Tag Archives for realization

For Spiritual Seekers

ball ball shaped blur color

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“The gospel of self realization, once heard, will never be forgotten.
Like a seed left in the ground, it will wait for the right season and sprout and grow into a mighty tree.”

~ “I Am That” Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Self realization is a state in which an individual knows who they truly are and is fulfilled in that understanding.

What it means to each of us can vary.
For me, it manifested itself in an understanding that I am part of the loving Source within all beings and nature.

Others may call it a connection to God, or recognize that the Divine or Jesus is always within them. Yet, others may see it in a more scientific way, and consider it a fulfillment of all the possibilities of an individual’s personality and character.

Many of us have been Seekers for years. We have read ancient texts, taken up a practice such as meditation or yoga, and listened to the wisdom of modern enlightened sages.

We are told that when we reach self realization, we will have a happiness and peace.

At times we may doubt that we will ever reach that place within us. Yet, when we start to see ourselves differently and become less attached to how others perceive us, or are no longer interested in material things or status, then know that the seed is growing within us.

I found Yogapedia’s explanation of Self Realization helpful:

“It is said that once a person reaches Self-realization, their new vision and understanding of themselves brings them continuous, permanent happiness. It will also bring:

  • Equanimity to all circumstances
  • Inner peace
  • Freedom from all fears and anxieties
  • Deep spiritual fulfillment
  • Stronger, calmer relationships with others

Once a person reaches Self-realization, they are freed from their own desires and worldly attachments. They’re also liberated from external pressures, such as cultural and social expectations, or political and economic influences. They are beyond self-delusion and material attachments.

Self-realization involves letting go of many of the things that are associated with individual identity in order to find the true Self, which is eternal and unchanging. It is the difference between identifying with the ego and identifying with the true Self.

Practicing yoga is one means of achieving Self-realization. When used as part of a spiritual practice, yoga can help practitioners honor themselves, shed their egos, and reach a new state of awareness.”

Namaste

 

 

 

 

True Intelligence

intuition

“True intelligence is to rise above thinking as the source of all intelligence.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

I sat with these words this morning and had to smile. Of course, it is Tolle’s thinking that comes up with these gems. ☺️

Yet, it opens us up to something that is beyond our thoughts, that many of us innately understand, but perhaps have not put into words.

When we take time to pause and notice our thoughts, there are two insights that come to my mind. The first is, that we are not our thinking. What we have taken for granted as the “truth” is really only our perspective of the world around us and what we have learned about it. We are conditioned by our parents, culture, religion etc to see the world in a certain way. We also have personal filters based on our own experience from a very young age. For example, if we were bitten by a dog as a child we may have a fear of dogs and dislike them intensely as an adult. This is not the truth, just our perspective.

The second insight is that we have only the ability to analyze what we already know. Our ego mind likes to think it knows things, so it feels in control. Have you also noticed how it likes to judge and dismiss and deny what doesn’t fit in with its beliefs?

The truth is that there is so much that is beyond our thinking, and our intellectual mind. Analysis and science can only reveal what it can identify and quantify, but is at a loss with what is unknown.

I believe that when we pause and find a place of centeredness and calm, our true intelligence shows up as intuition, insights, new ideas, creativity and answers to problems we haven’t been able to solve. In my experience it also shows up as a deep feeling of warmth and love.

Of course, the next question is to ask what the source of this intelligence is.

Opening our minds to an intelligence greater than our individual self, that we share with each other and the world around is, is the step to realization or spiritual enlightenment. Tolle refers to this as Source or Presence. Others call it our Higher Self, Spirit, the Divine, Universal Oneness, Cosmos, Divine Mother, Brahma, Allah, or God.

When we fully embrace the unknown and let go of intellectual knowing, we are on the path to realization and universal love.

Namaste

What is the Purpose of Meditation?

man meditating

Image from Yoga Journal

“We know the outer world of sensations and actions, but our inner world of thoughts and feelings we know very little. The primary purpose of meditation is to become conscious of, and familiar with, our inner life. The ultimate purpose is to reach the source of life and consciousness.

Incidentally, practice of meditation deeply affects our character. We are slaves to what we do not know; of what we know we are masters. Whatever vice or weakness in ourselves we discover and understand its causes and its workings, we overcome it by the very knowing; the unconscious dissolves when brought into the conscious. The dissolution of the unconscious releases energy; the mind feels adequate and become quiet.”

~ “I am That” – Talks with Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

“We are slaves to what we do not know; of what we know we are masters” is such a simple yet profound statement for seekers on the spiritual path. Being open to the unknown and taking time to pause and be an observer of our inner thoughts and struggles, is the gateway to a new way of being and self mastery.

In mindfulness and meditation practice we become aware of our inner life. When we are conscious of our thoughts and struggles, they lose their grip on us, and the mind can become quiet.

I have “I am That” as bedside reading. Maharaj’s  words are simple and direct, as he guides the individual to an understanding of his true nature and the timelessness of being.

I look forward to sharing more gems from this simple wonderful sage who did not propound any ideology or religion, yet guided people to self realization.

Searching Like a Cod

cod

When the innumerable searches are concluded,
The realization dawns that
The optimal place to be is
Where one already is.

It is an arrival at the place
Where there is no solid footing beneath,
The understanding of all things.

Until the conclusion,
The searcher is like
A cod asking directions to the ocean

~ Wu Hsin from “The Lost Writings” translated by Roy Melvyn

 

Wu Hsin’s insights into spirituality and Oneness always bring a smile.

It isn’t easy learning to go with the flow, until we stop asking for directions, and find the courage to be with no solid footing.

Capturing the World

balloon

” In the process of letting go you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself.

It will be a permanent Self, rooted in awareness and creativity.

Once you have captured this you have captured the world.”

~ Deepak Chopra

I’m inspired by Deepak Chopra’s words today.

When I was searching for an image to use, I come across photos of playful girls letting go of balloons. This is not what it feels like to let go of our persona and who we have always believed we are.
Surrendering to the unknown beyond our ego mind is a journey that is rarely filled with light hearted balloons. There is loss and sorrow.

Yet, on the other side, the world unfolds with clarity … with a smile and a different kind of balloon. 🎈

Inspiration – My Point of View

woman embracing nothing

Image from Pinterest: Steven DaLuz 1953. American Neo-Luminist Abstract painter

My point of view is not
a fixed or singular thing.
To say “I am the body,”
or “I am the vastness”-
both are true and neither.

To be all of it at once is to
fling my arms wide under
the shining sun and shout
“yes” with all my strength,
but even then I am not done.

Beneath the all and
everything I’ve just
embraced is the great,
unchanging silence, the
emptiness from which
the multiplicity arises.

To let my “yes” encompass
even this annihilates all
labels, takes away the
ground beneath my feet, and
leaves me perilously free.

~ Danna Faulds

I am sitting with these words today.

Please join me.

Namaste

* The Practice of Surrender to Become Real

surrender to awareness

Image from Google. Source unknown.

“Until you practice surrender, the spiritual dimension is something you read about, talk about, get excited about, write books about, think about, believe in — or don’t, as the case may be.

It makes no difference. Not until you surrender does it become a living reality in your life.”

~ Eckhart Tolle

This reminds me of some insightful words from Hariod at  Contentedness.net

“It is perhaps something of a paradox that for her to find what she innately knows she wants, she – as seeker – must dissolve into awareness, no longer to live as a subject in search of knowledge-objects”  ~ Hariod Brawn

As long as we see spirituality as something out there that we seek, we will not find it.

Spirituality is not the object, but is within us all.

It is the ultimate subject … the conscious awareness of who we are.

It is revealed only when we experience surrender.

An inquiring mind is engaged and attached to outcome. Allow the unknown intelligence that is not of the intellect to sense what is already here.

Let yourself dissolve into awareness.

Namaste