Opening to the Heart of Presence is available to those who simply Seek.
"FINDING YOURSELF": The Search for Enlightenment
Many spiritual roads take us to Self-Realization. Eventually we discover what we seek is right before us, closer than our own breath. It is the unchanging space within us in which everything arises. All we have to do is slow down and start attuning to our own experience, then the most sacred of all journeys begins. The following thoughts and strategies may prove helpful along the way.
‘Finding Yourself In India'
The Embrace of Mother India
By Cathy Rosewell Jonas
“Why India?” I've been asked repeatedly why I am drawn to this vast country. India is the home of my heart, a country that makes me feel keenly alive. As a middle-class American woman in her forties I have been embraced by Mother India three times, joining the 2.5 million tourists a year that have chosen to visit this pulsing country. It's a land of abundant extremes. Garlands of jasmine and marigolds entice my senses to linger, while the ripe smells of trash and sewage propel me to the next scene of the moment. Yet, I am ever present with it all. No one is to blame if I don’t like something, if a plume of exhaust makes me cough, if a barking dog wakes me in the night, or if I am overwhelmed by what I see. All is experienced in the heart of who I am.
With a population of 1.1 billion people, India’s endless hues and vivid scenes of humanity appear magically as if I am walking through a mirage. Sadhus, aesthetic holy men, draped in orange and white cloth, and Sikhs wearing bright turbans appear like surreal guardians in a whimsical, ageless arena of garnet and amber-tinged castles, ivory mosques, and chestnut temples which remain greatly untouched as the whiz of traffic create a cloud of frenzied movement. India’s beauty shines amid the scars of war and ambition, graced by the footsteps of Gandhi, countless scholars, the Dalai Lama, and many of the greatest Hindu and Buddhist teachers throughout the centuries, including the legendary Buddha.
Modern development has taken hold like the scorching heat of an India summer. Though, the cooling monsoons protect the spiritual essence of India. The radiant heart of Mother India will remain a beacon for those who are drawn to come. For me, India's primal vibration awakens my heart, revealing who I truly am. ‘Finding Yourself’ happens by simply being present with what is, without trying to change anything. In the midst of everything arising within and around me, Truth is continually revealed. I am India, and India is I. This is the embrace of Mother India.
With a population of 1.1 billion people, India’s endless hues and vivid scenes of humanity appear magically as if I am walking through a mirage. Sadhus, aesthetic holy men, draped in orange and white cloth, and Sikhs wearing bright turbans appear like surreal guardians in a whimsical, ageless arena of garnet and amber-tinged castles, ivory mosques, and chestnut temples which remain greatly untouched as the whiz of traffic create a cloud of frenzied movement. India’s beauty shines amid the scars of war and ambition, graced by the footsteps of Gandhi, countless scholars, the Dalai Lama, and many of the greatest Hindu and Buddhist teachers throughout the centuries, including the legendary Buddha.
Modern development has taken hold like the scorching heat of an India summer. Though, the cooling monsoons protect the spiritual essence of India. The radiant heart of Mother India will remain a beacon for those who are drawn to come. For me, India's primal vibration awakens my heart, revealing who I truly am. ‘Finding Yourself’ happens by simply being present with what is, without trying to change anything. In the midst of everything arising within and around me, Truth is continually revealed. I am India, and India is I. This is the embrace of Mother India.
The practice of Self-Inquiry is a powerful practice. We simply ask ourselves the question, "Who am I?" The catch is we do not answer with any thoughts our minds may come up with. Instead we experientially feel the answer. We relax into the unknown space of our hearts where the Truth is revealed. Sri Ramana Maharshi taught in silence and also communicated the non-dual techniques of Self-Inquiry verbally and in written form. These teachings have been invaluable on my path. I have included the link to access Ramana Maharshi's website directly. His teachings are presented clearly. It just takes a willingness to give up the mind's answers and rest in our own experiences. The path then deepens over time, as does the Self-Inquiry practice.
http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/
http://www.sriramanamaharshi.org/
The Center for Sacred Sciences is a helpful and unique resource for both the beginner and advanced seeker, and explores the spiritual practices and meditation techniques of the World's great Mystics and spiritual traditions. http://www.centerforsacredsciences.org/
Visit my meditation page for instructions on beginning to advanced meditation techniques
http://www.cathyrosewelljonas.com/meditation.html
© Cathy Rosewell Jonas