Question: What is a spiritual practice, and
how can I develop one in my busy life?
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First: It begins with having an intention to create more space to explore and experience your spiritual essence. A spiritual practice can be formal such as attending spiritual groups and learning to meditate, or it can be informal, something explored while living our normal, every day lives. Simply having an intention to know this part of your self is the beginning. So if you have this already, you’re already on your way!

When we live with an intention to bring greater spirituality into our lives, this serves as the catalyst to observe when we feel spiritual and when we don’t. You may choose to bring greater awareness to how you relate to others, or even yourself, such as living with greater compassion, tolerance, and openness. Yet, even when we don’t feel spiritual, there is no reason to feel shame as if you have already failed in your spiritual practice. Our spiritual essence is ever present and never goes anywhere. (Don’t worry if you don’t grasp this yet, this will come in time).

Second: Begin to focus on the sensations you already experience. You don’t need to pick and choose. Allow yourself to get to know the full array of what you experience, without pushing away anything. Follow your breath with attention, simply feeling the expanse of your chest rising, or the sense of your heart space. Feel your body, simply being present with whatever you are experiencing. Do this several times a day, as often as you can remember. This is bringing present moment awareness into your life. This one spiritual practice can be life changing. As you open to the limitless space of your true nature, your very own breath will lead you to deeper states of Awareness, otherwise known as Consciousness.

Third: As your present moment awareness deepens, you develop a greater comfort in being present (or witnessing) whatever you are experiencing. This helps you realize what within you remains unchanging. If thoughts, sensations, and emotional reactions come and go, then what remains? This is your spiritual essence. The more you are able to know this part of yourself, the more you will be resting in your true nature. And, the more we realize this aspect of ourselves, the more we recognize all of life is made of this same spiritual essence. This is attuning to your spiritual essence. This same spiritual essence runs through all of us, just waiting to be recognized.

~Namaste'

 
 
Love is where the Heart is. And, this means it is everywhere 
and in everything.
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The space of the heart is difficult if not impossible to describe. But, I will do my best at doing so as numerous others have attempted. What I refer to is far beyond the physical organ and function of what we typically understand the heart to be. What I am referring to is the spiritual heart, the true essence of who we are, and if I am so bold, I will also include the soul in this definition. It is the sensed perception of ourselves, how we know we indeed exist. But what is this space?

It is present before and after our thoughts pass, so it cannot be our thoughts. However, it does not exclude them either. All can come to be- thoughts, feelings, sensations- without us needing to change or exclude anything. No matter what manifests into being, the soul or unchanging part of oneself remains. The spiritual heart stays the same. So, what of the boundaries of this space- and I use "space" loosely. 

Can we feel the boundary; can we see it; can we know it within ourselves? Is the boundary of the heart contained in the body? Is it something that is beyond the body? As we go about our lives, feeling the emotions we do, we can simply start to observe. And, why does it matter for us to know if there is a boundary or not? 

Ultimately, it doesn't change anything, as the limitless space of the spiritual heart contains everything whether we attune to it or not. The value and potentially life changing discovery we can make is we are not separate from life and others. If the heart space has no boundaries, then life and the potential for happiness is also limitless. Freedom is available Now, in the open heart of our very own awareness. And, all we need to do is let our own hearts guide us home. 
 
 

In seeking, we find our true selves.

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“All self-liberates and returns to the Source. It is the bottomless ground, the conscious awareness of all existence, the simplicity of the present moment. It is the no-thing of absolute potentiality. This explains why Emptiness creates the space for all to manifest. An open void, a receptive vessel without boundaries, this is what we are." ~Bringing Home the Mountain-Finding the Teacher Within.

Questioner: While I intellectually know this to be true, I have not experienced emptiness. What am I supposed to be looking for? Where is the Source, the Self? How can I experience emptiness?

"No matter where we are or what may be happening, connecting with the Self, our True Nature, is readily available as the in-breath." ~Bringing Home the Mountain: Finding the Teacher Within.

In my book, “Bringing Home the Mountain-Finding the Teacher Within,” I write about the specific practices and experiences that led me to these realizations. My journey to the Heart was devotional, and closely followed a path of self-inquiry as Ramana Maharshi taught. Know this emptiness, our true nature, isn’t complicated to find. The greatest challenge is to not miss it because of its obviousness. The paradox to the spiritual path is that our search for something greater than ourselves—for God, or an attribute we pray for Grace to bestow upon us—eventually brings us back to our true self, the Self, the Heart, the one that created the search to begin with.

What we seek is our own awareness. This sense of awareness, of who we are, we already know. All we need to do is trust our own experience, drop below thought, and feel the expanse of our own hearts. By following our breath with single-pointed attention, slowly relaxing into the sense of our own being we can taste this emptiness. Seekers will often pop out of this space, thinking there is nothing there. This is when faith in the spiritual journey, the Mystery, is called for. This nothingness is emptiness and contains everything. It is the Self. The more we are able to find then simply relax into this space, we discover the Truth, which is our true nature just waiting to be recognized.

http://www.cathyrosewelljonas.com/book-reviews-bringing-home-the-mountain.html

http://www.freeheartpress.com

 
 
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Question: I am confused about what happens to devotion after awakening. It seems many great teachers still have objects of devotion, such as a beloved teacher or a deity. When the Bhakta realizes All as being One, why doesn't devotion simply fall away like everything else? 

Answer: The Bhakti Path of devotion is very special indeed. It guides us deeper into union with that Divine aspect of ourselves. There is a yearning to merge with the Divine, a subtle feeling of separateness, as if the Divine or our object of devotion is above us in some way. It's the love affair. Then, during moments of Unity it is known that the Divine is within us, and we are never separate from It. This continues to deepen over time, until there is no separation.

As I write in my book, Bringing Home the Mountain-Finding the Teacher Within, "When duality is seen through, there is truly only One. Consciousness is revealed to include all, the manifestation of student, teacher, and even our beloved object of devotion. This is Bringing Home the Mountain, as the Mountain, or God, is always and forever what we have been seeking outside ourselves. In the end, we simply come home to our own hearts and rest in That."

There is no need to push away anything, or rush in to "Kill the Buddha." The beauty of the Bhakti Path is to simply see through the illusion of separateness. Once this is seen through, then returning to the Bhakti Path is part of the Divine Play. For example, the holy mountain Arunachala was said to be Ramana Maharshi's one attachment, and certainly his beloved object of devotion. So enjoy this wondrous love affair. It is beautiful.
 
 

Attuning to the Unmovable Buddha Within

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The dharma bells rings and vibrates an invitation to begin our meditation. We immediately follow our breath into the expanse of our heart space. Our gaze and bodies seem to automatically relax. Soon, meditation soothes us, lofting us away from our busy lives, and the attachments we hold to the roles we play. Even our important thoughts are transitory. They come and go, as do the sensations we experience. The presence of who we are meets the present moment, helping us embrace life as it is. Perhaps only momentarily at first, meditation helps us attune to a space of inner peace.

So, what happens when we are simply engaged in the play of life? Can we still hear the inner dharma bell then, or when life isn’t going the way we had planned? Can we hear it when our heart feels wounded from a loss, or someone’s judgmental comments or harsh words? How do we retain our meditative presence while in the midst of a busy life?

Being unmovable like a stone Buddha is not the goal of a spiritual practice, at least in outer appearances. We still have facial expressions, and will respond verbally and physically as we may. There is no right or wrong action, nor are the events in our lives ultimately good or bad. In Consciousness, all is equal, not more, not less. It is still the One Consciousness revealing itself in endless manifestations. The image of the Buddha refers to an unchanging quality within us, the space within that remains the same. In the midst of all arising, our awareness or sense of presence remains untouched. It is the blank screen in which all the scenes of life take place. Consciousness or God includes the screen and all that is arising. Ultimately we realize we are not separate from this either.

So, what can we do when we have moved into a space of contraction and feel the constriction of a hardened heart? First know, this is the dharma bell, too. These situations invite us to attune to the present moment just as a call to meditation. So, if you are having difficulties getting out of your head, and having a hard time letting something go, try this:

1.   See any uncomfortable feelings, sensations of contraction as the inner dharma bell. Instead of turning away and trying to avoid what is happening, turn your attention into the feelings you are experiencing. Feeling thoroughly is the passage to freedom.

2.   Breathe. Let in light to places of darkness. Feel the expanse of your own heart.

3.     Understand that all that is happening is arising in Consciousness. We, as a separate one, are not creating what is happening, thus do not have control over the situation. All we can do is attune to the space of our own hearts, and be with what is. Action or non-action will then come freely out of this space.

4.     Thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations come and go. Relax into what you feel in order to notice subtle fluctuations in your experience. Example: you can’t feel angry or sad all the time, nor always think the same thought. Everything that arises in Consciousness is subject to change. See if you can observe this.

5.     Finally, notice what within you stays the same, despite the feelings and thoughts that are arising. Simply attune to your very own sense of awareness. Feel this space expand the more you focus on the present moment. This spacious awareness is your true nature. Relax into the unknown space of the heart, no matter what you are feeling. This is where Truth is revealed.

The presence of who we are meets the present moment, 
helping us embrace life as it is. 

 
 
The spiritual search is for ourselves, who we are—right now.
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Searching for Truth. Searching for a Divine Connection. Searching for Enlightenment. Searching… Searching… What are we looking for really? Are we looking for a sign from God that we’ve “got” it, that all our grand spiritual experiences have now revealed the truth of the Universe? Are we looking toward our guru or spiritual teacher to tell us, “Yes, you have now awakened to your true nature” so you can stop your search? To look toward something greater than ourselves, a divine presence or a spiritual authority has its place. But, even this separate distinction needs to fall away. Here lies the paradox of following a spiritual path. All boundaries are eventually seen through. Our search for enlightenment, freedom, awakening, Buddha-Mind, Brahman, the Heart, the Self, or Consciousness point us in the right direction, but can also lead us astray. These words or perceived images create division, as does the image of teacher and student. We continue to look beyond our experience, our felt perception of who we are, or try in vain to fix who we are. The Cosmic Joke is that everything is within us already. We are already complete and whole, and are the Consciousness, God-Essence, or Self we seek. So when we finally rest attention in ourselves, the fog or veil of our misperception lifts. We see clearly. We just may laugh. We are what we’ve been searching for all along, and nothing ever changed. The spiritual search is for ourselves, who we are—right now.

 
 

“Everything is within you already. There is nowhere else to look.“

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1.     Thoughts are not a problem. Let them come and go. They are a part of Consciousness, just as everything else is.

2.     Seeking ends, but the spiritual path continues.

3.     The awareness that you feel and know to be yourself is Consciousness.

4.     The breath is not only a beginner’s practice; it continues to take you ‘Home’ to your own heart.

5.     The Divine is within. It is not something distant or above you.

6.     Effort is only needed to direct attention to the breath or heart space; beyond this, effort becomes an obstacle. Simply feel the unchanging presence within you, and then trust that Grace will do the rest.

7.     Present moment awareness holds the key. Life continually reveals your true nature. Everything is alive with Consciousness.

8.     Resistance leads to suffering, while ‘Letting In’ love shows the way to lasting happiness.

9.     Meditative presence is your natural state. Simply relax into who you are.

10. Everything is within you already. There is nowhere else to look.


Everything is within you. In a single breath, you can sense the radiance of your very own awareness. This is the same Consciousness that makes up everything. Know you are already complete, and nothing is missing. 
You are what you seek. 

 
 


Don’t run away from the Divine playing field for this is where your heart is won. 

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The Divine Dance of Shiva
We’ve all been there, whether firmly footed on our spiritual path or just beginning. Sometimes, life throws us a curve ball. We were not expecting the change that has come our way, or we are plagued with regret for a misspoken word or failed accomplishment. That’s life “they” say. Why, because “they” have been in the same boat. So, now that we’ve settled that this is part of being human, let’s stop beating ourselves up when things aren’t going well. Let’s take the next step.

A technique I cannot stress enough is using the breath. When life seems to be coming down on us, when our heart space feels contracted, when we are steaming with anger or feeling regretful, hurt, anxious, frustrated or discouraged, simply breathe. Gently focus your attention inward, feeling whatever you are feeling. In some ways, the technique is counter-intuitive. We don’t try to make ourselves feel better by distracting ourselves, or try to force ourselves to forget what happened, we face it. We go into the inner battle we are experiencing—right here, right now, wherever we are.

We stay present feeling our heart, breathing into this space of contraction until it transforms to a space of expansion. Even if the heart space initially feels more restricted, or if painful feelings and memories emerge, we don’t stop. We don’t run away from the Divine playing field, the Divine Dance, for this is where your heart is won. We simply breathe, feeling the Presence that we are. This is Freedom.
 
 

Your heart is your locket, the key is your very breath. 

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1.     The breath helps us attune to the present moment. Many Buddhist teachings tell how witnessing the smallest acts in life can bring about Enlightenment. Whether the Buddha holding up a single flower, a candle being blown out, a bird sound arising out of emptiness, or a leaf slowly falling to the ground, only in the present moment can these acts be recognized.

2.     When we are aware of the present moment, we observe what comes and goes. This helps us become a witness to the impermanence of our thoughts, feelings, and emotional states, giving us a taste of freedom.

3.     By studying impermanence, we recognize what remains the same. The breath continually guides us, showing us the Presence of our own being. All else comes and goes, thoughts come and go, but Presence is forever here, untouched by even the emotional flurries that seem to make up our lives.

4.     By attuning to the Presence of who we are, we touch the Divine (God). This Presence is never separate from us. In fact, it is who we truly are.

5.     The breath helps us bring awareness to the heart space, which is the gateway to Freedom. Thus, the heart is your locket that opens to limitless love. The key is your very breath. 

 
 

The more we rest attention in the Heart, the more we can trust that our speech and actions are coming from this space.

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Where we place our attention is a powerful aspect of deepening a spiritual practice, and our spiritual path in general. When we attune to the space of the heart, a shift starts to happen. We start to move from our heads to our hearts, away from a thought-dominated reality. While thoughts have their usefulness, they also fill up the space, lessening creativity and us being in the flow with the movement of Consciousness. When we are living life relying on our thoughts to guide our feelings and decisions, the caution is that our reactions may be fear-based, more reactive based on past and future desires, and/or not coming from a place of compassion. So when we rest attention in the heart, we are opening up to the endless potentiality of the Heart Space, which is Awareness, Consciousness: the space of Love. Then, our speech and actions are more likely to be coming out of this spontaneous space. We are more tapped in to the intelligent movement of the Universe, to the Dance of Shiva, to the Play of Lila.

Finding the pathway to this Heart Space is intuitive. It is to sense this space, first through the physical identification of the heart's location. Following the breath can help increase the felt sensation of being in the space of the heart. The awareness of the heart space will grow the more we return our attention to this space. One can make this a life enhancing practice by finding the heart space in the beginning of the day, throughout the day as one remembers, and finally before bed. After a time of sincere effort, attention will start to spontaneously find the space of the heart. If one continues to do this practice, attention will finally come to rest in the Heart Space. No conscious effort will be needed. Awakening is ever-possible as the expansiveness of the Heart Space grows to include Everything. Boundaries dissolve until it is realized that there is only One Heart, One Consciousness. This is our True Nature, the Self. We simply come home to our own hearts and rest in this limitless awareness. This is finding our way home to the Awakened Heart.