Blocks to Freedom

Why many don’t truly break free from their addictions is because the things being used are usually addressed as what needs to be changed. When what causes the reaching is changed, the addictions fall away.

Our true essence underneath all this false identification is always there, it’s just not known because it’s blocked out. It can be likened to our arteries becoming clogged and blocking the blood to our heart, which keeps our heart from operating properly. This is what happens to us when we block our true nature from arising, we don’t operate in properly. Both blockages are detrimental to our physical and spiritual well being. They both lead to death unless the blockage is undone. In the physical form when the arteries become clogged the heart will eventually stop. In the spiritual form our blockage leads to the death of our spirit. Both cases are equally as deadly and it isn’t always known that its occurring until it is to late.

Many things contribute to our blockage and if this isn’t understood, the blockage will remain. The blockage cannot get undone on its own, hence a broken mind can’t fix itself, when it’s realized the blockage is there, steps can be taken to alleviate it. When you change what causes the blockage, the blockage falls always. You don’t change the actual blockage, you change what causes it. Why most people don’t change is because they are trying to change the blockage instead of what causes it. This is the exact reason why many don’t truly break free from addictions, the things being used are usually addressed as what needs to be changed. Understanding why there’s a needs to reach for anything is the only way the true freedom from the bondage of addiction will ever truly be experienced.

Celebrate Life

We are here simply because of the Universe. Life is the Universe’s celebration in the manifestation of our human form and love is our true nature. To awaken to this is to awaken to the celebration of life…

We need not wait for the holidays to celebrate life. Everyday is a holiday because being alive is a celebration of life manifested from the love of the Universe and we are the gift; the present of the Universe to the world. If you don’t think this is so it isn’t because of life, it’s because of the way you are viewing it. You’re probably saying if the Universe is love what about all the unpleasant things that occur in life, or the unloving nature of some of the things experienced. None of this is produced by the Universe, they’re a direct result of the conditioned behavior of humans. The Universe doesn’t directly produce anything. Everything naturally arises as a manifestation of its love because it’s only capable of love. Humans on the other hand are another story. We have the capacity to cause so much destruction, but no matter what we do it will never be our true nature. That will always be based in love, it’s just the way we’ve been conditioned that makes this unknown.

Our celebration is an everyday occurrence and although one day our celebration will not be manifested in this form, our true nature as love will always be. This is the way it is because this is the way the Universe is and since we are a present of the Universe, our nature is always love. When a gift is given to someone in the spirit of love, no matter what happens after the gift is given, it will never take away that it was given in love. No matter how hardened one becomes by their conditioning, love will always be their true nature. Know this truth and you will make everyday a holiday and life will be the celebration that the Universe intended it to be.

Limits of Thinking

Human behavior hasn’t changed much over time, it may have actually gotten more conditioned. Thinking is just the way the Conditioned Mind keeps one in its prison to the delusional self.

To truly live one must learn to be true to thyself and this will require an entirely different way to view life. For the current view to become different so you’re in harmony with life, our heart must open to a view that touches the unlimited resources of the Universe. This means you will have to let go of the small minded limited self who thinks and thinks and thinks and holds onto thinking as the foundation of life. If you must think, think about this, where do all the issues you have with life formulate from and does your thinking about them constantly really solve anything? If it does than go ahead and think, but don’t waste you time thinking about things that have no solution.

Thinking is just the way the Conditioned Mind keeps one in its prison to the delusional self. You justify what you’re thinking about, but it doesn’t solve anything, you just become more engrained to your subconscious false “I”. You make what you think about soooo important, but it’s really only important to your small self because you’re not in tune with the unlimited resources of the Universe. Human behavior hasn’t changed much over time, it may have actually gotten more conditioned. Because of the small minded limited view that’s developed, you think what you think about is so important, but its only important to the small minded limited self. Wake up, nothing you think about is so important except to the Conditioned Mind. This is the delusion created and until one breaks free of this hold, you will be walking around not living in a loving manner. Basically by not living life in a loving manner, you are not truly living and you will remain blind to just how limited you truly are.

Taken By Surprise

When things happen to you that take you by surprise, will you be ready for it or will you revert to the self that’s based in the world and go in the opposite direction of your spiritual nature.

It seems that things always happen to other people. When the news is watched, it’s about other people. When there are stories at work, it’s about someone else. Others seem to be the ones that get sick, or have tragedies occur in their life. It’s even other people who are the ones that die, but what happens when it’s your turn? We’ll not the die part, but the other things, sickness, others death, loss of jobs, or things like house fires, or floods, these are but a few of the things that can definitely knock one off their spiritual direction. There are many hours spent practicing, sitting, reading, discussing beliefs, and philosophy, but what happens when push comes to shove and there isn’t time but to react to what occurs because it has taken you by surprise? Many times it seems the so called spiritual direction is thrown aside and the deeper inner psyche takes over. I know for me when I get caught by surprise, my reactions tend to revert back to the deeply rooted psyche of a self that has been in place for many many years. This self only deems things beneficial that are of world, and as far as spiritual direction is concerned, it doesn’t see it as much of a benefit.

It has been my observation that this self is what most people revert to in times of stress. I have found by being with life as it occurs, although one may not react in the way that has been practiced or is desired, what’s in the current psyche has to be accepted for what it is. This is because things don’t always happen to the other person, and this awareness that things happen to everyone is a reality that unless accepted with no if, ands, or buts, it will keep one assuming that things only happen to someone else. So the question is, when things do happen to you as they most certainly will, and you are taken by surprise, will you be ready for it or will you revert to the self of the world and go in the opposite direction of your spiritual nature.

The Same Space

Nothing is inherently who you are, but inherently you are all things. If you can truly sit and just be in the space of what is, you will see everything is of the same space.

I know the Law of Attraction states conceive it and you will achieve it, but what my experience has been is visualize it and it is done. When I sit and visualize something I am there. Whether it’s playing a musically instrument, singing, being rich, emanating peace, being love, or anything else, to me this is so because nothing is inherently who you are, but inherently you are all things. Read this slowly and allow it to sink in: Nothing is inherently who you are, but inherently you are all things. This requires the non attachment to any mental formation of what’s actually occurring or what’s being visualized. Because everything is inherently impermanent the only way visualization is blocked is by attachment to the emotional aspect of something. I could visualize a conceived reality or be with the given moment as it is and they are truly one in the same; that is as long as there isn’t attachment.

Because everything passes, yesterday’s dream is no different than yesterday’s memory of what went on and because of this it also includes whatever is visualized. The key here is in not needing the present moment any different than what it is. Don’t attach to it and just allow the energy to flow. Attachment is a story, the past is a story even though it may have happened, it’s not happening now so if there isn’t attachment to it, it becomes no different than a dream, a memory, or a visualization. You may or may not achieve what is conceived regardless of how much you conceive it, but if you can truly sit and just be in the space of what is visualized, you will see everything is of the same space.

Music of the Heart

We all hear what we hear. Some are fortunate to hear the music of love, but some only hear the same old song of the Conditioned Mind that blocks one from hearing the beautiful music of the heart.

Life plays its sounds in many different ways which produces very different music to each individual, and although all of those sounds arise from silence, the music that’s heard is dependent on one’s conditioning. What do you hear? For many years the sounds I heard caused responses that were very destructive and because of this, the beautiful music of life was missed more often than not. More and more this is seen today and it’s because more and more the lies that caused the beautiful music to be missed are being exposed. To me even though life is very visual, it’s interpreted through what is heard. One sees with the eyes and it’s interpreted through what the Conditioned Mind says which means it will not be heard as love. When something is seen without applying a label, it’s interpreted through the silence of the heart and it’s truly heard for what it is; one’s reactions are loving when from the heart. I’m learning more and more to hear what life is really saying instead of applying a labeling from the conditioning. One sees with the eyes, but labels from what’s heard.

When I see someone responding to life in a certain way, it can now be heard where it’s truly coming from; the heart or the head. When it’s from the head there is now compassion instead of labeling because as was the case with me, the Conditioned Mind is in control. This isn’t a judgement, it’s a fact. Life’s beautiful music can only arise from silence and when a label is applied, the silence is gone and so is the ability to hear what life truly has to offer. We all hear what we hear. Some are fortunate to hear the music of love and some only hear the same old song of the Conditioned Mind that blocks one from hearing the beautiful music of the heart.

Providing Light

A lighthouse is likened to a person who is awake. The design of both is to simply shine a light that provides those who may be lost with a direction to safety; that light just may be the only one a person sees.

A lighthouse is a perfect example of what it means to an instrument without needing to add a bunch of nonsense to it. All a lighthouse does is shine a light so a ship can get a safe direction when its needed. It shines its light in clear weather the same as when there’s a storm, but its usefulness has much more value in a storm. It’s foundation is solid so a storm doesn’t have much of an affect on it. It has but one purpose and that’s to shine a light to those who need it. It’s not concerned with those who aren’t in need of its light; matter of fact it doesn’t even notice. It just goes about its business shining its light. It doesn’t run around shining its light all over the place, nor would that increase its effectiveness in any way. A lighthouse is strategically placed where its effectiveness is maximized.

I look at my awakening as simply being like a lighthouse. What was revealed to me is what was revealed, I don’t try to make it into something else. I write articles to shine a light, who sees it sees it and who doesn’t isn’t really a concern. All I do is provide direction, I don’t have a way or method to be followed, I just provide a direction of a light. The usefulness of my experiences have more of an affect for those who are in the midst of a storm. My base is solid because there’s now an understanding of what I’m to do and that’s to simply be a light. I don’t have to run around and shine my light, matter of fact it is best to stand pat and just allow the beacon to shine so those who need to see it do. I am just the instrument for the Universe to strategically use me where it sees fit, the only thing I have to do is make sure the light is lit; that light just may be the only one a person sees.

Natural Gratitude

Gratitude 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 much? 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.

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 issues, it will allow you to not make them into problems. 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.

Love You Are Given

As much as you think you love, a true measurement of love is in the love you are given. This is because no matter how much you love, you can never give as much love as you are given.

When others open their hearts to whatever gifts you have, it allows you to be a servant of love, and it is the servant that is truly blessed. If no one was there to allow one to serve and share their gifts, no hearts would be opened. The other day I crossed paths with an angel, not literally, but I was allowed to give someone some possessions that were no longer needed. By being allowed to give just for the sake of giving, a blessing was bestowed upon me. My heart welled up with love as I was allowed to be used in this way. This was not giving with an ulterior motive to gain something and that’s why my heart welled up. To bring joy to others is a gift given to the giver, not because one is giving, but because one is allowed to be the giver. There is no greater gift than to be an instrument of love, and although the receiver of what is given may benefit from it, it is in being allowed to give that one is truly blessed.

I write and I am the one blessed ten fold by those who my writings resonate with. I’m given so much love that no matter how much I give, it will never compare to the love I am given. I can only serve with what gifts have been bestowed upon me and since it really has nothing to do with me, it’s truly a gift. When one is given a gift of this nature, there’s no way it can be kept to yourself. Although not everyone will love you back no matter how much you love, it’s the one’s who do that make it all worth while. Not for any other reason than it’s in the love you are given that you learn what love truly is and never ever take that for granted.

A Heart View

Seeing through eyes that have a default view from the head (intellect) presents many more questions than answers, but a heart view (love) needs no such answers because there aren’t any questions.

Although everything is seen through the eyes, it’s the filter that one sees through that makes their life what it is. There are basically two filters, the head (intellect) and the heart (love). Most people fluctuate between the two with the intellect being the default filter. The shift that occurs when one wakes from the sleep of unconsciousness is the heart becomes the filter in which life is viewed. The intellect will still be prevalent as it’s not something to loathe, but it just won’t be the default filter any longer. Life is much different when it’s viewed from the heart. Many of the beliefs, concepts, biases, prejudices, and the outright lies that are in place simply fall away when the heart takes over. This isn’t to say the view that comes from the head is gone forever, as it has been put in place by one’s own conditioning, but it will slowly lose its power over you.

I’m sharing this from my experience. This may not be agreed with by everyone who reads this, but my experience is mine and to me that’s the only thing that has real value, and that’s only if the experience is from the heart. Seeing through eyes that have a default view from the head presents many more questions than answers, but a heart view needs no such answers because there aren’t any questions. This is what happened to me and although I can only know what has been revealed to me, I share it because there is a peace within me that passes all understanding, and it’s always present, that is as long as I live from the heart and don’t let the intellect (my head) get in the way.

The Labeling Process

The labeling process in place is all part of attachment and until there’s awareness of this, suffering remains. The degree of suffering is contingent on how attached one is to their labels.

All labeling processes have been instilled without any consciousness on an individual’s part. Think about all that you do, how much of it is done consciously? You may think you decided to be a certain way or formed certain beliefs, but upon further review you will see it all arises from the conditioning in place; this is how the labeling process emerges. This is done everyday all day long and all this does is create emotional swings that are caused by the applied labels. A label that’s liked is pulled in, a label that’s not liked is pushed away, each of these creates the same suffering, even if you don’t see it. What’s missed with this is you alone allow the things labeled to control you. The thing itself has no power, the label does. From Donald Trump, to catching a red traffic light, or not liking your job, and all the labels in between, they are given power by the one labeling.

What determines the degree of suffering is contingent on how attached one is to the label. Again: What determines the degree of suffering is contingent on how attached one is to the label. You may think you are as you are and it’s because that’s just the way you are, but if that was true no one would ever change. I’ve changed because of the awareness of how I was labeling things and how the process was stopped. You can’t suffer without labeling the moment a suffering one. The most misunderstood part of the labeling process is it has nothing to do with what’s being labeled, that all comes from within. Whether something is liked or disliked it comes from you and you alone. Agree with this or not, just understand it’s your labeling process that’s making that decision, not the article.

The Difference to Love

If there isn’t awareness that one’s own thoughts create the reality in which you live by, those thoughts will continue to create a reality that’s only real to you.

Thinking doesn’t control me anymore. I’m not saying its like this all the time, but for the most part this is the way it is. I have thoughts, they just don’t control me as they once did. I’m not saying it’s this way for anyone else, but it is this way for me. No longer am I tied to beliefs or concepts. No longer do my thoughts pull me into the self serving side of life. The present moment has become the norm and for me. It was from the depths of despair that stopped creating thoughts of suffering and gave me the willingness to sit.

I sit, I follow the breath, I sit, I fall asleep, but I am willing and to me that’s the key. I’m not concerned with results, my part is to sit. At the time of this realization, I knew it wasn’t because of some belief or a sense of purpose, it was from being right where I was. No attachment, just being in the given moment, nothing more; that’s what was realized. There’s no more inner struggle. No more needing things to be different, no created story needing to make this up. There’s just each moment being lived as it is which is simply non attachment to beliefs, concepts, a purpose, the past or future or anything else.

My own mind stopped creating its own misery. It’s not of my doing that this occurred, but it is from an inner urging that needed life to be different and learning how to allow the difference to occur; this difference is love. There was a time where I didn’t know how to love, but today although I am still learning, there isn’t a time when I don’t love. Love is not a belief in something or a doing, it’s just love which for me makes all the difference in the world.

A Never Ending Story

Selfishness produces a void which is why the things used to fill it are reached for again and again. We all have an addict in us as the consequences of the things used result in the same bondage.

There’s only one person who you have to be true to and that is yourself. You may do some things that nobody sees you doing, but you’re not fooling anyone because you know what you’re doing. You don’t get away with anything that you do in life. You may be ignorant why certain things are done, but that doesn’t lessen the consequences. There are consequences for every action, but it’s not because there’s a God watching you. You yourself are the cause of your consequences and they will be determined by the base of what your actions are; either love or selfishness.

The actions to fulfill inner desires are pursued forever because their results sustain the void that creates the desire. Alcohol, cigarettes, porn, gambling, drugs, food, sex, sports, our children, to name of few, are all used to fulfill some selfish inner desire and therefore will need to be used over and over. This is because all things are empty in nature. This is also why the things used don’t matter because whatever and whenever something is used to fulfill a selfish desire, it sustains a void that’s already in place. The void remains because the nature of anything reached for from a selfish void is empty and reaching behavior is based in emptiness. It’s the cause of so much suffering to ourselves and others.

We label certain people as addicts, but aren’t we all using certain things for fulfillment. Completeness is in the present moment, so anytime something is reached for to fulfill an inner desire out of the present moment it’s created by an inner lack; a selfish desire uses whatever it can, to fulfill this lack. A person’s conditioning decides what the thing used is, but regardless of what it is the selfish nature is no different. It’s just that some things are not as devastating in their consequences as others. Some results of the consequences are instantaneous and some take time to develop, but the effects of the energy of the reaching is always the same; selfishness breeds selfishness. So do what it is that you want to do, but understand you cannot hide from yourself. Although your Conditioned Mind will make you believe that you can, you cannot truly lie to yourself because wherever you go there you are. You may use justification as to why you are doing something, but there will always be consequences for you actions. Whether those actions are from love or are selfish in nature is the determining factor as to whether you will live a life that is always reaching for the next satisfaction or if you are complete just the way you are.

Just Be

Just Be – Add nothing

Sending out an SOS

Every time the mind becomes distracted and reaches for something it thinks it needs, it equates to a sinking ship sending out an SOS; the reaching is one’s call for help.

Unfortunately most times the reason for the need to send out an SOS goes unnoticed until the ship is already in trouble; many lives are like this. What’s really unfortunate about this is usually what’s causing the downward decent has been in the works for a while. The sinking of the Titanic and the loss of many lives was a disaster in the making. From labeling the ship unsinkable, to those who believed it, it produced a false sense of security just as what happens when a person reaches for something, the thing reached for never provides what’s expected. Many on the Titanic were alive as the ship sunk, but the ice cold water did them in; even those with the false hope of reaching for a life preserver perished. This false hope leads many down the unconscious path of reaching for something that in truth will not produce the necessary results. The false hope of waiting for another ship didn’t help anyone either. The only people saved were those who were able to get into a lifeboat. One gets in their lifeboat when they look within.

I’m writing this so maybe one person will see what they’re possibly reaching for in the hopes of being saved. The actual reaching is what causes you to perish even though you think there is hope. I know not many look at themselves in this way because of their existing conditioning, but there are so many SOS’s being sent out and life preservers being grab for without the realization of the surrounding perils. The lifeboat of the inward view is the only thing I have found that truly saves, and it’s simply because it makes one aware of the surrounding perils; in this case one’s own conditioning. Instead of jumping from the so called frying pan into the fire, going inward allows you to simply turn down the heat or at least see that nothing out there will save you from the perils of yourself. If you can see this, you just may be able to prevent the ship from sinking before it ever begins and so an SOS will never be needed, nor will your reaching.