Tag Archives for true Self

Find our Ground of Being

May this Danna Fauld’s poem fill you with strength and inspiration. “We come from stronger stuff than feelings” šŸ’›

inner landscape

Bonneville Salt Flats

Remember This

Vast and changeless
the ground of being
is not rocked by
ripples on the pond.

The firmament from
which we spring, the
divinity at the heart
of things doesn’t wax
or wane with mind states,
or wither in the wind.

We come from stronger
stuff than feelings.
Essence does not fail
or fade, diminish or
trade reality for illusion.

We are wordless, wide,
and wise beyond time.
Within us is a flame
of truth that never dies.
Let that be the focal
point of life. Let that
be the light that guides
us from the shadows.

~ Danna Faulds

Mind is like the Wind

thoughts as wind

Image by Alexey Wind –Ā http://avantgallery.com/collection/alexey-wind/dark-thoughts/

“Mind is like the wind; your real Self is like space.

The nature of the wind is to blow about, but it needs space in which to do that. You know of the wind only through the effects that you see, feel, and hear when there is something in its way. Similarly, you know of the mind only because identity is there.

Space doesn’t move about; it is present everywhere. Space can be without the wind, but the wind cannot be without space.

The wind is always blowing in different directions. Can anyone determine which way the wind will blow? Whatever direction that may be, it can never move outside space.

Similarly, it is not possible for you to ever move away from your Self. When you know this so profoundly that it becomes kind of knowing beyond thought, then you are free. You can move as you will because you cannot move out of your Self.”

~ Mooji. from Ā “Vaster than the Sky, Greater than Space”.

 

May we let go of trying to change and control the wind and our endless thinking. It can never be stable. Instead, let us tune into the immovable space encompassing it and connect to our true Self. This is where peace lies.

Namaste

Staying in Your Middle Ground

slow down

Miniature World Of Snails By Vyacheslav Mishchenko from boredpanda.com

When we slow down, and are able to observe ourselves in that moment, I call it finding our Middle Ground.Ā It is the first step in spiritual self inquiry. It’s when we look inwards, asking ourselves the ultimate question”Who am I?”

In this space we become a curious observer of ourselves and developĀ witness consciousness.

“The witness is your awareness of your own thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Witnessing is like waking up in the morning and then looking in the mirror and noticing yourself ā€” not judging or criticizing, just neutrally observing the quality of being awake. That process of stepping back takes you out of being submerged in your experiences and thoughts and sensory input and into self-awareness.” ~ Ram Dass

For me, the practice of yoga and meditationĀ brings me to my Middle Ground.Ā As I learn to be here more and more, I realize that the true nature of us all is awareness. I am the perceiver of myself and the world around me, and happen to live in a thinking, breathing, physical and energetic body.

Yet, finding our Middle Ground is only the beginning. The next step is to stay here, and come from this place every day.

“Along with that self-awareness comes the subtle joy of just being here, alive, enjoying being present in this moment. Eventually, floating in that subjective awareness, the objects of awareness dissolve, and you will comeĀ into the spiritual Self, which is pure consciousness, joy, compassion, the One.” ~ Ram Dass

As we practice being present and aware, a new sense of being emerges. We become less attached to external objects, and we feel a sense of connection with everyone.

Living in our Middle Ground, develops compassion for others, and for ourselves… just the way we are.
We feel less disturbance and motivation. There is no longer a feeling of lack, or anxiety. We recognize that everything passes and we are no longer attached. There is no worry or fear.

Yet, staying in our Middle Ground continues to be a practice. There will be times when I am brought back to feelings of Ā fear or uncertainty, or become attached to something pleasurable. This seems to be way of human beings.

With awareness of this we can bring ourselves back to the first step once more.

And that’s okay. Ā Its simply an opportunity to find our Middle Ground once more and sense the spiritual Self that is there for us to keep connecting to.

Namaste

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. šŸŽˆ

Inspiration – Who am I?

who am i

“Give up all questions except one: ā€˜Who am I?ā€™
After all, the only fact you are sure of is that you are.
The ā€˜I amā€™ is certain. The ā€˜I am thisā€™ is not.
Struggle to find out what you are in reality.
Discover all that you are not – body, feelings thoughts, time, space, this or that – Ā nothing, concrete or abstract, which you perceive can be you.
The very act of perceiving shows that you are not what you perceive.”

~Ā Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Embrace the simplicity and the depth of your being today. Bring your self into focus.

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj has a wonderfully clear way of describing the complexity of our human experience, and taking us on the journey home to our true selves.

Namaste

* Inspiration – Losing and Finding

self discovery

“Every now and then, life causes you to lose your phone, lose your job, lose your relationship, the things you think are important, so you can see that you have a full life independent of them.

There are many things you feel are so essential, but without them, you find you still have your Self, which is more than all of them put together.

You cannot lose your Self. This is the most important thing.”

~ Mooji *

Have you ever given yourself this gift?

I know, it probably didn’t feel like a gift at the time…

I appreciate this reminder that we are all in essence spiritual beings. It is the core part of ourselves that never changes. This true Self is accepting and always there, no matter what circumstances our small self finds itself in.

Coming into meditation and prayer in times of trouble allows us to feel the stillness within and connect to our true Self andĀ Source within us all.

 

*Mooji (2015-12-03). White Fire: Spiritual insights and teachings of advaita zen master Mooji (Kindle Locations 1452-1455). Mooji Media Publications. Kindle Edition.