|
|
Archive Update
Several months ago, AIA's eScribe archives were hacked and destroyed.
As a result, I am gradually beginning work on replacing the eScribe archive
with comprehensive archives located here on the AIA site.
In the meantime, the page you are viewing provides a comprehensive
collection of the daily reflections I shared through my "In This Moment"
mailing list between 2000-2003.
More of my writings are located on the following pages:
` Reflections previously archived on the AIA site
` Transcripts from chat mentoring sessions
` Replies to questions
` Back issues of AIA's ezine
Links on the topical index of my reflections will be updated when/as
my current schedule permits. Since the damaged archives are large,
and restoring them will take time, I appreciate your patience with
broken links during this gradual transition.
In the meantime, I invite you to join AIA's free mailing lists. I will
be sure to notify you through these mailing lists when the AIA web
site is updated, and when I resume my mentoring services once again.
I also invite you to share AIA's new daily reflections widget with others,
and add it to your desktop or blog.
Daily Reflections Widget:
Awakening In This Moment
 Click here to display more reflections,
add this widget to your desktop or blog,
and share this widget with others.
Join Mailing List
"In This Moment" Reflections: Comprehensive archive of the daily
reflections from Metta's "In This Moment" mailing list * 2000-2003
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Invitation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your restless seeking will not end until you begin
seriously considering the radical possibility that
THAT which you are seeking is inseparable from THIS
-- the reality of your own immediate and intimate
experience within the present moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#1: Fire of Uncertainty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bravely step into the fire
of your own uncertainty.
That which is Real and True
will remain unharmed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#2: Absolute Freedom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To trust Life completely
and without reservation
is absolute freedom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#3: All Movement, All Time
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All movement within our lives
flows toward the discovery
of the Real.
All time within our lives
flows toward the
present moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#4: Enlightenment and Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enlightenment is awakening to
the true nature of Reality.
Reality is That
which cannot be avoided.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#5: Reality Emerges as This
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life is a direct and immediate experience
of the Infinite
manifesting through the finite
in the present moment.
We simply do not recognize it as such
because of our narrow focus
on the finite.
Relax into your own immediate experience
of Perceiving -- of Clear Seeing --
here and now, in this moment.
Shift your attention
to the infinitely vast and
edgeless nature of the present moment,
and suddenly --
you will immediately recognize,
and directly experience,
Reality dynamically emerging as This,
here and now.
There is nothing more or other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#6: Given Conditions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pay attention to, and inquire into, the nature of
your own immediate experience. Become the Witness,
or Observer, of your own experience.
Investigate the "Given Conditions" of being human,
"I am -- Aware -- Now":
· the sense of identity, or being, at the center of
your own experience which manifests as "I am."
· the Awareness through which you perceive
everything within and around you.
· the immediacy and Infinity of Now.
These three basic conditions of being human are
profound pointers to our True Nature. We simply
overlook them in our rush to identify ourselves
with "outward" conditions, i.e., a body, memory,
personality and the illusion of time.
Simply paying attention -- looking at and remembering
these basic, essential conditions -- is enough, for
they are the vehicle through which we experience,
and Recognize, the vast and Infinite nature of Reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#7: Your Essential Self
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember:
You are far more than
you imagine yourself to be.
Let go of all limiting identifications.
See your essential self
within all manifest things,
and there is nothing you will lack.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#8: Trust the Movement of Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trust the movement of Reality
in and through your own experience,
and you will recognize It within
the immediacy of every present moment....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#9: Focus on the Source
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No-thing has any real identity
independent of the Source
out of which it emerges.
Shift the focus of your investigation
toward an intuitive recognition
of this invisible Background,
and all things will be made Clear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#10: Unchanging Awareness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn to watch both your experience and your
reactions to your experience. This process of
observant attention and witnessing will enable
you to see that your fundamental and essential
sense of identity exists as an unchanging point
of Awareness within the heart of all changing
conditions and circumstance.
This Awareness is grounded in the present moment
and never exists outside of Now. It is always
accessible and never exists somewhere other than
Here. It is the immediate and undeniable Center
of who you imagine yourself to be.
Reside in this Center, and realize that the essence
of this Awareness is not separate from That which
manifests before, around and within you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#11: Investigate Your Own Experience
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All I can do is
describe my own experience.
You must investigate your own.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#12: Seeing Without a Face
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The fact that you cannot see your own face
is an important clue to understanding
who and what you really are:
your sense of identity is linked to Seeing,
not to being seen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#13: All Experience Points Toward Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is nothing
within your own experience
that does not,
in its own way,
point toward
the Reality of
who and what you are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#14: Desiring -- and Accepting -- Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let go of desiring anything
other than THAT which is
Real and True.
Then, wholeheartedly accept this Reality
as it shows up Here and Now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#15: Recognition of Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enlightenment is an irrevocable breakthrough
into a stunning Recognition of the fundamental
and essential nature of Reality.
Time as we know it widens out
into a vast, infinite expanse
of dynamic manifestation
within the present moment.
Everything is felt, seen, heard
and experienced within this larger
and previously unimaginable context,
...and all the while, Reality
continues to show up,
here and now,
as the perfectly ordinary
and absolutely miraculous
experience we call
Life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#16: Journey into the Center
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look into the deepest recesses
of your heart --
beneath the movement of all
thought and emotion --
and what will you discover?
A silent, clear and spacious
Awareness
within which
all experience
is contained.
As you journey back out
from this Center, remember:
everything that arises
and appears before you now
is simply a natural manifestation
of this limitless Reality
in finite form.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#17: The Miracle of Manifest Existence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is something inexplicably precious
in the miracle of manifest existence.
Our great opportunity is
to learn to savour
This.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#18: This is the Answer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imagine how radically different
your experience would be
if you assumed
that all of THIS
is the answer
rather than
the question.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#19: Reject Nothing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That which is Real
manifests in and through
*every* experience.
Reject nothing
if you hope to recognize
the true nature of Reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#20: Only Now is Real
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Look at how easily we accept
common beliefs in illusion!
Neither the past nor the future
has any reality separate from
the present moment --
and yet we act as if
each is Real.
This is one of the
fundamental assumptions
I am encouraging you to
re-examine and investigate.
Look into the heart
of your own immediate experience
and you will see,
without a doubt,
that only Now is Real.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#21: Ephemeral Pleasures
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pleasures, ecstasies and suffering
always come and go.
The constant throughout all experience
is That which is Real.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#22: Compassionate Revelation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time steals the finite away from us
in a compassionate revelation
of the Infinite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#23: Contentment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With thought suspended,
contentment arises
naturally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#24: Spacious Awareness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember:
It is the mind and consciousness that
vacillate and move; Awareness does not.
You are the spaciousness within which
all of THIS appears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#25: Magnificent Miracle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Refusing to accept your own magnificence
will not change the fact -- or the miracle --
of who and what you really are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#26: Pay Attention, Trust Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pay attention, and trust Reality.
There is nothing else you need to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#27: Trust Your Own Experience
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inspiration and insight arise
through a willingness
to trust your own experience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#28: I Am Aware Now
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you are confused,
simply bring yourself back to
the Reality of what you know
beyond all doubt:
"I am aware now."
Herein lies the spacious presence
of your own Original Nature.
See also:
` Given Conditions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#29: Invitation into the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every experience of the finite will
inevitably lead to one simple question:
"Is this all there is?"
As such, the finite is
a priceless invitation
into the Infinite.
See also:
` Bumping into Limitation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#30: The Question of Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This whole matter of Realization revolves
around a fundamental question of identity:
"With what do you identify?"
The more narrow and limited your sense of
self, the greater your suffering.
The moment you discover that things
are separate only in appearance,
and not in Essence,
then in that moment your sense of "self"
will begin to expand.
And, in that moment, you will begin to Realize
the magnificence of who and what you really are:
a dynamic manifestation, within space and time,
of the Reality which transcends both.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#31: Truth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dedicate yourself to
the discovery of a Truth so large
there is nothing that cannot be
contained within it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#32: The Human Condition
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing is more important
than coming to terms with
the fundamental nature
of the human condition.
Until we make our peace with
the experience of being human
everything else will be
distractions and details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#33: Doorway into Infinite Possibility
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is our resistance to Reality which is
the source of all our suffering
and the self-imposed constraint
upon our innate and limitless freedom.
Your willingness to come to terms with Reality,
as it appears before you here and now,
will be your doorway into infinite possibility.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#34: Contentment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life flows through each of us
in a tidal wave of infinite expression.
Contentment and satisfaction depend upon
your ability to trust this unfolding process.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#35: Clear Seeing: The Indisputable Whole
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reality I experienced during the epiphany
is not different or separate from
the reality we experience under
"ordinary" circumstances.
What does differ is our interpretation....
In our "ordinary" experience,
the focus of attention is on the finite,
In a revelation of the transcendent,
the focus of attention shifts
to the Infinite Whole.
Ongoing Clear Seeing is
an indisputable, experiential recognition of
the inseparability and indivisibility of both.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#36: Present Circumstance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No other circumstances
are more conducive
to the realization
of your true nature
than the present circumstances
within which
you find yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#37: Appreciate the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each experience is an opportunity
to see more deeply
into who and what
you really are.
Life is our opportunity
to deepen our appreciation
of the Infinite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#38: The Illusion of a "Higher" Self
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
References to a "higher" or transcendent "Self"
perpetuate the illusion of an identity
separate, distant and "other."
In reality, the essence of who you are is
immediate, immanent and inseparable from
the sense of present moment "self"
with which you tend to identify.
Look for who is looking, and
you will discover
you are not separate from
the intimate Reality of Awareness
shining within the present moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#39: Spaciousness of Spirit
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is a spaciousness of spirit
within each of us
which only reveals itself
when we are finally willing
to let go of all self-doubt,
anxiety and apprehension.
Discovering this spaciousness
is a completely exhilarating
and satisfying release
into the wholeness and freedom
of our essential and
fundamental nature.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#40: Purpose of Existence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The entire purpose
of manifest existence
is simply to facilitate
the realization of
who and what you really are.
There is nothing more or other.
See also:
` Question #3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#41: Intuitive Impulse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every intuitive impulse
leads eventually to
a recognition of
your own innate nature.
Watch and learn
by trusting
this gradual and
unfolding process.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#42: True Freedom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
True freedom lies in discovering
that your most intimate identity
-- the Witnessing Awareness
we recognize as "I am" --
is inseparable from the Source
out of which it emerges.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#43: Absolute Center, Essence and Presence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pay attention to whatever it is
that is disturbing or distressing you.
Investigate your reactions, and
you will discover that
your most intimate identity
resides at the
Absolute Center of your experience,
behind and within all
the activity of the "external" world
and your "internal" mind.
When you point toward yourself,
you are pointing in the
experiential direction of
this Clear Seeing, Perceptual Center --
the Witnessing Awareness of "I am" --
which remains unshaken and unmoved
in the midst of all
external movement and
mental activity.
Recognize this invisible Center
as the Essence of who and what
you really are.
This clear, unseen Seeing is
the self-illuminated Space
within which
all manifest existence appears.
You are THAT,
and when this spacious Essence
manifests as
the Witnessing Awareness of "I am,"
we recognize and experience it as
spiritual Presence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#44: Discovering Completeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The greatest joy of Life
lies in the discovery of
its innate completeness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#45: Facing Death
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Face Death squarely.
Do not shrink back
or look away,
for within the eyes of Death
you will see the face of God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#46: Illuminated Darkness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even within darkness
perception is illuminated
by the light of
our own innate
Awareness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#47: Discover the Spacious Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your opportunity is simply to
observe your experience,
and in so doing,
discover the spacious Space
out of which
all manifest experience arises.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#48: Desire and the Realization of Truth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you observe your own experience carefully,
you will discover that, in its own way,
even desire leads to
the eventual realization of Truth --
simply through the revelation of
the limited nature of the finite and
the irresistibility of the Infinite.
See also:
` Bumping into Limitation
` Invitation into the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#49: Trust Your Own Experience
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you do not trust your own immediate experience
as a valid vehicle for the expression of Truth
and the manifestation of Reality,
you will never have hope
of recognizing either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#50: Do Not Reject Your Experience
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not reject the experience
within which you find yourself.
Look into the heart of it
to discover the Living Center --
the nexus point through which
the energy of Life manifests.
You are THAT.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#51: Luminescent Present
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The present moment is
pure, crystalline and luminescent.
It is only our attachments,
distractions and preoccupations
which obscure this innate,
natural clear light.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#52: Recognize the Miraculous
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let go of your attachment to
this or that.
Cultivate your ability
to recognize the miraculous
everywhere.
See also:
` Self-Identification with the Limited
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#53: Revelation of Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The entire manifest universe
exists as a revelation of
THAT which is fundamental,
Essential and Real.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#54: Creative Impulse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trust the impulses of creativity
stirring within you.
They are the energy of Life
seeking expression through you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#55: Reality As It Is
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only when we let go of
our preconceived ideas
of what we think
Reality *should* be
are we able to delight in
the magnificence of
Reality as it is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#56: Beyond All Seeking...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seeking is based on a
fundamental assumption
of incompleteness.
Beyond all seeking
lies the discovery of
Infinite Completeness --
an undeniable recognition
that nothing is missing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#57: Satisfaction Beyond Circumstance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Discovering the Satisfaction
independent of circumstance
is the revelation that
liberates.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#58: Explore Your Assumptions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be vigilant in exploring the assumptions
upon which your experience is based:
` Do you trust life?
` Do you feel safe within the universe?
` Do you believe existence is incomplete
or fatally flawed?
Your answers to these fundamental questions
will define and shape your perception
and experience of Reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#59: Reality is Staring at You
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reality and truth
are staring you
in the face.
The question is:
how do you interpret
what you see?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#60: Interpreting Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your experience of Reality
is shaped by
your interpretation of it.
Change the beliefs you hold about Reality,
and your world will be transformed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#61: Thought Filters Perception
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn to discern
how thought filters
perception.
Then you will begin to see
how much of your experience
is a product of imagination
and expectation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#62: Sea of Possibility
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this moment
you are sitting within
a sea of infinite possibility.
Each choice you make is a vehicle
for distilling the actual
from the potential.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#63: New In This Moment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See each experience
as if it is fresh and new.
With thoughtful and careful attention,
you will discover that it is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#64: Freedom from Fear
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fear is completely dependent upon
a narrow and limited sense of self.
Freedom from fear lies in
the Awareness of it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#65: Quiet Joy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quiet, unspeakable joy
inhabits the heart
that recognizes
the inherent Wholeness
within all things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#66: Perfect Practice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For those who would seek
the perfect method of spiritual practice,
remember:
there is nothing
that does *not* contribute to
the experience of Realization.
See also:
` Spiritual Practice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#67: Being Human
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dive deeply into the heart of the question
of what it means to be fully human.
Do not be satisfied with your answer
until it embraces all of who you are --
both alone and in relationship with others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#68: Liberation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Liberation is not an escape
from the human condition.
It is the fulfillment of it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#69: Figuring out Enlightenment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Give up trying to figure out
what "enlightenment" is.
It is enough simply
to pay attention to Reality
as it shows up, here and now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#70: Be Who You Are
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be who you are,
without concern, regret
or apprehension.
You are Life's gift to us,
exactly as you are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#71: Unraveling Our Confusions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is nothing
you need to do or achieve
above and beyond
who/what you already are.
Reality is not separate from
or other than
who/what you already are.
Full acceptance of Reality,
exactly as it is,
embraces everything --
including your desire for change.
True freedom from desire
includes even freedom from
the desire to be desireless.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#72: Behind the Mind
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Behind the mind lies
clear, quiet open space
through which
the energy of Life flows.
Reside within this spaciousness
and nothing will be left undone.
See also:
` Open Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#73: The Energy of Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The energy of Life
is shining through each of us
in every moment as
radiant presence and
luminescent essence.
Let the focus of your attention shift
from the parts to the Whole,
and you will see this light shining
within everyone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#74: Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you release your identification
with the particular,
you will recognize your identity
with the universal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#75: Seeking Gives Way...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seeking eventually gives way,
naturally and inevitably,
to an infinite process of
discovery and revelation....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#76: Apparent Separateness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
See and experience Awareness
as the space within which
all things and all beings appear.
With this recognition,
you will realize that
all apparent separateness
is appearance only.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#77: Beyond Appearance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Step beyond
the world of appearances
into the spaciousness
out of which
all appearances arise.
Here is where true freedom lies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#78: Being and Doing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Being is simply the background
for all doing.
Neither exists in opposition to
or in tension with the other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#79: Haunted by Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allow your fascination with
Reality's innate nature
to haunt you into discovering
the unavoidability and totality
of the Real.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#80: Ready for Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When nothing else will satisfy,
then you will be ready
for Reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#81: The Allure of Attainment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Arrival, achievement and attainment
are all alluring because of
the promise of certainty
they provide.
However, greater satisfaction and security
are inherent within an absolute acceptance of
the sufficiency of Reality as it is.
Always remember:
that which can be attained
also can be lost.
See also:
` Nothing to Achieve, Nowhere to Go
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#82: The Sufficiency of Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reality is sufficient as It is.
Without this recognition,
we are destined
to search and to suffer.
However, when we finally accept
the innate completeness of Reality
as it is manifesting
within the present moment,
then we realize our innate freedom
to explore Its infinite and
yet-to-be-manifest potential.
See also:
` Natural Great Perfection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#83: Misery is Optional
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the process of coming to terms with
the experience of suffering, it can help
to remember that pain is an inherent aspect
of finite, physical experience.
Suffering, on the other hand, is a
mental/psychological/emotional construct,
and while it arises naturally in conjunction with
any narrow, individual identification,
it is an experience we do not have to create.
Even common knowledge reminds us
of this simple truth
in the frequently quoted phrase:
"Pain is inevitable,
but misery is optional."
See also:
` Reflections on Suffering
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#84: Watch the Mind
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you would understand the nature of Reality,
begin by watching the workings of the mind.
It is here that all misapprehensions arise.
Let go of what you do not understand.
Assume you are looking at and experiencing
the Whole of Reality
for beyond all appearances,
you are.
See also:
` Beyond Appearance
` Apparent Separateness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#85: One Taste
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The experience of "One Taste" is a Recognition
of that which is the essential Ground or Base
of all things -- a Recognition of the Reality
from which all things spring forth. With this
Recognition, a shift in our fascination occurs
from the details and "the how of the world"
(Wittgenstein) to the simple fact that the
world exists at all.
In other words, "One Taste" is an experience of
absolute wonder, Satisfaction, and Fulfillment
in and with the multiplicity in the world --
the complete opposite blandness and homogeneity.
See also:
` Three-fold Miracle
` Kalu Rinpoche on "One Taste"
` Excerpts from "One Taste: The Journals of Ken Wilber": #1, #2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#86: One and Many
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"One" and "Many" are two names
for the same Reality.
Step back from the busy-ness
within your life,
and see the light illuminating
all manifest things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#87: Trusting Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you understand
that you are in the midst of
the fullness of Reality,
the universe --
and everything within it --
becomes consummately
trustworthy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#88: Trust the Sages
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trust the saints and sages.
Look for the Truth
they have described
within the heart of
*your own* intimate experience.
Allow yourself to discover
the validity of
your own innate Knowing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#89: Trust Your Own Knowing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trust the wisdom within you.
Follow it out to the edge
of your own knowing,
and then discover the Knowing
that lies beyond....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#90: Being What You Are
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing can prevent you from
being what you already are.
Only fear and imagination will
prevent you from recognizing
your own innate fullness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#91: Recognizing the Unseen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You do not need
to understand
everything.
It is enough simply
to recognize, intuitively,
the Unseen within the seen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#92: Thought, Desire and Expectation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not be troubled
by the arising of
thought, desire and expectations.
Allow them to be
what they inherently are:
limited manifestations of
That which is
Unlimited.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#93: Worry, Fear, Regret and Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Worry, fear and regret are based upon
imagined stories we tell ourselves
about Reality.
Trust is a fundamental acknowledgement
of the ultimate benevolence, wholeness
and integrity of Reality, as it is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#94: Infinite Potential
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we open ourselves
to the vast expanse of
our own infinite potential,
we enhance the opportunity
for it to be realized.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#95: Joy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joy is the natural expression
of an unfettered spirit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#96: Test Your Assumptions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life will inevitably provide you
with countless opportunities
to test your assumptions about
That which is Real and True.
Live your life fully,
and take advantage of
every opportunity
as it arises.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#97: With What Do You Identify?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every experience in your life
points toward a fundamental choice --
the question of:
"With what do you identify?"
The way you answer this
fundamental and essential question
will profoundly influence
how you choose to live your life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#98: Beyond Identification
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let go of all identifications,
and the Truth of who you are
will be unmistakable, undeniable
and unavoidable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#99: Portal into the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find THAT which is
the unchanging constant
within the heart of
your own immediate experience,
and you will discover
an open portal
into the Infinite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#100: Finding Comfort
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our greatest solace and
and most profound comfort
are to be found in the
eventual and unavoidable
recognition that
That which is Real and True
always will remain so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#101: The Limitless Nature of Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our expectations are the boundaries
which limit the height and breadth and depth
of our own understanding.
Always be open to possibilities
that lie beyond the limits of
your wildest imagination.
Allow every experience
to teach you about
the limitless nature
of Reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#102: Reality is Not Fragile
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing is fragile about Reality.
That which is Real is
completely substantial
and trustworthy.
Its manifestations will
inevitably change and fade,
but the Essence and Source
of everything remains
solid and unmoved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#103: The Rhythm of Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The innate rhythm of Life
is reflected around and with us --
in the flowing of the tides
and the cycling of the seasons;
in the cadence of our breathing,
and the beating of our hearts.
Trust the natural inevitability
of this momentum,
and recognize it within
the inexorable opening
of your soul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#104: Making the Unseen Seen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each of us is a
living, breathing experience of,
and an experiment with,
the process of making
the Unseen seen.
This is the honor,
opportunity and art of
being human.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#105: Living Wisdom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Live with a
fully integrated recognition
of the priceless and
precious nature of
the present moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#106: The Great Equalizer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Realization is the great equalizer:
everything is poignant
when seen through
the eyes of intrinsic
Awareness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#107: Compassionate Witness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Step back from your experience.
Observe yourself, your reactions,
and everything that happens
through the eyes of
a compassionate witness.
This is what it means to
pay attention.
See also:
` Pay Attention
` Overwhelming Delight
` Given Conditions
` Unchanging Awareness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#108: Satisfaction and Suffering
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How can one find satisfaction
in a world filled with suffering?
By understanding the nature of suffering
and the larger Reality out of which it arises.
See also:
` Reflections on Suffering
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#109: Quiet Compassion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quiet compassion is the strength
that endures all suffering and
triumphs over all adversity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#110: Nothing But Love
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you are exhausted by
the suffering in the world,
there is nothing to do
but love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#111: Happiness and Satisfaction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Happiness depends upon
the vicissitudes of circumstance.
Satisfaction resides within
the abiding completeness of Reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#112: Reality and Satisfaction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you discover Reality,
nothing else is needed.
Until you discover Reality
nothing else will satisfy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#113: Nothing and Everything
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you need nothing,
there is room for everything.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#114: Natural Great Completeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rest in the comfort of Life's
Natural Great Completeness.
This sufficiency is the source
of all satisfaction and peace.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#115: THIS is Sufficient
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Consider the possibility
that Life is complete --
exactly as it is...
...that within each moment
Reality is infinitely and
endlessly manifesting...
...that all of the apparent parts
are an expression of
one vast and magnificent
Whole.
Imagine how all THIS
would appear to you
if seen through
Satisfied eyes.
Breathe deeply
and let go
of all expectation
and desire...
...and in this moment of
clear, pure Seeing
you will discover
all there is to know:
nothing more, nothing less
than what is here, now.
THIS is sufficient --
exactly as it is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#116: Perceptual Capacity, Dynamic Vitality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Behind, beneath, within, and beyond
all thought and emotion shines
the clear, spacious light of
Natural Awareness.
This perceptual capacity
is the seat and Center of
all human experience,
and it manifests as
the dynamic, animating vitality
within each of us.
See also:
` Natural Awareness
` Spacious Vitality
` The Energy of Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#117: Silent Center, Moving Energy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find the silent, Clear Center
within all the world's movement.
This is your true identity.
Trust the energy moving out
from this Source, into the world.
This is also a manifestation of
your own innate essence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#118: Identity and Effort
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your true identity
includes and transcends
all thought, emotion and appearance.
Find the Clear Center
of all manifest things
and all efforting will cease.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#119: The Dynamic and The Changeless
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember:
the dynamic and the changeless
are inextricably connected.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#120: Transformation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The present moment
is the vortex of
all transformation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#121: Simply Trusting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are best served
simply by trusting both
the process within which
we find ourselves,
and the deepest impulses
moving within us.
See also:
· No Rules
http://www.awakening.net/RMNoRules.html
· Intuitive Impulse
http://www.escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m50.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#122: Each and Every Step
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As a wise Spanish poet once said,
"Wanderer, there is no path.
You lay a path in walking."
Remember: each and every step
*is* our sacred work.
See also:
· Nothing to Achieve, Nowhere to Go
http://www.awakening.net/WNothing.html
· Our Sacred Calling
http://www.awakening.net/RMSacredCalling.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#123: Life's Lessons
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even now
Life is teaching us
everything we need to know.
Our opportunity is
to recognize the lessons
as they are arising.
See also:
· Your Teacher
http://www.awakening.net/RMYourTeacher.html
· The Miracle of Manifest Existence
http://www.escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m21.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#124: Discovering That Which We Are Seeking
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each of us is already discovering
That which we are seeking.
It is simply a matter of
paying attention to
and trusting Life
as it is arises
within this moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#125: Sharing In This Moment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every moment
is an opportunity
to share
the essence of
who and what
you really are.
What are you offering
now to others?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#126: Truth is Not Hidden.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Truth is not hidden from us.
We simply do not recognize it
manifesting as THIS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#127: That is This
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The only reason we do not recognize This
as That which we are seeking
is that we operate with
a set of limiting assumptions
about how Reality will manifest
in the present moment.
When we let go of
these assumptions and expectations,
we will instantly recognize:
That can be nothing other than This.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#128: Doubting Reality?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Who am I to second guess
the nature of Reality?
Why should I ever doubt,
even for just one moment,
that Reality could/would/should
manifest as anything but This?
See also:
· This is It!
http://www.awakening.net/WThisisit.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#129: Ultimate Realization
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everything pales in comparison
to the Realization that
THIS is complete.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#130: Enlightenment is Not Separate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enlightenment is not separate from This --
your own immediate experience.
It is simultaneously immediate,
ordinary and Infinite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#131: Absence and Presence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The absence of, or distance from,
a particular teacher
is not an obstacle to recognizing
your own innate nature.
The only apparent obstacle
is believing this Presence
is separate from
who and what
you already are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#132: Radiant Moment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In one stunning, timeless moment
the whole of THAT
reveals itself --
as THIS --
and Now shines radiant,
luminescent,
pure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#133: Realizing the Nature of "Ordinary" Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enlightenment is the thoroughly astonishing
and delightful realization that when Infinity
and perfection manifest within space and time,
they show up in and as the magnificence and splendor
we describe as "ordinary" reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#134: Perfection Unfolding
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we recognize that
THAT which is unfolding before us
in every present moment
is a pure and inviolate expression
of the Perfection of Life, itself,
nothing more is needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#135: Infinite Universe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All human creativity begins
with imagination and
with a willingness
to consider the possibility
that something heretofore unimagined
might actually come into being.
Let go of limiting assumptions, and
an Infinite universe will instantly manifest --
right before your very eyes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#136: Choosing Peace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To live in peace and with compassion
is a choice made in every moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#137: Watch Your Reactions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watch your internal reactions to Reality.
If you pay attention to your resistances
and to your objections,
you will discover that
it is this rejection of Reality
which is the source of all suffering.
When you finally stop pushing Reality away,
you will naturally and inevitably discover
a vast expanse of innate freedom and choice
you never before knew existed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#138: Internal and External Experience
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may not always understand
the source point and origin of
your "external" experience,
but with mindful attention
you will discover that
your subjective, "internal" experience
is always created and shaped
by thought.
Focus on understanding this dynamic
and you will find that both your
"internal" and "external" experiences
will, inevitably, be transformed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#139: Expectations of the Finite, Intimacy with the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not expect the finite
to be anything other than
what it is.
This is the key to discovering
your own innate freedom, and
your intimacy with the Infinite.
See also:
· The Movement of Life
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m45.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#140: Finite and Infinite Beauty
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The finite world is steeped
in tender, poignant beauty --
precisely because it is finite.
The Infinite is radiant with beauty --
precisely because it transcends the finite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#141: Acceptance, Freedom and Possibility
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we allow ourselves
to accept Reality exactly as it is,
we paradoxically discover
our innate freedom and
the Reality of infinite possibility.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#142: Self-absorption
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All of us are always self-absorbed.
The question is, with what self
do we identify?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#143: Spacious Wholeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you reflect on the spacious Wholeness
that contains all of our experiences,
you will discover:
` it is the timeless constant
throughout our lives, and
` there is no time when it is
not immediately accessible
and available.
See also:
· Spaciousness of Spirit
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m47.html
· Clear Seeing: The Indisputable Whole
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m42.html
· From Aloneness into Wholeness
http://www.awakening.net/Q23.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#144: Incarnation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THIS will never be enough
as long as we resist --
and until we can embrace --
the reality and mystery
of incarnation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#145: Tracing Bread Crumbs Home
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember: all thoughts and emotions
function as bread crumbs
leading you home to
the realization of
your own essential nature.
Emotions arise from thoughts
which arise, in turn, from
foundational belief structures
about the nature of Reality and
your own innate identity.
Trace these experiential clues
back to their Source, and
they will reveal the underlying structures
that support your current experience of Reality
-- along with the clear light of Awareness
within which they are all contained.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#146: Pleasure and Pain
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reality includes all pleasure
and extends beyond all pain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#147: Beyond Extremes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every extreme
points toward that Reality
which lies beyond
all extremes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#148: The Greatest Gift
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The greatest gift we have been given
is Reality exactly as it is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#149: Pondering the Nature of the Universe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pondering the nature of the universe
and humankind's place within it
is hardly idle fancy.
It is one of the most fundamentally human
tasks within which we can engage.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#150: Expectation and Possibility
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Expectation
will either
limit or invite
possibility.
Choose wisely.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#151: No Sweeter Pleasure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is no sweeter pleasure
than satisfaction and contentment
arising spontaneously
within the present moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#152: Complete Satisfaction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The quiet joy
of complete satisfaction
arises when we release
our attachment to
the particular.
See also:
· Contentment
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m28.html
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m41.html
· Satisfaction Beyond Circumstance
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m69.html
· Satisfaction and Suffering
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m131.html
· Happiness and Satisfaction
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m135.html
· Reality and Satisfaction
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m136.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#153: Life's Sweetness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Captives of our own imaginations,
we dream of fleeting pleasures
and long for deeper passions,
even as Life's sweetness
is dripping from our lips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#154: Quiet Reverie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In moments of quiet reverie,
Awareness shines clear,
radiant and undisturbed.
Moonlight shines twice-bright --
in the clear night sky above, and
in still, darkening waters below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#155: From the Darkness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reach deep into the darkness
and you will always pull out
hands full of THIS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#156: Reality and Truth are Larger
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you are overwhelmed with
the immensity of
your own pain and suffering,
remember:
Reality and Truth are larger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#157: Keep an Open Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even in the depths of despair,
if you allow your heart
to remain open,
light will continue to flow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#158: Our Attachment to Struggle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our attachment
to struggle and suffering
is often stronger than
our clinging
to pleasure and desire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#159: Suffering Arises Within the Mind
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Continue opening yourself
to the possibility
that all suffering arises
within the mind.
When you release your attachment
to the particular view causing
your discomfort or anguish,
you will suddenly realize --
in a brilliant flash of clarity --
that everything is transformed
with a simple shift in thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#160: Unconditioned Acceptance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Embrace every event,
receive every experience and
approach every individual
with unconditioned acceptance.
Within this spacious Awareness,
suffering will inevitably subside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#161: In Every Moment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In every moment...
we are stepping into the unknown.
In every moment...
we are coming home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#162: Here and Now
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Consider the possibility
that HERE and NOW are
not different...
...and you will begin to intuit
the profound Completeness
of Reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#163: Not Here Now?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Where do you hope to go?
What do you hope to do or to find
that is not already present Here and Now?
Reflecting on this
will help you to recognize
your expectations and assumptions
about the nature of Reality and
the experience of Realization.
If you do not assume that
That which you are seeking is missing,
then you will be able to recognize it
Here and Now
as THIS.
Remember:
You already are
THAT which you are seeking.
"What you are looking for is what is looking."
Wei Wu Wei
See also:
· Here and Now
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m199.html
· Reality Emerges as This
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m6.html
· Desiring -- and Accepting -- Reality
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m17.html
· Recognition of Reality
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m18.html
· Only Now is Real
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m24.html
· THIS is Sufficient
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m139.html
· Nothing is Missing
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m41.html
· Nothing to Achieve, Nowhere to Go
http://www.awakening.net/WNothing.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#164: All Apparent Movement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our destination is always Here.
Our arrival is always Now.
All apparent movement
is a reflection of
the wandering mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#165: Infinite and Inescapable
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find comfort in the fact
that NOW is Infinite
and inescapable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#166: True Liberation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
True liberation is recognizing
there is no longer anything --
including desire and the human condition --
from which you are seeking to escape.
See also:
· Unraveling Our Confusions
http://www.awakening.net/RMUnraveling.html
· Desire and the Realization of Truth
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m58.html
· Thought, Desire and Expectation
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m112.html
· The Human Condition
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m39.html
· Being Human
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m82.html
· Liberation
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m83.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#167: Essential Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Reality you confront
in silence and in darkness --
the unblinking Awareness
behind all thought,
emotion and personal identity --
is the Essence of
your own innate Identity.
See also:
· Illuminated Darkness
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m56.html
· Natural Awareness
http://www.awakening.net/RMNatural.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#168: Yoga
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yoga means union.
The essence of yoga
is the Recognition that
your own innate Identity
is indistinguishable
from the Essence of Reality.
See also:
· Overwhelming Delight
http://www.awakening.net/RMDelight.html
· The Question of Identity
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m36.html
· Identity
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m90.html
· "Higher" Self
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m46.html
· Unchanging Awareness
http://www.awakening.net/RMUnchanging.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#169: Awaken Now
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not make a religion
out of your
restless seeking.
Instead, Awaken now
to That which is Essential
within in the silent, motionless
Center of your experience.
See also:
· The End of Seeking
http://www.awakening.net/RMEndSeeking.html
· In Spite of All Your Searching
http://www.awakening.net/RMSpite.html
· Identity and Effort
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m143.html
· Absolute Center, Essence and Presence
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m52.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#170: There is No Other
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dive deep into
the Center of your Self,
and you will find
there is no Other.
See also:
· Journey into the Center
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m20.html
· Silent Center, Moving Energy
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m142.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#171: Arrow of Attention
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trace the arrow of attention
back to the Source
out of which it arises,
and you will discover
a vast and spaciousness Awareness
to which your most intimate identity
is inextricably linked.
See also:
· Tracing Bread Crumbs Home
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m178.html
· Focus on the Source
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m11.html
· True Freedom
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m51.html
· Discover the Spacious Space
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m57.html
· Spacious Awareness
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m29.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#172: Attention and Intention
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Attention is
the light of Awareness
focused by intention.
See also:
· Attention
http://www.awakening.net/RMAttention.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#173: Focused Attention
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Focused attention
provides an invaluable opportunity
for the inherent radiance of Reality
to be revealed and recognized.
See also:
· Radiant Moment
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m161.html
· Luminescent Present
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m62.html
· The Energy of Life
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m89.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#174: Background of Awareness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awareness is the background for
all of our experiences, and yet
in our ordinary day-to-day lives,
it is often obscured by
habituated thoughts and emotions.
Most teaching and meditation practices
are designed to cut through
this habituated seeing
into the Background of Awareness
which is our innate nature and
which is, in and of itself,
Clear Seeing.
See also:
· Behind the Mind
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m88.html
· Clear Seeing: The Indisputable Whole
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m42.html
· Clear Seeing
http://www.awakening.net/RMClearSeeing.html
· Natural Awareness
http://www.awakening.net/RMNatural.html
· Mentoring Letter #6
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m7.html
· Mentoring Letter #17
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m18.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#175: Awareness is the Constant
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awareness is the constant
throughout all experience.
Recognizing this is the key
to abiding Satisfaction.
See also:
· Portal into the Infinite
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m120.html
· Unchanging Awareness
http://www.awakening.net/RMUnchanging.html
· Contentment
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m41.html
· Finding Comfort
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m121.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#176: Individuality and the Experience of Realization
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is important to understand that
with an experience of Realization,
the sense of this body,
this mind, this individual
does not always --
and does not need to --
disappear.
Instead, the "individual" is simply perceived
within a new and much broader context.
It is now understood as
a temporary and transitory manifestation
of a larger -- indeed Infinite -- Reality.
.o00o.
"It should be borne in mind...that relative
consciousness by its own momentum continued
to function all this time, so that I never
for one moment lost sight of my environment
or the ceaseless train of thoughts."
"I was...prepared not to have the personal
consciousness share in this Recognition in any
way. But in this I was happily disappointed."
Franklin Merrell-Wolff
_Experience and Philosophy_
.o00o.
See also:
· Mentoring Letter #34
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m35.html
· Mentoring Letter #37
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m39.html
· Epiphany: Gift of Light
http://www.awakening.net/Epiphany.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#177: Awareness and "I Am"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awareness manifests in and through the individual,
and there is -- for most of us -- a strong, clear
sense of identification with what appears to be
an individual sense of being -- this sense of
"I am."
However, the sense of "I am" is less a link to an
*individual* identity, and is more a revelation
of a natural state of Awareness, which is our
essential, innate nature.
See also:
· I Am
http://www.awakening.net/RMIAm.html
· I Am Aware Now
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m34.html
· Given Conditions
http://www.awakening.net/RMGiven.html
· Mentoring Letter #37
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m39.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#178: Center and Anchor
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As "I Am" arises,
the world appears.
As "I Am" subsides,
the world vanishes.
As such, "I Am" is the
center of creation and
the anchor of all Knowing.
See also:
· Trust Your Own Knowing
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m108.html
· Do Not Reject Your Experience
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m60.html
· Creative Impulse
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m65.html
· Trust the Sages
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m107.html
· Awaken Now
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m207.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#179: Nexus Point
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everything interfaces
within the present moment.
The vitality of NOW arises
from this miraculous convergence:
space, time, Identity, Reality
and the movement of Life
are all inextricably linked
within the nexus point of
present moment Awareness.
See also:
· Transformation
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m145.html
· All Movement, All Time
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m4.html
· Trust the Movement of Reality
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m10.html
· Only Now is Real
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m24.html
· Radiant Moment
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m161.html
· Recognition of Reality
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m18.html
· Three-fold Miracle
http://www.awakening.net/W3-FoldMiracle.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#180: Becoming
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Becoming is simply
the manifestation of Awareness
in and through the finite
within the Infinite Present.
See also:
· Reality Emerges as This
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m6.html
· Manifestation
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m146.html
· One and Many
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m105.html
· Awareness is the Constant
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m215.html
· Time
http://www.awakening.net/RMTime.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#181: Hunger for the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The finite always hungers
for the Infinite.
This longing is evidence of
the Source out of which
all finite things arise.
"The spirit of man is inseparable
from the Infinite, and
can be satisfied with
nothing less than the Infinite."
-- James Allen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#182: Our Longing to Know
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our profound longing to Know
arises naturally and inevitably.
It is not a mistake or a problem.
It is, in fact, the natural movement
and nature of Life, as it manifests,
to seek beyond the limits of the finite.
Every edge we bump up against
invites us to seek,
to explore what lies beyond --
to know that which is as yet
unseen and undiscovered.
See also:
· Bumping into Limitation
http://awakening.net/RMBumping.html
· Invitation into the Infinite
http://www.escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m35.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#183: Seeking the Whole
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our longing to Know arises
as the smaller "part"
begins seeking a recognition
of the larger Whole.
As this recognition and
acknowledgement of the Whole
begins to arise,
our seeking and longing
naturally begin to subside.
See also:
· Clear Seeing: The Indisputable Whole
http://www.awakening.net/RMClearSeeing.html
· The Energy of Life
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m89.html
· Identity
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m90.html
· From Aloneness into Wholeness
http://www.awakening.net/Q23.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#184: Seeking Subsides
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our searching and longing
naturally subside
as we come into
a fuller recognition of
the vast expanse of the Infinite
manifesting within the present moment.
See also:
· Reality Emerges as This
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m6.html
· THIS is Sufficient
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m139.html
· Quiet Joy
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m79.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#185: Giving Way to Discovery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As we eventually begin to let go of
our mistaken assumption that
something is missing,
the energy of seeking shifts
and gives way to limitless discovery.
See also:
· Seeking
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Seeking
· Completeness
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Completeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#186: Nourishing the Soul
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What nourishes the soul most
if not a recognition and
an appreciation of
the fullness and depth
of Reality?
See also:
· Bliss - Contentment - Satisfaction
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Bliss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#187: Ordinary and Magnificent
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The grand magnificence of Reality
is that it manifests effortlessly
within the ordinary and the mundane.
See also:
· How Extraordinary is the Ordinary!
http://www.awakening.net/WOrdinary.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#188: Recognizing, Not Rejecting
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recognizing
the fundamental nature of Reality
depends on nothing other than
not rejecting Reality
as it appears before you.
See also:
· Being Human
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Human
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#189: Surrendering to Truth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you surrender completely
to Truth,
there is no place where
you will not see
Reality emerging.
See also:
· Letting Go
http://www.awakening.net/RMLettingGo.html
· Manifestation
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Manifestation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#190: True Wealth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
True wealth lies in
recognizing and embracing
the completeness of Reality.
See also:
· Completeness
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Completeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#191: Silent Center Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You reside within the Center
of all changing circumstance.
In this, there is no hidden secret,
no esoteric truth.
Simply watch your own experience,
and you will soon discover that
all movement resolves around
the silent Center Space
you recognize as
you.
See also:
· Center of Perception
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Center
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#192: The Containing Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All pain and pleasure,
all happiness and sorrow,
dissolve into the space
within which they are contained.
See also:
· Space
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#193: The Great Container
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Both movement (the dynamic)
and stillness (the quiescent)
emanate from One Source.
What more could ever be needed
when you discover yourself
residing effortlessly within
The Great Container of All Things?
"But, if you hide the universe
in the universe,
there is no way to lose it.
This is the ultimate reality."
Chuang Tsu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#194: Spaciousness and Clarity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spaciousness of spirit
is reflected in
radiant clarity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#195: Living in Open Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is enough simply to
pay attention and
trust the process:
` Whoever comes is the right people.
` Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
` When it starts, is the right time.
` When it's over, it's over.
If you are neither learning nor contributing,
you have a responsibility,
to yourself and to others,
to use your two feet and
move to some place
more to your liking.
Be prepared to be surprised!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With credit -- and grateful acknowledgement --
to Harrison Owen....
Opening Space for Emerging Order
http://www.openspaceworld.com/brief_history.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#196: Shift the Focus of Attention and Energy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your daily life --
with all its opportunities,
challenges and dilemmas --
is a composite reflection of
your recent focus of attention.
Shift this focus,
and you will begin to realize
new dimensions of
unmanifest potential.
Watch and learn
as this energy
moves.
"Whatever you focus on expands."
Unknown
See also:
· Attention
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Attention
· Energy
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#197: The Demands of Daily Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you attend to your affairs
and respond to the demands of daily life,
realize they can all be kept in perspective
simply by focusing your attention
on THAT which is Essential.
Inevitably, everything will be
taken care of, effortlessly,
when you recognize
you are residing
within the Real.
See also:
· Effort
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Effort
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#198: No Disturbance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No disturbance arises
in the mind
grounded in
Reality.
See also:
· Contentment
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Bliss
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#199: Containing Fear
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do not fear
what you do not
understand.
Instead, surrender
and open yourself to it
so completely that
you discover you are,
in fact,
the container of it.
See also:
· Fear
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Fear
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#200: Nothing Left Undone
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whether we realize it or not,
the critical issues we face
in our daily lives --
health, security and safety --
all arise because of
the inevitability of
Death.
Come to terms with this
fundamental Reality,
and there will be
no business
left undone.
See also:
· Death
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Death
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#201: Everything We Do
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Within the present moment
lies an infinite well-spring
of satisfaction and fulfillment.
Everything we do
either affirms this truth,
or attempts to achieve
THAT which is already here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#202: The Limits of Meditation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meditation is simply an attempt
to still and focus the mind.
Realization is discovering
you are the Spacious Awareness
and Clear Seeing
within which
both mind and
meditation appear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#203: Personality and Essence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Personality is subject to change.
Essence is not.
Reality manifests through both.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#204: Restlessness Subsides
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allow your identity to shift
from the particular to the universal,
and then watch the restlessness
of the mind
subside.
See also:
· Identity
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m90.html
· Complete Satisfaction
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m187.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#205: Contemplating the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contemplating the Infinite
stirs the soul and
opens the heart of
Recognition.
"The chief meaning of meditation
is to contemplate reality."
Dhammasudhi
_Secrets of the Lotus_
See also:
· Pondering the Nature of the Universe
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m183.html
· Infinite
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#206: Gift of God
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This moment is
an extraordinary opportunity --
profound and priceless --
to open your eyes
and see God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#207: Grace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grace has already arrived.
It is not something for which
we are still waiting!
If you are searching,
you simply have not yet
recognized it, as it is,
here and now.
See also:
· Mentoring Letter # 37
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m39.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#208: Everything You See
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everything you see is God
in a form
you do not yet recognize.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#209: This is It!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everything
is an endless reminder
that This is It!
See also:
· This is the Answer
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m22.html
· Wisdom: This is It!
http://www.awakening.net/WThisisit.html
· This Awakening
http://www.awakening.net/RMAwakening.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#210: Awakening into Awareness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life
is our experience
of Awakening into Awareness.
Recognizing this,
we no longer crave anything
beyond the present moment.
See also:
· Completeness
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Completeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#211: Essence Behind Appearance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Behind all appearances, names and forms,
beneath all thoughts and emotions,
lies the Reality of who and what
you really are.
This Essence shines through
all forms and structures --
a radiant expression of Reality
here and now,
through you and
through the world around you.
See also:
· Essence and Presence
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Essence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#212: In Spite of All Appearances
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Consider all the beauty and
love around you and
recognize that
Life has tremendous power
to move through each of us --
in spite of
all appearances to the contrary.
See also:
· Suffering And Wonder
http://awakening.net/WSufferingAndWonder.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#213: Light of the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The light of the Infinite
shines through each of us
as if through colored glass.
Explore your beliefs and assumptions
to discover the ways in which
you filter the radiance of Truth.
See also:
· Assumptions and Expectations
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Assumptions
· Infinite
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#214: Open Window
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let your life be an open window
through which the light of Truth shines.
Be what you already are,
and let your life
be a gift to the world.
See also:
· Truth
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Truth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#215: No Aspiration
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No aspiration remains,
except to be clear as glass.
See also:
· Clear As Glass
http://www.awakening.net/WClearAsGlass.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#216: Life's Voice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life speaks directly to you
through your deepest longings.
Listen to -- and trust -- this voice.
See also:
· Desire
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Desire
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#217: Hunger for Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is an urge within each of us
driving us deeper into the heart of Life...
a hunger for That which is essential.
Trust this impulse.
It is Reality guiding you
toward Itself.
See also:
· Reality
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#218: Attachment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Experience and desire
are not your enemies.
Only attachment
obscures the peace
that is innately your own.
See also:
· Being Human
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Human
· Desire
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Desire
· Freedom and Liberation
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Freedom
· Bliss -- Contentment -- Satisfaction
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Contentment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#219: Passionate Enthusiasm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Passionate enthusiasm
is a contagious gift
of moving energy.
See also:
· Life -- Energy
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#220: Responding to Life's Call
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trust your deepest longing.
It is the response of your heart
to the call of Life, itself.
See also:
· Trust
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#221: The Wonder of Life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To the open hearted,
all of Life is a wonder.
See also:
· Miracles
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Miracles
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#222: How Should Reality Appear?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cultivate your capacity for wonder and awe
by stripping away your expectations of
how Reality should appear.
See also:
· Assumptions and Expectations
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Expectations
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#223: Discovering Reality As It Is
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you no longer attempt to define
what Reality should be,
you will discover it as it is.
See also:
· Reality
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#224: Our Capacity for Wonder
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our capacity for wonder
is limited only by
our ability to say "yes" to Life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#225: Everything is Grace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When we can say "yes" to Life,
everything is Grace.
See also:
· Reflections on Grace
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m259.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#226: Nothing Lost
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Delirious,
and with exceeding fullness,
everything can fall away.
Nothing lost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#227: Changing Forms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nothing is ever lost.
Everything simply changes form.
Remember this in the face of
Life's ever-changing circumstances.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#228: Life's Constancy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Within all the uncertainty of life
lies a steady and unwavering reminder
of the constancy of Life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#229: Frustration and Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every experience of frustration
is a reminder to trust Life and
the energy moving within you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#230: After the Storm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eventually
the eye of the hurricane expands
until the entire storm
subsides.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#231: Self-Evident Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the experience of Realization,
Truth is revealed as the
self-evident Reality
of our day-to-day experience.
After all, what else
could all of THIS be?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#232: Full Immersion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The magnificent miracle of our lives
is that in spite of our not seeing,
we live immersed within
the fullness of Reality.
Everything is a blessing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#233: Diversity and Variation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How can the diversity and variation
in human experience be explained?
Each of us is simply experiencing
a unique and ever-changing aspect
of the Infinite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#234: No Moment, No Aspect
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is no moment
that is not a dynamic revelation
of the Real.
There is no aspect of your life
that is not touched
by the hand of God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#235: Drinking Deeply
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drink deeply of the Life
that presents itself to you.
Let no missed opportunity
ever haunt you.
Let no regrets ever steal
your sleep at night.
Trust in the magnificence
of the mysterious path
upon which you find yourself,
and move forward courageously
into the Great Unknown.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#236: The Infinite Path
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why worry?
You can never stray away from
the path you are already on.
"Wanderer, there is no path.
You lay a path in walking."
-- A Spanish poet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#237: Your Journey Home
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just remember that in the end,
your "spiritual journey" is
simply a matter of discovering
there is no journey.
Every journey is just
an imagined path
from Here to Here.
You always have been --
and are right Now --
right Here,
at Home.
See also:
· Nothing to Achieve, Nowhere to Go
http://awakening.net/WNothing.html
· Path -- Effort Practice
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Path
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#238: Absolute, Divine Precision
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everything unfolds with
the absolute, divine precision.
After all,
what other influence
could ever be at work?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#239: Finally Letting Go
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you finally let go, completely,
you will simply fall into
the infinite comfort of
the Ground of Being.
There is nowhere else to go.
See also:
· Trust -- Acceptance
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#240: Action, Inaction and Effort
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the experience of Realization,
both action and inaction arise
spontaneously and naturally,
and effort effortlessly
dissolves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#241: A Sage's Wisdom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sage is one who can say
"Yes" to Life --
under all conditions.
The sage is one who can say
"God is good" --
under all circumstances.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#242: A Sage's Contentment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sage is one
who is always
at home.
The sage is one who needs
nothing more or other
from Life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#243: A Sage's Experience
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sage is one who:
` sees only Truth,
` knows only the Real, and
` lives only Now.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#244: A Sage's Authority and Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sage is one who recognizes
there is no authority
other than his/her own.
The sage is one who
trusts Life completely
and without fail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#245: A Sage's Heart
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sage is one whose heart is
open to and accepting of Reality,
exactly as it appears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#246: Relaxing into Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can relax now.
In as much as
there is nothing
you need to do
to attain Reality,
there is also nothing
that will distance you from It.
See also:
· Reflections on The Path
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m295.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#247: Nonduality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If Reality is one complete
undivided and unbroken Whole,
then everything you see
is a manifestation of That
which is Real and True.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#248: No Adequate Definition
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No definition of Reality
is large enough
to contain the Truth
of That which is Real.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#249: No Other Truth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reality is that Truth
against which there is
no Other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#250: Truth Remains
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Truth is what remains
when all illusions fade.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#251: Revision of Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Realization is
nothing more or less than
a complete revision of identity.
See also:
· Identity
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Identity
· Awareness
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Awareness
· Essence and Presence
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Essence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#252: Spacious Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With this Recognition, a very natural shift in identity
begins to occur -- from individual thoughts/feelings/
beliefs/actions to the Observation of them.
This is where everything begins to open up.....
Suddenly, there is more quiet space around everything
that happens -- more room....
Your identity really does begin to shift toward the
Background of Awareness behind all of our experience,
and as this begins to happen, we begin to discover
our real, fundamental freedom from all emotional and
conceptual entanglements, and our connection with
the larger Whole....
See also:
· Mentoring Letter #3: Concepts into Actualization
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m4.html
· Spacious Mind
http://www.awakening.net/WSethSpaciousMind.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#253: Everything or Nothing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Identify either with everything
or with nothing.
There is no in-between.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#254: True Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let go of all identifications,
and the Truth of who you are
will be unmistakable, undeniable
and unavoidable:
you are the silent,
spacious Awareness
which contains all things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#255: Being True to Who You Are
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is no greater satisfaction
-- and no greater gift to others --
than being true to who and what
you really are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#256: The Bare Essentials
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Illness and adversity strip away
the superficialities in our daily lives,
bringing us face-to-face with
the bare essentials in Life.
These difficult and unexpected developments
are one more way
we are introduced to
the larger Mystery of Life.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#257: Our Purpose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seeing your life as a failure
is simply an assumption based on
a limited human expectation
of what we imagine
we are supposed to do and accomplish
within our allocated span of years.
Consider the possibility, instead,
that the whole purpose of being here
is related not to what we do and achieve,
but rather to what we see and feel
and give in the present moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#258: In the Empty Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eventually life will strip
everything away from us --
some of us sooner than others --
and if, in the empty space that remains
Love still arises,
then we can be assured
that Love is what is Real
because it survives
when all else fades.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#259: Staying Clear
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you are under stress,
simply bring the attention
to the top of the head,
allow it to open,
breathe deeply and
then let light flow in.
This will help you
to relax and
stay clear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#260: Radiance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whether you realize it or not,
the brightness you are seeking
is already radiant within you.
Focus on this in the days ahead,
and see this light arising within
your Awareness and Recognition of it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#261: Clarity of Presence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The strength and clarity of Presence
vary in accord with the extent to which
the illusory identity has dissolved.
The less binding the illusion,
the greater the clarity of Presence.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#262: Radiant Presence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The light of Essence
shines through form --
our sense of personality
and a separate self --
as radiant Presence
and clear seeing
Awareness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#263: Relaxing the Ego Coil
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each of us has an ego with which our essential Identify
is associated in space and time. But, this ego is not
inherently evil or wicked. It is simply limited and,
like any tool or a knife, it can serve a useful function,
or it can cause great harm.
In its functional role, the ego allows us to walk and
talk and hold down a job and pay our bills. In this
sense, the ego and the sense of identity we hold about
ourselves is like a coil with a bright light shining
inside. The greater the illusion and the stronger
the sense of false identity, the more tightly coiled
the spring.
However, when we see through the illusion and the false
sense of an independent and separate self, the coil
begins to relax and open up, and the light of Essence
shines through as Presence -- naturally radiant, clear
and bright.
See also:
· Deep Sleep, Awareness and the Great Mystery
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m51.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#264: Infinite Light
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Imagine you are Infinite light
flowing through an open window.
This is a much more accurate description
of who you really are
than believing yourself to be
a tiny soul
confined within a
finite and limited body.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#265: Clear and Open Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each of us is
a clear and open space
through which
the Essence of Life
and Reality flow.
What more do we need
to know and understand?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#266: Recognition and Release
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recognition becomes Release
when we realize that
the void and the abyss
into which we have been peering
-- and which we have been fearing --
is actually the Home
we have been seeking.
Eventually we discover
there is no falling
when we enter into this Emptiness
absolutely and completely.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#267: Coping with Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is nothing more valuable
-- or more important --
than learning
to trust your experience
in the present moment...
...and to recognize the finite
as a manifestation of the Infinite
within space and time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#268: Maintaining Clarity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ability to "maintain clarity"
is simpler and easier
than we think.
The temptation, and the source
of virtually all our suffering,
is the belief that the recognition
of who and what we already are
is difficult and distant and
somehow beyond
the immediacy of
our present moment experience --
while in reality,
there is nothing you need to do
to be what you already are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#269: Self-Acceptance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stop judging what you imagine yourself to be.
Just pay attention to the immediate events
(both internal and external) which appear
within your field of Awareness.
Even when the mind becomes agitated and
anguished by the unknown and the uncertain,
relax into the Spacious Awareness that
*contains* this anguish and agitation,
and you will begin to see that,
as Awareness, you are larger than
any feeling you experience.
See also:
· Freedom from Self?
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m13.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#270: You Are More
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are more than anything
you can think about or observe.
You are more than
your thoughts and feelings:
you are the observer of them.
You are the Spacious Awareness
within which
this process of observing occurs....
This is where true freedom lies.
See also:
· Witness and Observer
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Witness
· Identity
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#271: Where else? What else?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reality shows up as THIS.
Where else and what else
did you think it would be?
See also:
· Truth is Not Hidden
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m153.html
· Reality Emerges as This
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m6.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#272: Do not settle for less.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If THAT which you are seeking
cannot manifest within the framework of
your own direct and immediate experience,
then it is not ultimate.
See also:
· Truth
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m38.html
· Being Human
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Human
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#273: Transmission or Initiation?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If nothing needs to be
obtained or achieved,
what kind of initiation
would ever be necessary?
What kind of transmission
would even be possible?
See also:
· Nothing to Achieve, Nowhere to Go
http://awakening.net/WNothing.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#274: Transmission or Resonance?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Resonance is different than transmission.
Transmission involves bestowing something
not previously accessible or available.
Resonance, on the other hand, is
a direct and immediate recognition
-- or echo of -- Reality
as it already exists.
"Directly discover your state.
Don't remain in doubt.
Gain confidence in self-liberation."
Garab Dorje
The first Dzogchen Master
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#275: Ah-ha!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everything we seek and for which we long
is present already. In fact, it is this
very presence that is the catalyst for
our search. All we ever "need" to do is
recognize what is already here.
During the moment of recognition there is
often an "Ah-ha!" which we are tempted to
interpret as transmission, but this is
simply the immediacy of discovering
the Reality that has been here all along.
See also:
· This is it!
http://awakening.net/WThisisit.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#276: Life is the Answer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life, itself, is the answer
to all your questions.
Look and listen
with an open mind and heart,
and you will discover more
than you ever dared imagine....
See also:
· Explaining the Infinite
http://awakening.net/WExplaining.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#277: Reality Experiencing Itself
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everything in Life
is an opportunity
for Reality
to discover, explore
and experience itself.
See also:
· All Movement, All Time
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m4.html
· Giving Way to Discovery
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m228.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#278: Tender Miracle, Magnificent Mystery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tender miracle, magnificent mystery:
Life unfolds ceaselessly
before us!
Watch and listen,
and you will
See.
See also:
· Ordinary and Magnificent
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m231.html
· Finite and Infinite Beauty
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m172.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#279: The Satisfying Discovery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Recognition dawns
in the most simple and
unobtrusive of ways --
as in the satisfying discovery
that nothing is,
or ever has been,
missing.
See also:
· THIS is Sufficient
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m139.html
· Nothing is Missing
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m41.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#280: Inevitable Gratitude
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Confronted with Completeness,
gratitude is inevitable.
See also:
· Discovering Completeness
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m53.html
· Full Immersion
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m285.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#281: Feelings of Insecurity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Feelings of insecurity arise
when we identify with
the particular.
They dissipate when we trust
the inherent wholeness and
innate integrity
of Life.
See also:
· Identity
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m90.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#282: Disappointment and Frustration
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notice how disappointment and frustration
eventually become a catalyst for
movement and change.
Learn to trust this natural,
unfolding process.
See also:
· No Rules
http://awakening.net/RMNoRules.html
· Trust
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#283: Obstacle and Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every obstacle
is an opportunity
to discover more of
who and what
you really are.
Freedom
lies within
this Recognition.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#284: Revelation Through Experience
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When all else fails,
simply ask yourself:
"What can this experience teach me
about my own innate identity,
and the vast, limitless nature
of the Infinite?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#285: Full Acceptance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is important to recognize that
the struggle within which
you find yourself
is not separate from
the wholeness and perfection
of the Reality
you are seeking.
Relax into a full acceptance of
your present moment experience,
and you will discover
it is a gateway
through which Reality --
and your own innate freedom --
are continuously revealed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#286: The Vibrant Field
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stop imagining your life to be
a limited span of consciousness
bounded by birth and death.
Recognize it instead as
a vibrant field of Awareness,
illuminating the Infinite Present,
within which birth and death
both arise and disappear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#287: Death and Dreaming
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All that happens when you die,
is your identification
with the physical body
is loosened.
This is why
exploring the sleep state
can be so valuable,
for in sleeping and in dreaming,
your identity with the physical body
is temporarily suspended.
See also:
· Awareness and Deep Sleep
http://www.awakening.net/Q25.html
· Deep Sleep, Awareness and the Great Mystery
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m51.html
· Adventures Beyond the Body, by William Buhlman
http://www.out-of-body.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#288: Surrender to the Real
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The peacefulness of a sleeping child
is born of absolute and unqualified trust.
Surrender to the Real in your waking life
as completely as you do in deep sleep.
See also:
· Finally Letting Go
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m293.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#289: Healing and Self-Acceptance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tears are the beginning of healing.
Self-acceptance is the beginning of
Realization.
When you are not trying to become anybody else,
when you accept yourself, then you simply relax
into what you are,...and grace and harmony and
splendor arise...the tremendous beauty of being
yourself. Tishan
See also:
· Self Acceptance
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m330.html
· Unconditioned Acceptance
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m196.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#290: Indestructible and Invincible
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Truth cannot be destroyed.
Reality is invincible.
Within this Recognition lies
our ultimate comfort
and solace.
See also:
· Fire of Uncertainty
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m2.html
· Infinite and Inescapable
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m202.html
· Natural Great Completeness
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m138.html
· Reality is Not Fragile
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m124.html
· Finding Comfort
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m121.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#291: Recognizing Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pay attention to
the assumptions upon which
your seeking is based.
If you assume that
the object of your seeking
is anything less than
the fullness of Reality,
your search will never
be fulfilled.
If, on the other hand,
you are looking for
That which is Real,
there is no place
where it will not
be found.
The challenge
always and simply
is to recognize the Real
as and for what it already is.
See also:
· Recognition of Reality
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m18.html
· Assumptions and Expectations
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Assumptions
· Seeking
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Seeking
· Reality
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#292: Supremely Simple, Divinely Rich
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life is supremely simple
when you allow it to be
what it already is.
Life is divinely rich
when you recognize
its infinite potential
manifesting within
the present moment.
See also:
· Reality Emerges as THIS
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m6.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#293: Embrace This Fullness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every moment
of every day
is an opportunity
to embrace
the Fullness
of what is.
See also:
· THIS is Sufficient
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m139.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#294: Sacred Space
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The simplest, easiest way
to understand Life
is to accept it
on its own terms,
exactly as it
presents itself to you.
Notice,
in contrast,
how seeking is
predicated on an assumption of
incompleteness and inadequacy --
a belief that Life is
somehow inherently,
fatally flawed.
Notice
how seeking
lures your attention
out of the present moment
and toward an imagined state of
completeness and satisfaction.
Imagine now, instead,
accepting Life
exactly as it shows up --
with no expectation that
Life ought to be or should be
any different from
what it already is,
right now.
Let go of imagining
what Life would be like
if....
Assume instead that
you are peering into
the face of God --
that every finite thing you see
is a living manifestation
of the Infinite --
a dynamic expression of
Reality and Truth
in the present moment.
Where is the incompleteness now?
Only in the mind's full comprehension
of the vast expanse of this
Infinite Miracle.
Satisfaction arises
naturally and spontaneously
when we open our eyes and
accept what is given,
as it arises,
as it is.
Accept Life fully,
reject nothing,
and then trust
your deepest desire
to move within
the Sacred Space
within which
your find
yourself.
See also:
· Explaining the Infinite
http://www.awakening.net/WExplaining.html
· How Should Reality Appear?
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m273.html
· Life's Voice
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m266.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#295: Immediate and Real
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Abandon imagined destinations
in favor of the delight of
That which is immediate and Real.
See also:
· Do Not Settle for Less
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m334.html
· Trust Your Own Experience
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m59.html
· Enlightenment is Not Separate
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m157.html
· Overwhelming Delight
http://awakening.net/RMDelight.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#296: The First Step
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trusting Life
is the first step
toward recognizing
its innate Wholeness,
completeness and
perfection.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#297: Life's Guidance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Learn to trust the guidance
constantly provided in and through
the events of your daily life.
All the frustrations and delights
within your daily affairs
are pointers toward That
which is ultimately Real.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#298: Seeing Wholeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember:
until you recognize It
without a doubt,
the Wholeness you are seeking
can only be intuited.
Because it is Infinite,
it cannot be seen
in its entirety
by the finite
human eye.
What you *can* see, even now,
is the myriad manifestations
of this Wholeness,
and their presence is
unequivocal evidence of
its Reality.
See also:
· Recognizing the Unseen
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m111.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#299: Observing This
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sit with what is happening now.
Observe your reactions.
Notice how mind and thought and
attention and emotions move --
and Awareness does not.
Notice how all the individual
aspects of your life
appear against this
vast, clear screen
of Awareness.
Parts manifest separately only
within the larger context of
completeness out of which they arise,
and this Unseen Wholeness is
the backdrop and connective tissue
for everything that manifests
before you.
Remember this Awareness
and the Wholeness behind
the events within your life,
and you will see that
Life moves through
all of THIS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#300: You are THIS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is wisdom in recognizing that,
as a human being, you manifest as
a clear, still point of Awareness
temporarily identified with
a dynamic manifestation of
body/mind/heart.
Realization is a recognition that
you are This -- all of THIS --
and the Source from which
all of This has emerged.
"Who you are is what the world appears in,
what the cosmos appears in, what space
itself appears in." Gangaji
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#301: Your Work Here
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your most important spiritual work
is what you are doing right now,
in the middle of your life.
Don't lose sight of this
in longing for a future
realization.
Also, remember:
your time here
is limited.
Make your decisions
accordingly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#302: Change and Choice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In every circumstance,
and under all conditions,
the leverage point for change
is choice.
See also:
` Reflections on Choice
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Choice
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#303: Freedom to Choose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stop --
and look at your experience.
You will discover that
freedom always exists
in the form of the opportunity
to make a different choice.
Whether or not you take advantage
of this opportunity
depends upon
whether or not you believe
you are free to choose.
See also:
` Question #21:
http://awakening.net/Q21.html
` Choice and Free Will
http://awakening.net/RMChoiceFreeWill.html
` Choice: The Fundamental Freedom
http://awakening.net/WChoice.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#304: Seeds of Possibility
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The seeds of all possibility
lie within
the Infinite Present.
With each choice,
we invite Reality
to emerge....
See also:
` Power of Choice
http://awakening.net/RMChoice.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#305: Source Point, Choice Point
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Each of us is a creator of universes.
Discover the source point for
this creative energy, and
you will discover
the Essence of THAT
which is Real.
See also:
` Creative Impulse
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m65.html
` Infinite Universe
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m165.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#306: Precedence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pay attention to your experience
and you will discover that
emotion follows thought
and belief.
Awareness precedes all.
See also:
` Pay Attention
http://awakening.net/RMAttention.html
` Thought Filters Perception
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m74.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#307: Witnessing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Witnessing
severs the unconscious
and habitual identification
with the contents of consciousness.
It is for this reason that
paying attention is enough.
Mindful attention creates
an energetic openness
through which Insight
and Recognition arise.
See also:
` Witness - Observer
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Witness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#308: Awareness and Reality
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is less that we are aware of
the nature of Reality,
and more that Awareness is
an inherent aspect of the Real.
See also:
` Awareness
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Awareness
` Mentoring Letter #37
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m39.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#309: Self-Awareness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Self is not
something of which
we are aware.
It *is* Awareness.
See also:
` Perceptual Center
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Center
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#310: The Unseen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Unseen
is That which is
Seeing.
See also:
` Seeing
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Seeing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#311: Impermanence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember:
eventually,
every individual --
and every separate thing --
will be taken from you
in order to open you
fully and completely
to Life's larger
Wholeness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#312: Undivided
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I know nothing more now
than I did before --
except that
This is
Whole.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#313: Root Cause of Suffering
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you examine your own experience,
you will discover
the root cause of all suffering
lies in a feeling of incompleteness.
The relief of suffering arises
when we recognize that
our identity extends beyond
the suffering within which
we are immersed and
we are, in fact, inseparable
from the Wholeness
out of which
all experience arises.
"The fact is that because no one thing
or feature of this universe is separable
from the whole, the only real You, or
Self, is the whole." -- Alan Watts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#314: Wholeness In This Moment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oneness"
is not a state
we need to achieve.
It is a fact of Life
that can be recognized in
the inextricable interconnectedness
and Natural Great Completeness
inherent within
all manifest things.
In the same way,
we do not need to learn
to stay in the present moment.
We already manifest
here and now,
in this moment.
In fact, where else
could we ever be?
See also:
` Natural Great Completeness
http://www.awakening.net/Q11.html
` Present Moment
http://www.awakening.net/Reflections.html#Present
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#315: At Home -- Everywhere!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leaving the path,
at long last...
and wandering no more.
How marvelous to be
looking out from home
-- everywhere!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#316: Background of Completeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Completeness is not defined
by specific circumstances,
events or experience.
It is the Background,
or Source, out of which
all circumstance
and experience
arise.
See also:
` Completeness
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Completeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#317: Shift the Focus of Attention
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can only recognize
This Completeness
intuitively --
and only by shifting
the focus of your attention
from individual parts
to the Whole.
"There is in all visible things...
a hidden wholeness."
-- Thomas Merton
See also:
` Seeing Wholeness
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m365.html
` Clear Seeing: The Indisputable Whole
http://www.awakening.net/RMClearSeeing.html
` Seeing
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Seeing
` "Magic Eye" Analogy
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m8.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#318: Opening Up
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "secret"
-- if there is one --
is simply to open up to Reality
as it appears before you,
here and now.
See also:
` Awakening into Awareness
http://awakening.net/Q1.html
` The Open Secret
http://awakening.net/Invitation.html
` Reality As It Is
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m66.html
` Acceptance - Surrender
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Acceptance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#319: Attributes of Clarity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you allow your resistances melt,
clarity and spaciousness
will naturally arise --
and you will be able
to move through Life,
with graciousness and ease,
guided by the confidence
and spontaneity
that are the fruit of
trusting Life.
See also:
` Letting Go
http://awakening.net/RMLettingGo.html
` No Rules
http://www.awakening.net/RMNoRules.html
` Trust
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#320: Relaxing into the Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our ability to relax into the Infinite
is reflected in radiance and
a spaciousness of spirit.
See also:
` Relaxing into Reality
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m302.html
` Relaxing the Ego Coil
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m322.html
` Radiant Presence
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m321.html
` Radiance
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m318.html
` Spacious Vitality
http://www.awakening.net/RMSpacious.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#321: Direct Knowing
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trust your own direct knowing.
It is the source of both
authority and authenticity.
See also:
` Trust
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Trust
` Being Human
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Human
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#322: Openness and Authenticity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Your openness and authenticity
invite others to trust
who and what they really are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#323: Authentic Presence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Allow your life, your presence,
and the quality of your attention
to be an authentic and undefended
expression of Reality
manifesting within
the present moment.
"The greatest gift we give each other
is the quality of our attention."
- Richard Moss
"The real glory of meditation lies not
in any method but in its continual
living experience of presence."
- Sogyal Rinpoche
See also:
` Attention
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Attention
` Presence
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Presence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#324: Clear and Spacious Focal Point
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You are a
clear and spacious
focal point
through which
the energy of Life
manifests.
Anything else
with which you identify
is only one small aspect
of who and what
you really are.
See also:
` Space
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Space
` Energy of Life
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Life
` Identity
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#325: Honor Your Gifts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Honor your gifts,
and you honor the Source
from which they arise.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#326: Understanding the Finite and Infinite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The finite
is nothing other than
the Infinite
narrowly defined.
When one sees Eternity
in things that pass away
and Infinity in finite things,
then one has pure knowledge.
Bhagavad Gita
Calling infinity a number
does not make it one.
W. H. Auden
See also:
` Explaining the Infinite
http://awakening.net/WExplaining.html
` Wisdom: Finite and Infinite
http://awakening.net/WInfinite.html
` Reflections: Finite and Infinite
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Finite
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#327: Discovering Completeness
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Insight into
the Natural Great Completeness
immediately begins to develop
as soon as you begin to recognize....
==> Your own immediate experience,
exactly as it is in this moment,
is already a manifestation of
this Great Completeness.
==> Your inability to recognize
this Completeness is simply
a result of preconceived and
narrowly defined beliefs
about this Great Completeness
will show up.
Consider the possibility
that you are already living,
moving and breathing within
the Center of this Great Completeness
-- and allow your remaining days
to reflect a gradual discovery
and deepening appreciation of
Its grand magnificence.
See also:
` Beyond All Seeking
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m68.html
` Giving Way to Discovery
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m228.html
` Natural Great Perfection
http://awakening.net/WPerfection.html
` Sacred Space
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m360.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#328: Recognizing Perfection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We do not recognize
the perfection
inherent within
the present moment
simply because of
our narrow beliefs,
expectations and
assumptions.
"Beauty does not necessarily
spell perfection of form."
D.T. Suzuki
See also:
` Recognizing Reality
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m357.html
` Watch the Mind
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m102.html
` Not Here Now?
http://escribe.com/religion/aiamoment/m200.html
` Assumptions - Expectations
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Assumptions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#329: Trust and Honor the Mystery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trusting Life's natural process
honors the mystery
out of which
everything arises.
See also:
` No Rules
http://awakening.net/RMNoRules.html
` Trust
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Trust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#330: Living Miracle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Savour
the dynamic vibrancy
and vitality
of the present moment.
Recognize that you exist
in the midst of
a living miracle
where the Seen infinitely
and endlessly manifests
from the Unseen.
See also:
` Miracles - Mystery
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Miracles
` Manifestation - Revelation
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Manifestation
` Seeing
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Seeing
` Present Moment
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Present
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#331: Beyond the Personal?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q. How does one get out of the personal
minefield into the impersonal field of grace?
A. Stop assuming the personal and impersonal are
counterposed. Stop judging the personal as dangerous.
When you consider the possibility that the personal
might actually be a manifestation and expression of
Grace within the present moment, this question will
no longer arise.
From:
` A Spiritual Wanderer's Query
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m52.html
See also:
` Freedom from Self?
http://escribe.com/religion/aialetters/m13.html
` Manifestation
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Manifestation
` Reflections on Grace
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#Grace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#332: Memory and Identity
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recognize your memories as
fragmentary mental images.
Do not limit yourself
by believing these pictures
can capture the Essence of
who and what you really are.
See also:
` Essence and Presence
http://awakening.net/Reflections.html#essence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#333: Who are you?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
