Awakening by Touching Presence 12/07/2009
Getting an Experiential Taste of “Who You Truly Are” The presence of who we are is timeless. It has always been the same for as long as we can remember. Just reflecting for a few moments can lead to gaining an experiential understanding of this space. To recognize the inner space of presence we simply tune into the sense perception of what it feels like to be ourselves. Just feel the essence of yourself. Drop below the mind’s chatter and feel who you are. It is that easy. In fact it is so simple many quickly start looking for something beyond what is here right now. This is what keeps many on the wheel of seeking. Just take a few moments to breathe into the heart space in order to relax into your sense of being. Just feel you. It may help to close your eyes for the next part. As you are relaxing into the heart space feeling what it feels like to be you, observe whether this essence of yourself is male or female. Is it large or small? What color is it? Have you ever known a time when you did not know this feeling? Now, allow your attention to rest in the space of the heart a little deeper, feeling the core of yourself that lets you know that you indeed exist. Without words or following the thoughts of the mind, just feel what you are experiencing. The space of who you truly are is formless; it is beyond the limits of your body. This space is ageless and indescribable. Yet, it is how you know that you are alive. We all know this space. It is the same sense of ourselves, without the thinking mind defining us as male or female, young or old. This space is beyond self-definitions. It is here Now. This is our true nature, our connection to the Divine. Touching Presence by means of following the breath or focusing on the space of the heart can be experienced always. Awakening is discovering that we and everything else is arising in this Presence. We are this Presence. We are That. Add Comment Overcoming Duality 12/06/2009
The Paradox of Controlling Thoughts... Consciousness, the Self, is not somewhere far away to be reached. You are already That. Come home to yourself. In the beginning you only have to give up your habit of identifying yourself with the non-Self, which are our thoughts. Focusing on the breath or the heart space is a potent practice to this means. Initially, we need to learn that we are not our thoughts. It calls for us to stop identifying ourselves with them as this keeps the concept of being a separate self going. As our spiritual path deepens we discover our True Nature is the essence of all that is, which ultimately also includes our thoughts. This is the paradox to the spiritual path. Towards the end of seeking, we experientially realize that our thoughts are just as much as Consciousness as everything else. Consciousness is this Presence—it is this Now in whatever form it may take. To overcome duality, we need to stop pushing away what we don’t like, which often becomes the thoughts or other “non-spiritual” attributes we may feel we have. Consciousness embraces and is all there is. We are That. Awakening to the Present Moment 12/03/2009
Question: What is the significance of the present moment? Great question! Of course, it is to find out through our own experiential insights. However, when we are truly present we are not just following what our thoughts may tell us about a situation or particular feeling. Our judgements/ thoughts bring us away from resting in the Now. Getting lost in past and future thinking is the main source of suffering. Commonly we follow thoughts about what just happened or what may happen to "Me." So, it is to rest attention in the present moment, by following the breath or finding the space of the heart. This way we begin to dislodge ourselves from the "Story of I" we have believed ourselves to be. By doing this repeatedly it breaks us free of the trance. Then, the present moment can reveal what is real, that which is arising in Consciousness (which paradoxically still includes everything we are experiencing). We are just present to what is, no matter if we are playing our role in the story, or just resting in our true nature. When we awaken to the present moment, it is all the same. Letting In Love  Surrendering our egoic desires is ultimately something we cannot do, as it calls for a movement of Grace. However, we can help this process by glimpsing our own egoic conditioning through the eyes of honesty, humility, and compassion. We begin by opening the heart to our own humanness. By holding an intention to surrender where we are feeling blocked to the flow of life, Grace becomes a ready companion to promote healing and give guidance. Visualizing a warm healing light of love during a breath meditation practice, or while breathing into the space of contraction can be both cathartic and heart opening. We let in the experience of life by having love and compassion for ourselves. This increases our ability to let love flow uninhibited to others. With each breath, we simply surrender any resistance we may feel and just let love in. As the willingness to open the heart grows, the once protected heart gradually expands beyond the confines of space and time. Our hearts become one with the Great Heart of Consciousness. Meeting Grace with Each Breath The presence of who we truly are grows in proportion to the loving and compassionate acceptance of all that is. This includes everything we like, dislike, and don’t understand. It especially includes our unique and beautifully flawed human conditioning that we have believed was separate from Consciousness. When thoughts arise that tell us that we are not being “spiritual” or have failed in our seeking, we simply take a breath of surrender realizing that we could not get any closer to Consciousness that we are in each present moment. We feel the presence of our own hearts and rest attention there. This once again brings us in alignment with the Now. We eventually surrender the search of finding something beyond what is here all the time. We realize our own hearts are the gateway. We surrender our lives—any sensations, thoughts, emotions, and perceived problems. With each breath we allow ourselves to be led, until we surrender even that, then breathing just happens, living just happens, doing just happens. Grace then takes us home, awakening us to what is and always has been—The Great Heart of Consciousness. Self-Inquiry, Beyond Meditation 11/23/2009
Going Deeper on the Journey to “Know Thyself”  A Self-Inquiry Practice can be used not only as a formal meditation; valuably, it can be broadened to an everyday life practice. By sincerely reflecting on the question, “Who am I?” will take us deeper on the path of self-exploration. It also helps us recognize who is it that feels and experiences the world around us. Although on the surface they appear to be eliciting a verbal response, or a series of thoughts to describe who we are, these questions are not answered intellectually. They are felt in the silent presence of who we truly are. We learn to reflect on our reactions, sensations, and thoughts throughout the day, especially during times of stress and challenging interactions. With this type of practice we discover a greater awareness into ourselves. We may be shown aspects where we need to grow emotionally and spiritually, or perhaps will glimpse how our lives fit into the whole scheme of the Universe! Whether the insights are small or grand, the practice of Self-Inquiry is to simply “Know Thyself.” And, by fully knowing ourselves, we discover the true nature of Consciousness, God, and everything around us. Awakening to the Heart of Consciousness 11/14/2009
Gaining an Experiential Understanding of the Present Moment Our lives are forever contained within the present moment whether we are aware of it or not. Any emotion, physical response, or spiritual experience can only happen Now. Our minds may distract us with thoughts of the past or future, yet in an instance we can become present once more. Our attention and commitment to opening our lives (our hearts) to the present moment can be life enhancing and even life altering. Being present brings us more joy, spontaneity, creativity, and freedom. And, all it takes is for us to slow down, focus attention on the heart space, breathe, and fully experience what is happening within and without us. This can be done right now. Without trying to change anything, just slow down, pause deeply, breathe, feel the presence of the heart, and experience this precious moment. This is opening the heart to what is and leads to experientially knowing our true nature, the world around us, and living in harmony with the present moment. As our awareness of the present moment deepens, this becomes our reality. No more effort is needed to find the heart. Our experience of the heart becomes our awareness, awakening us to our true nature, the Heart of Consciousness. Healing the Heart, Part 1 11/13/2009
Working with Emotions Initially, residing in the heart may trigger feelings of vulnerability or even fear. Perhaps in the past, opening the heart led to getting hurt. Our minds (thoughts) may have become a safe-haven for us. Taking a meditative approach to opening the heart can be helpful. This can give just enough distance from the emotions arising so they do not overwhelm us. We can feel the sensations, observe the thoughts, and witness what is going on without getting lost in the story of the past. Using a breath meditation is recommended. (Choose a meditation technique that is familiar to you or refer to the Meditation Page on this website). Thoughts may warn that opening the heart fully will expose an endless abyss of tears and unresolved pain. If this thought arises simply observe it, like we do with any other thought, then return attention to the breath. Feel the space of the heart. Direct your attention here. If there are feelings of fear, you can give the mind some reassurance that you are in a better space now and trust that the heart, the spaciousness within can take it all in. Actually, it is fortunate to have an awareness of any feelings of fear or apprehension (resistance). This is an important step to greater opening. Healing the Heart, Part 2 11/13/2009
Moving Beyond Resistance, Making our Hearts the Object of Devotion The awareness of any emotional block is grace, for without this seeing we would remain stuck; we may only partially open our hearts but still be holding back, keeping the shield or layers of protection intact. This is where conscious breathing into areas of contraction, such as feelings of hurt, anger, or sensations of restriction are helpful. Then, in meditation or by creating a safe emotional space for yourself, start nurturing your own heart. Do this often, throughout the day and even as you enter sleep. Make the heart the focus of your devotion. It begins with taking in some loving breaths for yourself. Focus gently on the heart space. Allow the healing to caress over areas of old hurts, and emotional wounds. Bring the light of love and spaciousness to the presence of the heart. And, as you feel the emotional shield give way, continue to gently focus attention on the heart space. Breathe love into your own heart. Feel contraction transform into expansion. Return to the space of the heart until this becomes your home. Living life through an open, healed heart is freedom.  Finding the source of bliss can lead to a powerful insight. While blissful experiences during meditation feel wonderful, after a while they can become a distraction. It is common to start riding the blissful experiences as if they were the end goal. However, this can lead to falling short of gaining meaningful insights into one’s true nature, the Heart of Awareness, God. However, pushing away blissful experiences can paradoxically create more duality, so we don’t want to do this either. However, inquiring, "Where is the source of bliss?" starts driving the mind to go inward, searching. With the mind having a job to do, it will be content, but eventually it is creating its own demise. The mind will continue to search deeper and deeper for the Source. The unknowing mind falls into the trap of the Heart. It gets swallowed up in Love, then an even more expansive bliss is revealed, one that is unwavering. It is the Self, the bliss of Self. |
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