life
and when death comes that is perfect too
Aloha Glen
You say … “The world is perfect as it is
without a single thing to change”
I hear that often, yet do not agree.
Have even had a wonderful conversation w/Adyashanti about this - i.e., how so many believe they only need to be a “light” where they are in the world, and that as you say above “there is nothing to do in life” … and that nothing needs addressing. Adya doesn’t buy that either!
Were there “nothing to do” … nothing intended in this Evolution … no furthering of Consciousness as it exists in matter and has surely evolved over billions of years in this time and space realm … then indeed, this realm would likely never have come to be nor reached its present state of evolution.
In pragmatic terms, as we face very real circumstances we have brought to our doorsteps that now threaten the existence of life on Earth in our own lifetime - including the 2,000 who die of starvation every hour (most children and women) - it appears there is a lot to do here - AND, that from a far deeper expression of who we REALLY are at a soul level that it is incumbent upon us to begin expressing in a far different manner than we have thus far.
Our present intersection of unprecedented climate change, peak oil, global food shortage and a global economic meltdown some say will “dwarf” the Great Depression signal that far from simply sitting and contemplating our navels or esoteric musings, there are some real things for us to do right here, right now if we are to be the expression of Divinity we profess in our spiritual discourse.
Again, with sincere respect, when I hear someone say, “The world is perfect as it is and there is nothing to do”, I wonder what they would do if they were standing near a woman or child who was being abused, if not raped and/or killed? Stand by and say, “everything is perfect as it is”?
I remember reading an Abraham-Hicks blog in which a woman asked of readers what they would do if they were having a picnic by a river and noticed a woman floating by flaying her arms calling for help as she was drowning. I was stunned as most of the blog members said they “weren’t sure” if they would help - and even more by the blog host who said, “I would not help because ‘fixing’ isn’t in my Universe!”
Oh really?
in contrast to what you’ve said in those last two paragaphs, Glen, I’d offer that the world (as are we) may be evolving as best it can in these times - for that’s what “is” in this moment of time. Doesn’t mean, however, there isn’t growing to do, greater awareness and caring due in our expression, and some very real tending of our Garden needed.
At least that’s how I see it … and what I would want to share with my neighbors versus making believe they don’t exist, that there is no reference point, no here or there … no woman in the Sudan (among untold thousands each day) holding dying babies in their arms as a result in good part of the avarice and “disconnect” of consumer-based socieities - ours representing 5% of the world’s population while exploiting 50% of the world’s resources.
Nope. The world may be perfect in its evolution simply because it IS evolving. Yet evolution by definition implies that “change is a constant” and that there is plenty to do. There may be a time for musing or simply being … but there also sure is a time for chopping wood, carrying water … and the rest of being a good steward to Life that comes with it.
No offense to you, Glen, or anyone reading here, but that’s my up front, non-poetic view of the matter.
K.
keolalani
gotta love fault finders - I for one find agreement in anything simply by choice. Once a person starts to be a disagreement finder that’s all they see is disagreements. Let us pray for the egoless ego – let us look for the good in all things – if you choose to see the bad just remember this – simply by looking at darkness you start to become it. The observer effect is real. You do not actually have to do something physical to start momentum in one direction or the other. Your thoughts move you. The world is balanced by your desire to end such things. Let us go forth towards solving things not creating more of the problem by bringing our attention to such things. You are a powerful being… I pray that you give thought to peace not fighting war, that you give thought to health not fighting sickness. These are our choices. Einstein said it best in that you either believe the universe is out to get you or out to help you and that makes all the difference. That is your core belief. Do you ponder why all the spiritual leaders believe the world is getting better whereas the media believes the world is getting worse? Do you see the choice being made? If this doesn’t resonate with you consider this:
What you fail to experience in the positive you will experience in the negative. It’s going to happen and it could be debated that’s it’s predestination. The only thing we have is our point of view.
But the point of view changes everything… You start to see the bad
as the good… I know you look at the terrible and say don’t you see its terrible and I have to be honest with you - no i don’t see it like that.
Happy people live in a happy world
Cruel people live in a cruel world
theives are surrounded by theives
We project our reality onto others…
It’s the same world just different points of view – so why not choose a point
of view that will leave you happy, joyful, inspired, enriched, blissful, creative,
and yes agreeable.
In the end you are correct. No matter what you believe you are correct. You mind will find evidence to support you no matter what you choose.
This is the nature of the mind. It’s all in your choice to see inspiration or desperation. To see the good or to see the bad. I have to agree with you.
The bad is real. And yes if you choose to see it you are justified. But if you twist your thinking everything will change. I am not calling you wrong because you are not wrong.. on the contrary you are right… so right. But you can choose another right one that causes you to see the world differently. Where the world is perfect and your desire to end such things is the balance that you seek. You are the change you are seeking. Be that change.
KEOLALANI,
Aha!
The relative world of words
reveals it’s weakness again!
as I mentioned previously
contradiction is an inherent aspect of reality
that is also to be accepted just as it is
that the relative coexists with the absolute
As HH Dalai Lama says
from the absolute point of view
both relative and absolute reality are co-emergent
it’s the nature of reality
and that is what we have to work with
otherwise, we can fall into nihilism
ISNESS writes in a style that is contextual
being influenced by a lot of the traditional buddhist writers read
sometimes writing in a relative, others in a absolute frame of mind
In the last writing,
emphasizing the absolute
Emphasizing the absolute is not the same, however
as denying the relative
It is just to put the spotlight of attention on it
to make a point
The suffering of the world exists as a relative reality
because of the inability to experience ones own vastness
this is how the two worlds coexist
side by side
Realization appears by itself
once reference frames are dropped
and once there is realization
there is no or little dependency
on the things we depended on previous to that
As Shantideva said
All suffering comes from wanting happiness for self
All happiness comes from wanting happiness for others
In samsara
beings are ego-centric
wanting happiness for self
and it brings the suffering of samsara
the antidote is to want happiness for others
and if practiced continuously and deeply
will bring one to the realization of emptiness of both self and other
and a direct experience of the true nature of mind
We are afraid of letting go of our reference frames
afraid of falling into the abyss of empty space
where everything we’ve learned,
and defines who we are
is stripped away from us completely
mental nakedness
Emptiness
the great mother of all
the vastness without center or border
gifts us with all that we have ever achieved as individuals
yet we are like the fearful child
afraid to let go of the “treasures” that we have accumulated
not knowing that it was all made possible
by the infinite potential of the great mother herself
Each view is your reality
at the time you are experiencing it
ISNESS acknowlege the relative reality of suffering and the need for change.
That is why I do my music project and why I am doing my work in Africa;
to create projects that bring awareness and alleviate suffering. I am
pursuing projects here that range from alternative energy to giving
musical expression to people….all to foster more caring and less
suffering…for the happiness of beings. There is nothing wrong with
wealth if it is done with the spirit of wanting happiness for others.
This may sound strange but it is like the kinglike bodhicitta. I wish
for my own wealth so I can have more to contribute to the wealth of
others. If everyone wealthy could use that wealth in intelligent ways
to ease suffering, what a different world we would have!
At the same time, ISNESS acknowledge the absolute reality
Paying homage to all great yogis and yoginis
that point to the wonderous, astounding and perfect quality of this moment
In the relative world too, even
though there is so much suffering,
all beings simply want happiness and their actions are towards that end
The happiness they seek though,
being based on ego-centric view, always brings suffering
…like licking sweet sugar off of a razor blade
Ultimately, it is awareness that is the key
The world is what it is today
due to the inertia of ignorance (karma)
The collective ignorance of the world is like a vast wind
(whose actions put the world at risk)
while the flame of awareness is far and few between and easily blown out
We must contend with 2 things
this negative karma in beings which cause them to continue to bring harm
and the potential of new living beings, who have not yet accumulated negative karma in this lifetime
Awareness is ultimately the solution to both
but if you are faced with a person about to shoot you
then, of course, you must take action to protect yourself or others
If you are faced with an ecosystem about to self destruct
then you must take emergency actions to tend to that
NIGHT PHOENIX,
yes, so true
There is a lot of suffering in the world
but where does it come from?
why does it arise?
Each of us witness pain in our lives
(and sometimes, we are even the source of it!)
Yet depending on how we see other beings
we can behave so differently
Anna’s experience as a counsellor has taught her
that underlying anger is pain
We can add to that
that underlying suffering is ignorance
All beings want the same thing we do
happiness, joy, bliss
all beings want to avoid the same thing we do
suffering, pain
I see all beings as fundamentally having the heart of loving kindness
and their propensity to bring pain and suffering
both to themselves or others
is only due to obscurations and ignorance
Underneath the roughness of each person
lies a jewel heart of exquisite beauty
Once those obscurations are removed
that love simply bubbles up unsuppressed
I’ve never witnessed the opposite
where a being who has been genuinely and selflessly loving
has become the opposite
that tells me what is more fundamental
The dualistic and relative reality of Self and Others
is our normal reality
There’s no doubt that it is one common way of experiencing life
Yet
if that were the only way
there would be no reason at all for spiritual teachers
Often teachers use the analogy of the snake in the dark
to illustrate the suffering that accompanies wrong view
Once you turn the light on and see that it’s a rope
your fears vanish and you can relax
In the same way
the fear, suffering and problems of Samsara are real
yet they are real only with reference to the relative view; ego-centric view
If the spotlight of awareness is turned on
and there is a direct experience of the constructed nature of the relative view
then we will see that there is a referenceless nature it is constructed upon
Our entire lives as beings
we search for the fundamental essence of who and what we are
we are searching for our home, our mother of mothers
We all know death is coming
so subconsciously, we are all, more or less,
driven to look for this fundamental nature within us
Our mistake is in stopping at the ego-centric level
and really, really believing that “this is it!”
All the great teachings of every tradition say one thing:
“this isn’t it!”
We must first have a direct experience of something beyond though
before we can live from our fundamental level
in other words,
if we can penetrate the nature of relative reality
see beyond it
then the fear, suffering and problems of Samsara
will be experienced
as merely dependent on that view
Indeed, to a bodhisattva
the suffering may seem even greater
because it is all seen as constructed out of our relative view
and therefore preventable and “self-inflicted”
We can’t carpet the entire world
but we can wear comfortable soles on our shoes
The individual is the world
when we fully realize this
what genuine power we have!
I live here in Johannesburg, South Africa
home of 2 great human beings
Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela
Each too have practiced this attitude
of simply bringing their inspired self to the present moment
Why were these beings so powerful?
They simply practiced that joyful expression in the moment
on spite of such challenging circumstances
One can see the amazing influence of living in the moment
of bringing joy and love to the present moment
I personally see from this view
All beings are deities, my mothers since beginningless time
All human beings recognize love that comes from the source
as a bell that rings so true
piercing through obscurations
and getting right to the heart of our humanity
Gien
Thank you. I am excited by what I have left to learn.
There is more to this world then we can see.
It’s not about what we get but about what we believe.
I have great admiration for Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela
for there ability to look a world in the face that was headed rapidly
in the wrong direction and say “no” we’re going to change course.
To the extent that it was felt not only in South Africa
but rippled through out the entire world. My words are quotes
mostly – probably many of them taken from giants of men such
as them. I feel as if my entire life is a quote sometime.
You know Gien I feel so blessed as I’m writing to you. I didn’t know
that I could change my life like this – people that I use to believe
were cruel don’t exist anymore instead replaced by friendly faces.
I try to tell everyone of the choice.. most of the time I feel
as if my seeds fall on rocks but i plant anyway. Sometimes i get
the quotes wrong – but i try anyway.
What’s interesting is I spent lots of time in religion only to find my
spirituality out of it. I know now that this choice exists within
it although the message is almost hidden due to the dogma
placed on top of it. It’s there though – I can see it.
It’s also in everyone if they would only look for it…
I have misinterpreted you message, Nightphoenix, yet I have no recollection of saying or even coming from the place of an attitude by which I view everything in the world as negative, nor the suggestion that I was/am out to “fight war.” In light of one of your closing lines … “We project our reality onto others” … perhaps that is occurring over there?
Glen, in terms of your persistent address of ”The relative world of words
reveals it’s weakness again!” and of “ego beings afraid of letting go of our reference frames afraid of falling into the abyss of empty space” … with all due respect in pursuit of the greatest possible truth, I wonder of your intent with this blog.
I note this venue alone is one of words - actually 10,914 since its beginning (minus the headers of each comment). For another, your last reply beginning with “Aha, the relative world of words revealing its weakness …” totaled 727 in response to the 654 in mine preceding it” (just for the sake of conversation).
In the realm of “ego afraid of letting go of our reference frames, etc …”, I also wonder how we each are experiencing ourselves in this venue. “Teacher”? “More enlightened”? “”Knowing more than the other to whom we’re commenting”?
So what “is” your intent here, Glen? And how do you see yourself here?
I’ve appreciated this exchange, yet am sensing now it is wise to withdraw. I’m not here to bash words in a venue created solely for their exchange, nor do I wish to fall prey any deeper into egoism thinking I know better. I’ve sought to pursue the deepest possible truth here with as much of a sense of equality and humility as I could muster. Confess I may not have always achieved that mark.
Namaste my friends
K
Hi KEO!
my intent is always to learn and share
so that we may all grow together
I never see myself as greater than any other
I’m not just being humble either…I know my faults better than anyone
I just have a lot to share
I personally feel that I have such a long way to go on this journey
I love talking to others though
who are sharing the journey with me
Outside of Gaia
there aren’t that many people in the nonvirtual world
who can move in similar spaces
My words are just my enthusiasm of resonating with like-minded beings
Anna always tells me though
“be careful with your enthusiasm to share…you may end up sounding too preachy!” hehe…guess it’s true!
With you, for instance, I’ve learned much
the way you describe being present in your moment
It sends a chill up my spine
when I hear others who are so moved
by being in the present
made me look at my own moments
and it helps to stimulate my creativity,
helps to inspire me
It’s not an easy journey
to be in the present
our habitual mind so easily draws us back into the mundane
so when others share their journey’s
it helps to inspire me on my own
It’s not so much writing for me though, I must admit
as I have been writing a book with Anna for the past few years
and I pull a lot of parts of that book out and pasted them here
Actually, this is quite a long blog! Probably my longest so far!
Not normal for me
as I sometimes am quite long away from Gaia
but your incisive comments hit home with me
made me really think (and not think)
This morning, I did quite a long sitting meditation session
When dialogue can stimulate going deeply into the present moment
it’s done it’s job!
It seems, however like a good place to end this blog
Thank you KEO!
Thank you, Glen, for your heartfeltness and truth.
I find some regret though that my comments may be held as a criticism sufficient to encourage you to end this blog, for it seems many have gained greatly from it, as have I, and it is likely more could occur, perhaps even at a deeper level of awareness.
Might this simply be an observation spot along the path? If so, I’d “play”.
KEO,
Don’t feel that way!
What will be will be
This blog will continue on
as long as people see something of value they can take from it
you, I or anyone else
As you said in one of your earlier comments:
“I feel it viscerally in my body so deeply that when I let my
consciousness rest in that place, I am truly moved to tears from the
love I feel for everything that I see.”
all is in perfection
that comment, even now
makes tears well up in my eyes
I feel what you feel
sitting often in silence
and I feel so deeply moved by being alive
feel so blessed
and feel so much gratitude
to be a part of this experience called “Life”
Other times, in silence
I feel so sad
at all the suffering I see in the world
When I do go into life though
the meditation recharges me
and I bring that quiet center into my life
so that it too becomes a meditation
I resonate deeply with you
and the place that you are at
I also feel also the doubts you have expressed as well
NOW is not such an easy place to get to
we have to muddle through such confusion
and there’s still lots of confusion ahead!
When I see you
I see a reflection of me
and isn’t that good?
to see ourselves in others?
to find that which truly binds us all?
My volumous comments must also be put in the context of my life
I had this near death accident
and it pushed me into a deep reflection
Also, Anna’s teachers wife is dying of terminal cancer
and Anna and I have been supporting her
and preparing for her departure
trying to find ways to alleviate her pain, suffering and fears
I have been recently reading a number of books by buddhist and hindu authors
who’ve made me think about the incredible beauty of NOW
….and also thinking of my father and missing my brothers and friends
because I haven’t seen them since leaving Canada
and coming to live with Anna in South Africa
all leaving me with a lot of mixed feelings
and a melancholyness and joy of being alive
so I am writing here
in this context
that’s why I have a lot to express!
getting it all out, so to speak
Every single word you and I have said
and everything we’ve done is arisen in the light of this perfection
The dzogchen, the great perfection
Yet in the relative world
it is far from perfect
and there is so much we need to do
Great teachers always teach both at the same time
they acknowledge perfection and suffering in the same breath
otherwise
there would be no buddhas and bodhisattvas, no yogis or yoginis, no great teachers of every tradition
Criticism is beautiful
when it is seen constructively
In the light of loving kindness
I know your comments aren’t meant to be hurtful
but more like a spiritual brother helping a brother
and that is a beautiful thing
it helps to bring clarity
How else can we grow?
We may learn things ourselves
but sometimes, we also form wrong views
If not for the kindness of others to correct us
how us can we continue to remove our obscurations?
If we act always from a foundation of kindness
and we all trust each other in this way
then our words and actions can never be misconstrued
My mother used to say to me
those who really care
are not afraid to be honest with you
It takes courage and integrity to be honest
both on the giving end and the receiving end
This is something I am learning
as I engage in the business world
If you are in any kind of relationship with other human beings
and you are afraid to express your heart and your gut feeling
for fear of hurting others
in the end,
it all comes back to haunt you
karma is a law that never rests
As long as we both come from the spirit of loving kindness
that criticism is the healthiest thing
it accelerates genuine spiritual growth
to remove our own obscurations
It is our own ego that obstructs our spiritual journey
making us defensive and feeling attacked
the acceptance of other views
is another skillful means to penetrate our own ego-centric view
On this journey
if we don’t have integrity
we may as well not take it!
Many blessings KEO
on your incredible journey of life
May you continue to have deeper and deeper realizations
of the pure beauty of this present moment
may your innate wisdom mind grow
may your empathy grow alongside
may you continue to act with courage
may you help to end suffering by your words and actions
may you share your wisdom with others
to bring all beings to a direct experience
of this precious moment called life
NIGHT PHOENIX,
” You know Gien I feel so blessed as I’m writing to you. I didn’t know
that I could change my life like this – people that I use to believe
were cruel don’t exist anymore instead replaced by friendly faces.
I try to tell everyone of the choice.. most of the time I feel
as if my seeds fall on rocks but i plant anyway. Sometimes i get
the quotes wrong – but i try anyway.
What’s interesting is I spent lots of time in religion only to find my
spirituality out of it. I know now that this choice exists within
it although the message is almost hidden due to the dogma
placed on top of it. It’s there though – I can see it. ”
I saw your video!
great!
I have a story to share with you about this same thing.
A friend once told me a story of how he was a soldier in the Israel army
and once, he happened upon the enemy
While patrolling, he saw the enemy soldier
but the enemy soldier did not see him
My friend was cocking his rifle, ready to kill him
At that precise moment, the enemy soldier heard him cock the rifle
turned around and when he realized he was about to die
wore the most astonishing look of fear on his face
When my friend saw him in that instant,
his face looked like his brothers
and with that
he could not kill him and spared his life.
I later wrote a song about that incident
It showed me that who we consider enemies or friends
is so arbitrary, so random
Deep down
aren’t we all brothers and sisters?
Aren’t we all capable of love (as well as the most horrendous acts of violence?)
Religions are reference systems
we can take this amazing journey ourselves
or within existing reference systems
Thank you NightPhoenix
for your insightful comments
Gien
Thank you for the story. Yes we are all connected. I find agreement in that.
No matter what is said someone will be polarized by it. That is the duality of life. I believe we have a choice between our perceptions. You can be bitter or better. Desperate or Inspired. You can look for agreement in any situation or you can look for disagreement within any situation. I am attuned to seeing this choice.
People either believe the world is getting worse or the believe it’s getting better. That is the core of a human being. I see agreement within every religion whereas some people see disagreement. It’s a choice to see beauty in this life where as others see none.
However, I do not believe I am better then them for my choice, but I do believe it is the choice. Disagreement leads to more disagreement. Bitterness leads to more bitter. Hate means more Hate. Hate should be met with Love. That is the choice.
In the end given a choice between being right and being kind I should choose kindness. Maybe I should not have said anything and I am left wondering
if some people should be left to there devices of desperation, bitterness & strife. I don’t find many people that disagree that take kindly to being told they have a choice between agreement & disagreement. People become offensive. As they say no good deed goes unpunished and no act of charity goes unresented. It appears to me those who know don’t say much and those that don’t know don’t stop talking. I will meditate on these things.
thank you for a thought provoking blog..
I am inspired by it.
Namaste
Gandhi said
An eye for an eye
and the whole world will go blind
What I learned from that story my friend told me
is that there is always a choice
At that moment
he chose to see this stranger as a friend
and the actions that stemmed from that choice
saved that beings life
There is great suffering in the world
that cannot be denied
the news makes sure of that
however, we can choose to deal with that suffering
by feeling compassion towards those who bring it
or we can choose to solidify them as the enemy
Many Blessings!