Contributing or Taking Energy

If you can truly get beyond the story of contributing to life and just be in the stillness of the moment, your contribution to life and humanity will be beyond anything you could make up as being needed.

The way I see things is much different than the most, but this doesn’t separate me, it just makes my view different. I don’t have a need to make up a story of needing to help others or do good deeds to be contributing to life and humanity. All I found that’s truly needed is to do is what’s in front of me, be present, and create an attached “I” story. The world can be saved, just don’t attach to it and therein lies the difference between what’s been revealed to me and others.

There’s nothing one can truly do to gain more self worth because that would mean things would have to be deemed as needing to be different in order for you to be complete, and this just isn’t so. If you aren’t complete as you are, you have to ask yourself why. Putting out completeness energy is all the contribution life and humanity needs. If something else is needed, your contribution to humanity basically becomes non existent, your energy is now taking. I know we all see things as the conditioning in place dictates, but the nonsense this energy generates puts one in the position to be controlled by taking energy not contributing. Even when it’s thought to be contributing energy, it takes a very settled mind to see if this is truly so.

This is not to say don’t help others or do loving things, just don’t attach to it, that’s what I’m talking about. I’m real clear the world is as it is and I’m not really sure if it’s suppose to be this way or not, but I do know in the space of stillness my life has transformed. If I died tomorrow the world will go on. I won’t leave a legacy behind as this or that, I did and do what the Universe revealed to me and that is that. In this space of that is that energy, is so much peace it’s impossible to explain and if you can truly get beyond the story of contributing to life and just be in the stillness of the moment, your contribution to life and humanity will be beyond anything you could make up as being needed.

A Sacred Temple

There’s no real good or bad in life, there’s only the story of good and bad. If you don’t think this is true, watch the story attached to what you like (labeled as good) and what you don’t like (labeled as bad).

Think about how special life truly is. If you don’t think you are a sacred temple, you have to ask yourself why not. We have become a society that thinks things are needed in order for life to be good, but it is such a fallacy. If you are alive today that’s the only thing that needs to be looked at. You have been given the temporary gift of life and it will last for as long as it last and not one moment more. What is done with that life is determined by the way it is looked at. The stories that are made up about this manifestation called life are mostly full of nonsense that are usually someone else’s idea of what life is suppose to be like. We poison our bodies and mind with so much useless nonsense that comes from others and we believe it.
All the stories we create are used to make ourselves feel better. We give to charities, we hold events to help others, we volunteer to help the so called less unfortunate without seeing this is only a story to make ourselves feel better. We throw the word love around without truly understanding it and this is because we need to define it. Life doesn’t need to be defined to be good, there’s no true good or bad, there’s only the story of good and bad. If you don’t think this is true, watch the story attached to what you like (good) and what you don’t (bad); possibly this article applies.

We are a sacred temple because of the way we come into being without having any say in this whatsoever. The world has been around for billions of years and now is a time that conditions are conducive for you to exist, that’s basically life as it is, but feel free to add your story if that’s what you need. There’s no true need to attach a story to this, it’s just something that happened. To notice this is when existence will truly be seen as a gift, not for any other reason than this. The mind makes up so much nonsense and it blocks one from seeing the sacredness of your own existence and thus the sacredness of the existence of others. You can never do enough to understand this, as a matter of fact any doing blocks this from being seen. It’s one of the reasons the world is as it is because people think they have to do, but to see you as a sacred temple, you just have to be without adding a good or bad story.

Immersed im Self

If we seek what we think is needed to wake from our sleep, one will probably remain asleep. Our urging is from the Universe, but this will not be known if we are immersed in a self that thinks it knows what’s best.

We are a product of the Universe, we are not a product of ourselves. We did not call for our creation, nor do we call for the time when it will end. It’s our existence that’s a product of the Universe and the energy transformed to awaken is from the Universe. This is why we can not really do anything to transform ourselves. We can only do the necessary practice to allow our heart to open so the Universe can use us. Even this is not of our doing, the practice is from the urging of the Universe. We want to practice because the Universe is calling. The reason some practice and some don’t is because for some the noise in the head is to loud to hear the still small voice within. Even though it seems our urging is from the outside, it can only be heard from within.

Through our Conditioned Mind we become immersed in a very self-centered self, but understand this is also an urging from the Universe, it’s just not one that produces love. Energy always is, it’s just a matter of listening to the urging and hearing where it directs you. We seek because the Universe calls us, we see because the veil of a Conditioned Mind is removed and our energy is then guided by what we seek. Spirituality is not magical for a selected few who think they are special, it’s available to anyone who makes it a practice to listen to the outer urging from within. The Universe calls, but are you listening? And if you think you are listening, are you hearing the true message or are you making up your own message to fulfill your self-centered self. It takes much quietness to hear the Universe’s urging, the alternative is to listen and follow your own. Now isn’t that scary? Why may you ask, because most of our urgings are immersed in a self-centered self for our own benefit.

Pleasure Seeking Thirst

Although the pleasures of the world take on many forms, it’s the thirst of one’s heart that makes one seek them. This thirst can only be quenched in stillness, because when the mind is still, the heart has no thirst.

One aspect of our conditioning is how the mind is in a pleasure seeking mode most of the time. Even when we get down on ourselves, it’s a perverse form of pleasure. The mind wants to keep all the pleasure thoughts and discard the non plea…surable ones, it spends most of its time doing this. Whether it’s weaving in and out of traffic, only to catch a red light and have all the cars that you just passed pull up to the same light, or doing something and asking yourself why did you do it, the reason for the doing is strictly to seek some form of pleasure. That your own mind questions why you do whatever it is that you do, is how diabolical it is, but understand it’s only this way because of the way it has been conditioned.

The pleasure seeking mode is not one which is in our best interest, but the Conditioned Mind doesn’t really care about that. That it’s in control is all it cares about. It makes you think seeking pleasure is a necessity, but when the mind starts to settle and it loses its grip on you, you will see the fallacy of this. True pleasure is in stillness, not in things, but the pleasure of stillness is not the same pleasure that the world provides. The pleasure of the world is based in lies, the pleasure of stillness is based in truth. The parable in the bible speaks of quenching a thirst that only God (stillness) can satisfy. This thirst is the self seeking pleasure of the world, this is the thirst the world creates, but it cannot be quenched. It’s only in stillness that this thirst will be satisfied, not because it’s given something to quench it, but because in stillness a thirst never materializes so there is no thirst to quench.
 

Unlabeled Possibilities

There are endless possibilities in life when there’s no past labels applied to what’s in front of you. The Universe provides possibilities with an open heart that’s not living in the past.

One’s openness is their greatest asset because without being open, nothing arises, or at least nothing that’s beneficial. An open heart leads to possibilities never experienced before, but when the heart is closed so are the doors to possibilities. Whatever arise in life is to be seen as it is with an openness only if it’s not labeled. In this way life can be experienced anew as the Universe opens up more and more possibilities. Even if it’s some past behavior, without the judgment of applying a label, it allows for the heart to remain open and the possibility to go beyond the past label to experience something new.

Newness doesn’t always have to be as an aha moment, it can be a simple act of not judging what’s in front of you and just experiencing that and moving on. Once its labeled, the heart closes and so do all the possibilities along with it. To experience all the possibilities that life offers is to not allow the past to be a part of what is being done right now. If it is, obviously it remains as something old not something new, but even though it may be from a past habitual mind pattern that’s in place, it’s only old because it’s labeled as such. Without this label the heart remains open and the possibilities that are provided by the Universe are endless.

Life Truly Lived

What occurs in the present moment can’t be changed, but it can be accepted so life is truly lived, and when life is truly lived, it’s because what’s there is accepted and nothing needs to be different.

To truly live life there has to acceptance of what is. What is is what’s happening right now and it’s the only place where life can truly be lived. If one doesn’t accept what’s here right now, life will be made into something difficult. Life can never be anything more than what it is right now, because right now is what’s here. Only the Conditioned Mind makes one think this isn’t so. Life is always what’s here because it’s happening now, you can wish for things to be different, but that’s how life is wished away. Accept what’s happening now, be with what’s in front of you, and truly live.

Our paths are laid before us to do the best we can with the tools we have. There needs to be a anchor so our path is clearly seen. It’s very easy to veer off the path if one isn’t vigilant. There are many diversions that will try to knock you off a path based in what is. It’s like life is an obstacle course and things are in place to divert you from being with what is, from the present, which is the Here and Now. There’s only the present moment and it’s always what’s in front of you. One of the main obstacles used as a diversion is wanting things different, your mind tells you if things were different, life would be better, but this is the great lie; the delusion of the Conditioned Mind.

Things are always the way they are because it’s what’s there, the acceptance of this is what makes you free. You cannot change the way things are right now, so life will only truly be lived when it’s accepted as it is. When what’s in front of you is accepted, there’s no struggle with wanting things different and it’s in this space that life will be truly lived.

Today's Gift

Today’s gift is simply to be alive and although the Conditioned Mind wants to make it about something more, there’s nothing that truly makes life better other than the simple fact that one day being alive will not be so.

Today if you are alive it’s simply because you’ve been given the gift of life. There’s nothing that was done for this gift, it wasn’t earned, it was freely given. Nothing is done to sustain it, but much is done to hamper its natural progression. A grateful heart aligns with this understanding and puts one in harmony with life. The things of the world will one day pass, but it’s the gratitude of one’s heart that last for all eternity.

Enjoy the splendor of this day, not because it’s Christmas, but because you are alive today to simply experience life. The true gift of Christmas or whatever holiday is being celebrated is in being alive today, for one day this will not be so. Obviously if this is being read, the day that it isn’t so is not today. So enjoy whatever this day has to offer in all its splendor, not because of the material possessions, but simply because you are alive. If being alive isn’t enough what do think is needed to make it so? Since today is the day that you’ve been given, make it the masterpiece you so deserve, and more importantly keep your inner light lit on this day and everyday hereafter to be a light to the world. Remember the greatest gift you will ever receive is the gift of today, and it’s simply because one day it will not be so. Enjoy your gift.

The Minds Expansion

The minds expansion is only limited by the view of life that one is locked into. When the mind opens anything is possible because the conditioned limits that are in place, simply fall away.

The tighter and constricted the mind is, the more problems it seems one has. If there isn’t free flowing energy, almost everything is a problem in some way. I’ve seen this in myself and in others and it’s all because of a narrow view (my way) caused by a tight and constricted mind. I put my way in parentheses because if that’s the only view that’s being allowed, you can see how narrow minded that makes you. A narrow mind leads to a narrow view and with a narrow view there’s no space for the current view to expand. This locks one into only seeing things one way, and one gets limited to that way. Imagine going through life like this, it would mean the only way you would be happy is if everything that happened was in line with your view, and we all know that’s not going to happen, not all the time anyway. So you better do whatever it takes to open your mind or you will pay dearly and so will those who are in contact with you.

Close your fist as tight as you can and notice how there’s no space, it’s like a tight and constricted mind, there’s no room for anything else. Keep it closed as tight as you can, now notice how it’s getting tired and you hand is starting to hurt, this is the energy you’re living with everyday, only it’s the mind that’s tight and constricted. It’s no wonder there’s no expansion, there’s barely enough space for ordinary living. Now open your hand and see how it instantly relieves the tightness and constriction. Open your mind in the same way and it will do the same thing. It’s Christmas, please give yourself the gift of an open mind and it will be the gift that keeps on giving because your view of life will keep on expanding. You deserve it, after all this is your life.

Ego Separation

Most people have no idea how much suffering the Conditioned Mind causes and until it’s fully realized, it’s better to be neutral. At least in seeing things from a neutral state, there’s no separation and one remains free.

Watch how the ego separates, as it always thinks in the context of you, me, them, they, those and of course “I”. It’s not limited to just these, but they are some of the main culprits in our separation from each other. The other day I posted an article and someone posted a response calling me a racists and a sexist, although I didn’t appreciate it much, there’s a fine line in being with what’s there or allowing there to be separation. There’s separation on one end which goes without saying, but by me being the one who knows better I have to do what’s necessary to stay connected, not for the other person, but for myself and humanity as a whole. That may sound grandiose, but it isn’t because as the energy you put out goes, so does the world around you go.

Me and others in the group went round and round with this person until it got to a point where she started to post lies so it was better to just block her energy. It’s wasn’t that women agitated me, it was more so just the energy that was being put out that I wanted to stop. Energy changes the world and it also keeps the world the same. The point of this article is to show how easy it is to attach to someone and cause separation and thus suffering. Maybe it’s not so easy to turn the other cheek, but by not attacking back you are the one who remains free; remember you can’t have a riot with one person. It’s always about the conditioning, never about the person. In this way of viewing things, the energy put out may not be totally loving, but at least it’s neutral until it becomes loving. Most have no idea the amount of suffering that Conditioned Mind causes and until it’s fully realized, its better to be neutral. At least in seeing things from a neutral state, there’s no separation and one remains free.

Needing a Quick Fix

There are many situations throughout the day which provide the triggers to reach for a quick fix, but if there’s awareness of this, those triggers will not produce the unloving results of needing a quick fix.

Noticing what’s reached for allows one to see what’s being used as a quick fix to fill whatever space is there that one thinks need filling. If the thought that a space needs filling wasn’t there, the need to reach for the quick fix remedy wouldn’t be there. There’s many quick fixes, but there’s only one space and it will either be filled or it will be allowed to be. This is the difference between being at peace or constantly reaching for something which reinforces the mind agitations that tells you a space is there that needs to be filled. This space is the same for everyone, but the things being used to fill it are different. This is an endless list and the focus has to be inward if it’s going to be seen what’s reached for. This space will never be revealed if one is blaming others for their mind agitations, because it arise from within you and it has nothing to do with anyone else. Such a hard thing to understand because of the conditioning in place, but if this isn’t seen, you’ll continue to blame others for your mind agitations and constantly need a quick fix.

It’s truly heartbreaking to see the quick fix conditioning in place and how it unconsciously causes suffering. This is one of the hardest things to see and it’s the reason the mind can’t fix itself, but one of the most important things to learn about this is how not to get pulled into someone else’s conditioning that produces a quick fix reaction from you. There are many situations throughout the day that will provide the triggers for this, but if 24/7 awareness is being developed, more and more those triggers will not produce quick fix reactions, which are unloving 99.99999% of the time. After all it’s only unloving reactions that cause suffering and it’s reaching for a quick fix that keeps one marred in Conditioned Mind Patterns that control you as if you were a puppet on a string.

Selfishness Reinforced

If we are to ever unite as a people, the selfish energy in place will have to fall away, if it doesn’t the energy that makes an adult a foot stomping baby will continue to be reinforced.

We are a divided society because we are selfish and we only want things as we think they should be, and when they’re not, look out. Just look at the recent USA election, the people who oppose the president elect are doing so out of selfishness because things didn’t go their way, so now the must stomp their feet and act the way a spoiled brat child would. This is separating energy and that’s the point people are missing; I would write this same article had the president elect been a woman if the same behavior was being exhibited. As long as we as a people act selfishly by succumbing to our selfish energy, it doesn’t matter what happens, it will never go the way that we want, so the selfish energy will always be in control. I see this in me and I don’t enjoy it very much when it arises because it causes suffering to me and all those around me. This selfishness rears its ugly head in circumstances that don’t go one’s way and the conditioning justifies it to cement this selfishness deeper inside.

Most people will justify their selfish behavior by lying to themselves that they’re only opposing something because it what’s best for everyone, but that’s one of the tools the conditioned selfishness uses. This article isn’t about the US election, it’s about the energy of selfishness making babies out of adults who stomp their feet and cause undue suffering to humanity. Here’s the kicker, the moment this isn’t agreed with, it causes separation between us and lo and behold one’s selfish behavior is reinforced and so the contribution to humanity suffers. The very thing that’s being opposed is the very thing that’s being reinforced in yourself. This is how energy works and if we’re to ever unite as a people, selfishness will have to fall away and if it doesn’t, the energy that makes an adult a foot stomping baby will continue to be reinforced.

The Jewel Within

A person doesn’t wake up because something from the outside shakes them, it occurs because the jewel within is discovered; everyone has this jewel in their possession.

When a person has a shift from within, they wake up from a state of being a sleep and unaware of what truth is. When this occurs the implications of what has happened aren’t truly realized. In my own case I knew something happened because my view of life changed, but I didn’t know what it meant. I did know for the first time in my life that I was going to be okay. I likened this awakening as though I was broke (which I was spiritually) but I had a jewel in my pocket that I wasn’t aware of. I didn’t wake up because something from the outside shook me, I woke up because I discovered the jewel within that I already possessed. I didn’t know the value of this at first, as a matter of fact I didn’t even know I had this jewel in my possession. Even when some do become slightly aware of it, it very easily could be mistaken for an ordinary rock, and for me it was for many many years. As I look back throughout my life, I had an inkling this jewel existed, but it was dismissed as just being a rock, and because of this I kept looking for what I already possessed.

Nothing is given to us from the outside that the inside doesn’t already have in its possession, but because of the conditioning in place, there’s no awareness of this. Obviously we’re not talking material possessions, I’m strictly talking about the jewel of love that we all possess. This is worth more than anything in the world and it also is the thing that’s most readily available to everyone, it’s just that the conditioning in place keeps one looking for their jewel out there when all along one already has it in their possession.

Nothing to Become

Needing to become something doesn’t enhance life because the becoming keeps the mind agitated. It may give an appearance of enhancement, but there’s no real benefit to one’s energy while trying to become.

The energy of always becoming doesn’t allow one to be present for what’s actually happening and it keeps the mind in a constant state of agitation. When I write about this type of energy it’s often misunderstood as I’m saying don’t do anything, but that’s not what I’m saying. Become whatever it is you think you need to become, just understand the intention and energy behind it so your becoming isn’t a hinderance to truly experiencing life fully. I watch this very carefully because attaching to this becoming energy keeps one a prisoner to it. A created purpose doesn’t enhance life and although it may seem that it does or that people are being helped, which they very well may be, there’s no true benefit to the one who’s energy is of a created purpose.

I only share this because it has been my direct experience. I know many people are helped by the sharing of my experiences, but it’s not a purpose of mine. What I do is more of a by product of where I’ve been led. It doesn’t mean I can’t put things out there that may help people, I just don’t have to make it into a burden by it becoming my purpose. Not needing to become anything other than what I am allows for the freedom of not creating a story of becoming. To me the most important thing in my life is to be in the moment that’s happening and not add anything to it. If it’s to share, I share. If it’s to sit in the body than that’s what’s done. In this place of not needing to become, I’ve experienced true freedom because it’s the only place where a purpose isn’t needed nor is there anything to become.

Being Isn't a Doing

The true essence of life can only be understood by being. Life is not a doing because it exist regardless of what you do. Defining a life through what you think you need to do is your doing, not life’s.

To be and to do are a part of life, but doing occurs from the essence of being. You can always be, but you don’t have to always do. Actually if you aren’t aware of being, whatever is done will be a distraction from the true essence of being. Our experiences are a result of what we do in life, but they don’t make life what it is because if they didn’t occur, life would still be. Doing creates stories. Being creates life.

Think about the most beautiful thing you have ever seen and experienced, now how much does it have to do with life right now? It is a fond memory, a story, but this exact moment would still be regardless of what was seen and experienced. At the time I’m sure the experience was breath taking (to the Conditioned Mind) but it really has nothing to do with right now. The story of it does because the conditioning makes it so, but that is your doing not life’s.

To be is life because to be is. It always is regardless of what you do. This is where many fall short of understanding the true essence of life because doing and not being is put first and is thought to be what’s needed to live life. But life will always be, until one day it won’t be. And all the doing in the world will not stop this from happening. So do whatever it is that you want to do, but understand it is in being where life arises from and when you’re just being, life is lived to the fullest because you don’t have to do. We cannot do the next right thing, we can only be the next right thing. This is why it’s said to “Just Be” not Just Do, because to be is the true essence of life. The simple saying “Just Be” can be used as a tool to stop the squirrel cage “doing” mind in its tracks. After all, we are called human beings and not human doings because it’s only in being that our life can be lived to its fullest intention not to do.

The Filter in Place

When one has a filter in place that sees things as they are without any association to I, it opens one up to a different way to view life which allows for experiences like never before.

The filter one has in place to view life determines what the eyes see and how it’s processed. The most common filter used processes things as objects and holds on to them in association with one’s created identity. What happens with this filter is it goes through the senses and everything is associated with one’s I as I becomes the base of the filter. With this association, a limit is created because a label is attached to what is seen; everything is processed as an object in some way. This is one of the reasons the ducks were never seen in the way I stated in yesterday’s article, because they were always labeled as ducks, but this didn’t happen the other day. There was no labeling the ducks as objects, thus there was no association to I, the usual limit wasn’t applied and lo and behold I had an experience like never before. This is what happens when the filter in place just sees things as they are without attachment and association to I.

Obviously this seeing things as they are will take some practice to filter things in this way, but the more it’s done, the more one will experience life like never before. It’s unfortunate, the sense, object, associated I filter is so limiting, but because it’s the usual way of the Conditioned Mind, most people are unaware of it. That is until now because my article is shining a light on this for all to see. This seeing things as they are filter is how I’m able to write an article everyday for the last three years. I’m not special in any way because of this, I’ve just been afforded the luxury of now having a filter in place that doesn’t limit my view of life. This is the filter that allows for experiences as never before and it’s now a filter available to all.

Open to Life's Lessons

Many things in life can be a teacher if one is open enough to allow it, but if there’s constant noise in the space between one’s ears, nothing will be seen as it truly is; Be Still.

Nature can teach you much if you’re not all caught up in what’s going on between your ears. Yesterday I passed a fairly large pond by my house and I was amazed to see about a hundred ducks sitting in the water. They were all perfectly still, their heads tucked away. There wasn’t one duck struggling with trying to be still, there was no teacher duck leading a guided meditation, no chants, or mantras being recited. No duck had on headphones listening to meditative music or positive affirmations, they were all just sitting there in the quietness of the moment. I actually pulled over to observe this further to allow my present moment awareness to be a part of theirs. I was experiencing the peace of their stillness and it was a serenity beyond words; the peace that passes all understanding as stated in the Bible is just that. It only happens when there’s stillness to allow it, this is what the tranquility of this blessed moment gave to me.

There was so much silence in this moment and I was engulfed in it. Nothing of the material world has ever blessed me like this, and I’ve had some beautiful things happen to me. I can see why this silence was being experienced, it’s because for the last few weeks I’ve been using the body more and more to be anchored in the present moment and this has allowed my mind to be much more settled. I’ve seen these ducks in winters past, but it never had the affect on me as it did yesterday. Many things in life can be our teachers if one is open enough to allow it, but if there’s constant noise in the space between one’s ears, nature or anything else for that matter will not be seen as it truly is and nor will the lesson that are being laid out before you; Be Still.

The Secret to Peace

The Conditioned Mind is very unstable and has nothing solid to base itself in, so there’s very little peace in a life that’s based in the mind because its energy constantly wants things different.

The me the secret to a peaceful life lies is not wanting things different. Discontentment is directly linked to wanting things different and this is true regardless of what it is. It may not be seen as exactly wanting something different, but when a label of like or disliked is applied, this is wanting things different. If someone says or writes something or if a circumstance arises and you apply don’t like to it, you just created a discontent within yourself. What was said, written, or what happened didn’t do it, the applied label did. It’s the same when you apply like to something, this is because you are allowing something from the outside to control your mind state. The mind is very wishy washy and has nothing solid to base itself in, so there’s never peace in a life that’s based in the mind because its energy constantly wants things different.

A wanting things different mind is very erratic, it’s energy is all over the place and it’s the reason there’s very little peace in the world. Always wanting things different keeps the individual energy from being of peace, which then emanates as the energy one puts out. Multiple this by the billions of people on the planet and thus you have the world as it is. The secret to a peaceful life lies in not wanting things different and this is the only way there will ever be peace in one’s life and the world. The instant something is wanted to be different, discontentment arises as the energy in place is being controlled by a mind that doesn’t understand the secret to a peaceful life lies in not wanting things different, and this is true regardless of what’s going on.

A Created Void

The Conditioned Mind creates a lie of a void, the heart understands this as emptiness, until this is realized, one will constantly need to reach for something to try and fill a void that doesn’t exist.

For many years I said I had this void in me that was created from a lack of love and that’s why I constantly reached for stuff to fill it, but I have since come to understand this differently. This void isn’t a void at all, it is an emptiness, this emptiness is the essence of life. It’s where life happens when one is busy making other plans. By not understanding this emptiness I spent most of my life trying to fill it with whatever I could get my hands on. This is an endless list as to what was used and each individual has to investigate for themselves what that is. It’s ironic though because now most of my life is life is spent in the emptiness that for so long I considered a void; this is the truth that has been revealed to me.

To fill this misunderstood void is the reason why anyone reaches for anything or wants life to be different. If this space was understood for what it truly is, humanity would be much different because contentment would be the way of the world. This void is a lie the Conditioned Mind invents and it keeps one constantly needing the present moment to be different so it keeps one reaching as the void seemingly remains in place. This will need to be understood if the reaching is to ever end. When it is, the void transforms to emptiness because the present moment doesn’t have to be any different, and when the present moment doesn’t have to be different, life reveals its true essence as emptiness, which doesn’t need to be filled with anything because it’s not a void.

Limited by Thought

When thoughts are used as the primary means to live by, there will be a very limited view provided by the minds content, but when the mind settles, a second view opens up which provides unlimited content.

Humans have wars against each other, we fight with each other and most of this happens because of the nonsense of our thinking. Because of this thinking, there’s very little unity with ourselves and with the world. Everyone thinks they’re right which arises from what is heard or what’s read somewhere, all this does is fill one’s head with noise. This noise is the only view of reality that one sees until the mind becomes quiet enough to allow a second (thoughtless) view of reality to be seen.

What happens when the mind settles is it allows for two views of reality to be seen, one is the reality of the made up stories of one’s conditioned thoughts, and the other is the reality of just doing whatever it is that’s in front of you because it’s what’s there. Both realities are from the same mind, but there will only be one until the mind settles. When this settling occurs and one sees the reality of a second view, the limitations provided by the world view of thought will fall away. It will be at this point that one will go beyond the limited view of the thought world to see the limitless view of just doing what’s in front of you, without the need to think about it.

The Essence of a Flower

Formed concepts keeps one in a conditioned prison, this blocks one from seeing that in the stillness of non labeling, there’s no lock on their prison cell and there’s a beauty to life that only non labeling will reveal.

The essence of nature can only been seen when it’s viewed from a non labeling perspective. Labeling a flower as such does nothing to enhance its beauty. It exist without the label, actually the label limits one from seeing its beauty because by labeling it it becomes conceptual and in one’s formed concepts are their limits. This is how it is with most things that exist naturally in life, the don’t need labels. In the case of a flower, it gets all it needs from the Universe, it doesn’t think about how it can enhance its own beauty, this is a natural process. It’s the same with humans, that is once the conceptual living begins to slow. No label enhances anything, they’re useful in categorizing things, but this doesn’t enhance whatever it is that’s being labeled.

This is why it’s said “In stillness all truth is revealed” because when the mind is free of conceptual labeling, there’s an underling understanding of things that’s very difficult to explain with words. It’s the reason I often write “it is seen as it is seen” in response to some people who post on my articles, because no matter how much I try to convince someone to see what I see, it’s almost impossible, almost. Because of the conditioning in place people have a hard time with someone possibly knowing more than them, so they close down and miss the true essence of what’s really happening. As with the flower, you will know truth when it is seen that something exist without needing to label it. Our formed concepts keep us in a conditioned prison, this blocks one from seeing that in the stillness of non labeling there’s no lock on their prison cell and there’s a beauty to life that only non labeling will reveal.

Life Doesn't Respect Want

Wants are conditioned driven, it matters little to life or the Universe whether they’re fulfilled or not. You can make up a story that it matters, but that’s your story not life’s.

You can want things a certain way, but to life this doesn’t really matter much. Life isn’t a respecter of wants, it will allow things for its betterment at times and if you are one of the instruments which are being used in this capacity, you are truly blessed because you are probably assisting others in a unique way. This doesn’t make you special, but it does allow you to be free of the self centered “I” that holds most of the world in captivity. Wants are conditioned driven, it matters little to life or the Universe whether they’re fulfilled or not. You can make up a story that it matters, but that’s your story not life’s. Fulfill every want in your life and at the end of it you will have exactly what you would’ve had had no want been fulfilled.

It always makes me chuckle when I’m watching a baseball game and a player hits a home run followed by pointing upward, as if something is watching and cares more about the person hitting the home run as opposed to the pitcher giving it up. What happens when the person strikes out, which is inevitable? I’m waiting for the day when a person who strikes out points downward. All these stories mean nothing to the Universe and also the prayers said, regardless if they seem to work out or not, are just stories. Who’s suppose to answer them anyway, God? Good luck with that. Things will always work out the way they work out until it’s realized the Universe (life) doesn’t really care if they do or don’t. Wants are only held onto because one thinks they’re needed, but because life isn’t a respecter of wants, suffering prevails because that’s what you, not life has in place.

The Elusive Present Moment

The body anchors one in the present moment, so when this alignment occurs there’s harmony, but if the body isn’t used as an anchor, the mind continues its grasp for objects and the present moment remains elusive.

Although life only happens in the present moment, the present moment is probably the most elusive place for one to not only remain in, but to get to. To me the reason for this elusiveness is because one tries to get there with the mind and most minds aren’t disciplined enough to get there, let alone stay there. Because of the way we have evolved as a species, most minds are in constant motion, trying to figure out how to make life more pleasurable, and although pleasure is attained at times, it never last for long. This is how the mind views the present moment also, it knows it’s where life happens intellectually and there’s much pleasure here, but it doesn’t fully grasp what this means so it never settles. It’s one of the reasons objects are used and until there’s a shift that allows one to see the present moment through the body, the present moment which allows peace remains elusive.

The body becomes the source of light for the awareness of the present moment when this shift happens. There’s nothing more to do with this shift except to practice becoming more aware of the source of light of the body. There are many objects that the mind uses to keep the present moment elusive, but the body regardless of the object the mind grasp for, is always present. When a thief cases out a place, he’s present, but he’s in the mind. The body anchors one in the present, so when this alignment occurs there’s harmony. This is as natural as life itself, but if the body isn’t used as a present moment anchor, the mind will continue its grasp for objects and the present moment will remain elusive.

The Constant Need to Add

The only thing that makes a person think something needs to be added to life to enhance it, is their own conditioning and until this is realized, this conditioning will keep one searching for something to add.

As this searching for something to add seems to be a continuous phenomenon for most, this means most are missing what life truly offers. If a person is alive, life will be experienced, but the question to ask yourself is this, is your life being fully lived or are you under the spell of your own Conditioned Mind that makes you think something needs to be added or even taken away for that matter? If this is the default setting of your mind, and unfortunately it is for most, so much of life will be missed because you will constantly need things to be different than what they are. This is a mind agitation that keeps the searching for something to add in place which doesn’t allow any contentment with what’s actually taking place.

Life is never personal, it just continues on regardless of what happens. Humanity has become our own worse enemy and mostly because of always needing to add to life instead being content with what’s there. Add whatever you think you need and except for a few brief moments, contentment will be fleeting at best. Sit and visualize having all the riches of the world and being the most intelligent person to have ever lived and see what this really changes in your life. It will only be a matter of time before you will need to add something because regardless of what one has or what’s going on, if there isn’t some level of contentment with the way things are, one will constantly need life to be different and the search for adding what one thinks will make it better will make discontentment and searching to add something the norm.

Selective Attention

Life is the way it is not because of what happens, but because of the label that’s applied which makes our attention selective and limited. If you can get beyond the label, you’ll understand just how limited it makes life.

What the eyes see and focus on is very limiting, this doesn’t mean what is seen isn’t there, it’s just seen in the limited way the Conditioned Mind makes it out to be. The process of seeing and labeling is what causes this. As soon as something is seen and the applied label is attached, therein lies our limit. From the applied names of people we know, to objects, feelings, and emotions, we have been conditioned to think these are all needed, especially as the label is associated with who we think we are. It also affects you when someone labels you and you attach to it. This is all because of how the eyes see and take in the projected image; it’s as if there’s a person up in your head that takes what the eyes see and selects the label and where the attention goes.

This also applies to sounds, sounds as are images are something that arise from the space of silence, the label doesn’t enhance life, it actually diminishes it because it fills up the space of silence with selective attention. In this selectiveness is our suffering because of the limit that’s applied, which closes the heart. This is how most people are conditioned, but if you can get beyond the label, you’ll understand just how limited your life is. I write a daily article, but there’s no label applied to it, it’s one of the reasons I’m able to write one everyday. The articles definitely exist, just not in the way they’re seen. Truth can only be experienced when one’s selective attention goes beyond the applied labeled and that will only happen when the person who is in your head is fired so what the eyes see and what the ears hear is not given a label.

Waking Up Now

Love is given a lot of lip service in our society, but not much heart service. You can’t pick and choose who to love, either you love all or you love none, there’s no such thing as only loving some.

Why most people have to hit a bottom before there is significant change in their life is because of the way our selfish nature has evolved. This seems to be a common denominator amongst us which doesn’t allow one’s heart to open to see their true nature of love. This isn’t the story of what one thinks love is, it’s unconditional love that arises from the depths of one’s heart. Most people don’t truly know what love is because it’s always centered around some attachment to a conditioned story, but true love needs no story. I know many who speak of love for their own children, but what about all those children who die everyday and aren’t even given a thought?

Unconditional love has no me, my, or I attached to it, as a matter of fact it has nothing attached to it and until this story stops, suffering continues as the default setting of one’s mind. Unfortunately love is given a lot of lip service in our society, but not much heart service. You can’t pick and choose who to love, either you love all or you love none, there’s no such thing as only loving some; matter of another fact is it’s impossible to truly love only some. A true transformation occurs when there’s no where else to turn, the danger in this is many transforms but not in this world. I don’t profess to understand how the Universe works, but I do know what happened to me and that’s what I share. And although I had to hit a bottom to wake up, it’s my passion to assist in the waking process of those who are tired of suffering and want to wake up now.

Mind Agitated Noise

The noise in the head won’t quiet on its own regardless of what one has a belief in. Beliefs hinder the quieting because they’re just a response to a mind agitation that blocks our inner presence.

If the noise in the head is in control and running the show, it doesn’t matter much what’s going on, it’s going to be difficult to be in a place of peace. It’s such a noisy world and what makes it so is most people are looking for an answer out there when the answer is within. So what the noise actually is and how it’s created is by not being aware that you already have your answers. With a mind that’s conditioned to want answers, you have to constantly look for them, hence the noise. This is how the agitation of a Conditioned Mind is formed and how it blocks awareness to our inner presence. It’s noise created because if you knew you had your answers, the need to look for them would be non existent and so would the noise.

When and if you come to the place where you understand this, the noise may not stop completely, but it will begin the process of at least quieting. It’s imperative to understand this if our inner presence is to be experienced in life. If you don’t understand this, the noise will never stop at least while you are alive, it’s why it’s imperative to understand this now. Why wait to be at peace later when you can be at peace right now. It’s not like the noise is needed to live life, its only there because you unconsciously put it there.

Everyone has the ability to consciously allow the removal of the noise in the head, if practiced properly. It’s just not something that’s going to happen on its owns, but isn’t it beautiful that your peace is in your hands and it’s totally up to each individual how much peace is brought into your life. A little practice equates to a little peace. So it’s up to each individual to do what’s necessary to stop the noise, as you practice the noise quiets and you’re left with an inner presence. If you are waiting for anything else, you will be waiting a very long time and it will probably not happen while you are alive.

An Adversay Within

The ego lives in the ignorance of the Conditioned Mind, but when there’s light shed on this, ignorance falls away and the ego no longer needs to defend itself because it no longer considers itself an adversary.

Understanding the different thoughts that arise and seeing why some are defended and some are just let go of, has immense value in learning to live life to the fullest. One will want to develop some sort of practice that’s going to assist in differentiating what thoughts are beneficial. The ego is “I” and when “I” feels threatened it will defend itself with whatever tools it has developed to do so. These tools aren’t only used to defend itself against others, they’re also used to defend itself against itself. They’re the only reason a person reaches for something and it’s strictly because they are defending themselves from a threat that comes from within. This “I” is the cause of every addiction and of all conflicts, without “I” one does still exist, it’s just not in the way the ego makes it seem.

When one can see the truth that “I” (ego) is their only adversary, when a threat presents itself, there will be no need to defend it because it will be seen one is only defending themselves from themselves.There’s no suppressing this, nor anything else that arises because suppressing or pushing away is an action that deepens it’s control. To me awareness of an “I” existence is the beginning of it relinquishing its grip. In acknowledging it’s there, control dissipates somewhat, this happens when the energy of attachment is taken away. Never deny what’s there, just be aware of it and watch it dissolve on its own. The ego lives in the ignorance of the Conditioned Mind, but when there’s light shed on this, ignorance falls away and the ego no longer needs to defend itself because it no longer considers itself an adversary.

Bodily Presence

Although the mind is usually everywhere but the present moment, the body is a great anchor to use in a sitting practice because there’s no way it can’t be in the present moment.

The importance of developing a sitting practice is in how this develops discipline which allows the mind to settle enough so one is in the present more often than not. The breath is used for this because it anchors you in the body which is always in the present. You never take a past or future breath, you can only take a breath in the present, this is why the breath is used. It’s the same reason chants are used, when Om is used, you don’t Om in the past or the future, you Om right now, when this is done it anchors you in the body which is always in the Now. The mind for most is constantly in the past or future, there are times when it’s present, but this is fleeting and mostly occurs because of happenstance. The body is a great anchor to use in a sitting practice because there’s no way it can’t be present. This doesn’t prevent anything from happening, but what it does do is it allows for one’s awareness to be with what’s happening instead of having resisting energy trying to use something to push it away. This resisting energy is at the core of how addictions manifest.

Besides a sitting practice, I often use the tool of simply looking down at my feet and since wherever my feet are there I am, it also anchors me in the present. This is also why one uses a mindfulness practice, such as walking meditation because as you are mindful of each step, you’re anchored in the body which as stated before, is always in the present moment. Life is magical in relation to the things that occur for one’s energy to be transformed to form, but there’s nothing magical in being present for what’s actually happening, as long as one is aware that it’s not happening to you, it’s just what’s happening, you just happen to be present to observe it.

A Worldly Draw

The ways to be drawn in by the world are endless, but understand the draw comes from your own mind and even though the world provides the triggers, you alone attach to them.

If you’re practicing to live a spiritual life, but you don’t know your own mind, it’s like going to the gym, but not making much of an effort to work out. Granted it’s better than doing nothing, but if you can’t distinguish between love and hate, what’s beneficial and what isn’t or notice your attachments, what good is it, the whole point of the practice is being missed. Because of the draw of the outside world, it’s very difficult to look inward. There are so many things in place that prevent looking inward from happening, but if it doesn’t happen, one remains in bondage to the worlds trappings. And that’s all they are because when there’s even the slightest of an opening to allow this to be seen, one’s expansion begins.

The draw of the world is very enticing, if it wasn’t the percentage of conscious and unconscious beings would be reversed, but it’s not this way because the draw is in control. This draw is only real to a degree, it’s there there’s no denying it, but why it’s in control is because there’s a fictitious belief that it’s needed. We alone are the creators of this and if one doesn’t become familiar with their own mind, the worlds draw will continue its control; there’s really no way around this.
The aversion one has to the worldly draw makes it so enticing and this is what keeps one in the prison of the Conditioned Mind. There are many ways to be enticed by the world, but there is only one way to be free. And as I stated earlier, read all your books, study until you know it all, meditate until you reach the state you think will bring you nirvana, but understand if you don’t know your own mind, it’s like going to the gym, but not making much of an effort to really work out.

Judging Separates

Seeing conditioned behavior for what it is doesn’t condone unloving behavior nor does it exalt loving behavior, it just allows one the understanding that a person can only act as the conditioning in place dictates.

It’s pivotal to one’s peace of mind to separate and not judge the conditioned behavior of not only individuals, but also of oneself. If one is to ever be at peace there can’t be judgement of how someone behaves, this instantly causes separation because it puts up a barrier between the one who’s judged and the one who is doing the judging. Judging emanates an energy that makes a me and a you, without this judging energy one is in unity with themselves and with others. I know this isn’t easy to accept, but from Adolf Hitler, Charles Manson, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, and the Dalai Lama just to name a few, they can only do what their conditioning tells them to do and although the consequences of their behavior is drastically different, judging any of them causes separation from oneself and thus from all humanity. Being non judgmental unites, judging separates.

Seeing the conditioning for what it is doesn’t condone unloving behavior nor does it exalt loving behavior, it just allows one the understanding that everyone does what they’re conditioned to do. In this understanding there is a peace that passes all understanding and it’s because there’s no judging energy to cause separation. There can’t be because in this space of not judging and just seeing the conditioning for what it is, it’s not being assigned to anyone in particular, it’s just being seen as the conditioning in place and regardless if there’s loving or unloving behavior, it’s just conditioning, nothing more, nothing less.

No Real Choice

Many believe they have choices, but the reality is, there is no choice because one can only do what their conditioned view dictates and good, bad, or indifferent it’s only done because it’s what’s in place.

There really aren’t choices in life, it may seem as though there are, but the conditioning that’s in place dictates what one’s actions will be. From murder to loving kindness and all the other actions in between, the conditioning controls the actions. It’s as if one is a puppet on a string with the Conditioned Mind being the master puppeteer. For forty nine years I was controlled by my Conditioned Mind without awareness there was another way to view life. Today with awareness of this, my view is different and although it seems I have choices, the shift that occurred in me resulted in a different view, so my actions are now different; it’s not a choice, a different view allows me to see things differently so I naturally act differently.

I will use alcohol as an example. For years alcohol was one of the conditioned tools I used as a coping mechanism to deal with life, there was no choice here. It’s not this way today, not because I choose not to use it, it’s not a choice because it’s no longer the conditioned view that’s in place. If it was in place, I would use it; this isn’t a choice, I will do whatever I’m conditioned to do. One can only do what they’re conditioned to do and the only way this will be different is if one’s view becomes different. This is the view of accepting life as it is and not wanting anything to be different, a choice implies wanting it different. Many believe they have choices, but this belief creates an inner conflict. The reality is, there is no choice because one can only do what the conditioned view dictates and good, bad, or indifferent it’s only done because it’s what’s in place.

Selfishly Self Concerned

When the selfish self is in charge, you may think you have real concerns, but the truth is the only thing there’s a concern for is the selfish self getting what it wants when it wants it.

There’s so much conflict in our world, and although it’s all pointed outward, the only time something causes a conflict is when one wants what is happening or has happened to not only be different, but to also want it to be in the way they think it should be. One cannot have a true conflict with anything but oneself, and this is regardless of what happens. On my flight home yesterday from Florida, I was just sitting in quiet on the plane when the thought arose, how would I react if this plane was going to crash? What benefit would yelling, screaming and fearing death have? Would it change what was happening? Here’s the kicker, the only reason this would be considered a problem is because I would want what was happening to be different and preferably the way I think it should be. I know this is pretty drastic, but isn’t this the way it is with everything in our life. Look no further than our recent presidential election, now a recount, really?

Someone made a remark to me that not being concerned about something means I don’t care, but the lack of concern is only for what the selfish self thinks and as stated before, this is where all conflict arises from. In the case with the plane, the cause of the conflict would be the selfish self dying, isn’t death going to happen anyway at some point, so the conflict is caused by not wanting it to happen now, but that will not stop it from occurring. The plane analogy can be substituted with anything, if one is honest with themselves this will be seen. When the truth of this is revealed, it can have a deep impact on letting go of the selfish self because it will be seen that it does nothing but cause conflict with yourself, and unfortunately because of ignorance, some will actually believe they need to be this way. Whether it’s facing death, needing election results to be different or just about anything else you can think of, when the selfish self is in charge, you may think you have real concerns, but the truth is the only thing there’s a concern for is the selfish self getting what it wants when it wants it.

A Traveling Mind

When you are mentally somewhere other than where your body is, most of your life will be missed. Until there’s a mind and feet connection, the haze of the Conditioned Mind will continue its onslaught of control.

I was vacationing in Ft Lauderdale, Florida with my wife for the last four days and now that it’s time to go home, is my head going to be where my feet are? To me this is a very important question to ask because the mind goes to places where only the mind can go. You can be sitting on a couch or taking a shower and your mind will be in every place except where your feet are. The mind is constantly going to a place that only exist in your head and although it may be a stored memory, it isn’t what’s occurring right now so one isn’t truly living their life. Yes there is the physical existence and everyone who is alive experiences this, but just physically existing without awareness means you have a traveling mind and are in the haze of your conditioning. Watch the traveling mind as it bounces from place to place except where you truly are; where your feet are.

The point of this is to show how you may always be physically where your feet are, but if you’re not aware of where the mind is, you will most likely be somewhere else. This isn’t a good or bad thing, but it doesn’t allow you to live life as it happens. When you’re mentally somewhere other than where your body is, most of your life will be missed. The breath is used to stop the traveling mind because it anchors you in the body and when this occurs, one is physically and mentally in harmony with life as it’s happening. In this place of harmony with the mind and feet connected, you’ll be more aware of what life is offering; the haze of your conditioning will fall away and probably for one of the few times in your life it will truly be lived.

Finding Your Beach

Look down at your feet, regardless of where they're planted this is your beach. If it isn't it's because the need to reach is in place and it's blocking you from finding the beach you're already on.

When all of a sudden you're not at peace, what is it that takes you from it? The Corona beer commercial that tells you to "find you beach" always reminds me if I'm not at peace it's because I left my beach. For years I was constantly searching for my beach and expect for brief moments, my beach eluded me for most of my life. Why this was so was because my beach was always contingent on something that was outside of myself and whatever its form, it was always a beach based in what I thought I needed to provide comfort. There's no need to list what these beaches are because there are so many, they are the things one reaches for. These beaches come in many many forms and unless one truly takes a step back to see this, the reaching will always be there, but finding your beach will never happen.

The lies of the Conditioned Mind will dictate what you will reach for as your beach and until the conditioning to reach is changed, one's beach will continue to be sought and never be found. The only way this will change is by going inward to discover why there's a need to reach and once this is revealed, therein lies your beach. Your beach isn't from the thought realm though, it comes from the still small voice within that tells you it doesn't matter where you are or what's happening, all you have to do is look down at your feet and regardless of where they're planted this is your beach. If you need another beach it's because the need to reach is still in place and it's blocking you from finding the beach that you're already on.

Perfection in Place

Until one embraces the energy of just being with what's occurring right now, one will continue to seek what is deemed perfect and miss out on the perfection already in place.

The perfect life is never perfect because it's the way one may want it, it's perfect when one can accept it in the way that it is. Everything that occurs in life is perfect because it's what's there and although it will be labeled pleasant or unpleasant, neither one of these labels ever changes what occurs. The Conditioned Mind constantly pushes away the unpleasant and constantly tries to pull in what it deems as pleasant, but what's not understood is that both the pushing and pulling is the same energy. It's like positive and negative energy, most people want to be in a positive state and on the surface these energies may seem like total opposites, but upon further investigation what's revealed is positive and negative are from the same energy as pushing and pulling. Granted on the surface these energies produce much different results, but therein lies the issue because most people are controlled by results (the pleasant ones) and they think they're needed so life can be the way that it's wanted. I'm also not one for positive affirmations because that also is the energy of wanting things different or pushing and pulling energy. So what does this leave you with? What it leaves is for one to be in the space of stillness with what's actually occurring without labeling it, this is where true peace abides.

This peace doesn't push or pull, there's no need to when there's peace. Pushing and pulling energy only arises when the mind is agitated and one doesn't realize this is occurring. This is why being with what occurs in the present moment is so valuable because there's no pushing or pulling energy. When one is present, one is free and at peace. The Conditioned Mind is a liar and makes you believe all kinds of nonsense which makes you succumb to the pushing (unpleasant) or pulling (pleasant) energy, and until one embraces the energy of just being with what's occurring right now, one will continue to seek what is deemed perfect and miss out on the perfection already in place.

Open Your Heart to Everyone

Opening your heart to everyone includes yourself, so love yourself exactly as you are and understand if you don't, it's only because of the conditioning that's in place.

Tis the season, Apple has a Christmas commercial out and at the end of it it says "Open your heart to everyone" I teared up. It's a decision one has to be conscious of if it's to be put into place. There's so much unloving energy around that if one isn't conscious of the energy to open your heart to everyone, the conditioning will sneak in and keep one's heart closed. Awareness is the key in allowing the heart to open to everyone. Mostly the unloving or closed energy in place is there without fully realizing it. One may have an inkling that it's there, but without having a good amount of discipline which allows the mind to settle, this energy will be in control, even if it's not wanted to be.

I know I do things that aren't necessarily conducive to what's best for me, but they're still done because of the conditioning in place. Granted since I've been sitting and developing discipline, many things don't control me any longer, and for the most I am aligned with behaviors that are not only for my betterment, but also for the betterment of humanity, but things still are done even though I know better. It's just a part of the conditioning in place so I don't fret over it. I've learned you can only do what you're conditioned to do, and this won't change until the conditioning changes. Opening your heart to everyone includes yourself, so love yourself exactly as you are and understand if you don't, it's only because of the conditioning that's in place.

The Circle of Love

To be inside the circle of love, the heart must be unlocked and although this may not change what’s around you, it does change one’s view from looking inward to “I” to looking outward from love.

I’m sure everyone has heard the expression “the circle of life” but here’s a little different spin on it as “the circle of love”. Think of it as though life is a circle, when you love you’re inside the circle and when you don’t it means you’re living mostly from “I” which automatically puts you outside the circle. Outside the circle was how the first forty nine years of my life were lived. Occasionally I was in the circle, but not very often and this was because my “I” conditioning kept my heart locked which didn’t allow me to enter the circle. It’s nearly impossible to enter the circle from “I” because “I” is the lock that keeps that heart closed. When you see this, it gives you something tangible to work with which allows the heart to be unlocked, and with an unlocked heart one can be inside the circle of love.

Life and love can be synonymous, but only when one is inside the circle of love and one can only be inside when the heart is unlocked and opened. The locks of the world that keeps one outside the circle are many, it’s as though one is on the outside of a house looking in through a window. Love unlocks the heart to see things that were previously unseen, and this is what opens one to see as if they were inside the house looking out. When one is on the inside looking out it’s because the heart is unlocked and with the heart unlocked, it may not change what’s around you, but it does change one’s view from looking inward to “I” to looking outward from love.

Grateful To Be Alive

Grateful to be alive, not only for today, but for each and everyday because life itself is our greatest gift.

Being grateful for life occurs naturally as does love when there’s an understanding of what’s needed to live from the heart. Although love is natural it’s not automatic, so cultivating love is when life results in gratitude.

Gratitude naturally arises from a loving heart. It isn’t produced by attaching to anything from the materiel realm. If gratitude was from the material realm it would coincide with one’s possessions and that would make a person of wealth more grateful than one who didn’t have many? The true measure of a wealthy life has nothing to do with possessions, true wealth arises from a loving heart, that’s what measures wealth. You can only be grateful when you are content with life as it is, not with the way you wish it was or how it’s wanted or expected.

Wanting is never from our true self, it’s from the small self that thinks what’s wanted is needed to be complete. The true self never needs because it’s complete as it is. Needing arises from “I” it creates lack which creates a made up need. When there’s completeness there no lack so there’s no need. This lack also creates wanting and is in direct relation to one’s so called problems in life.
Whenever you want, it means you think life needs to be in some other way, this creates suffering. Gratitude doesn’t mean everything will be as wanted, but life must be accepted as it is if one is to be at peace and invoke a grateful heart; investigate this for yourself. Gratitude will not shield you from problems, it will allow you to not create them. Be grateful for your given life and you will find your loving heart, and when life is lived from a loving heart there will be harmony with yourself and with all beings. When this occurs you can’t help but to have an attitude that’s full of gratitude for life as it is, not because of what you possess, but because of the natural love that arises from your heart.